Category Archives: My Goals

Believing in myself will be my greatest challenge in 2012

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Compared to most December holidays, I had quite a lot of spare time to catch up on my reading and DVD watching these past few weeks. An inspirational book by Tim Noakes and watching one of my all-time favourite DVDs documenting the Apollo 13 rescue left me with lots of food for thought as I enter into a new year, filled with many unknowns and challenges.

I’m not one for making New Year’s resolutions. However, a very clear message kept coming through when I read Noake’s book and which was confirmed when watching ‘The Race to the Moon: Failure is not an option’ DVD. The message of believing in myself. The message of accomplishing what my mind tells me is impossible.

Self-belief will be my 2012 New Year’s resolution.

In Noake’s book, called “Challenging Beliefs”, he says, “…it is our minds, and especially our perception of what can be, rather than our physical capabilities which ultimately determine the extend to which we succeed.” 

It’s four years since I started running but I aim to make 2012 the year that counts. No more doubting that running is too difficult. No more worrying that everyone else is faster than me. No more putting myself down. This will be the year that I have complete confidence in myself when I line up at the start of the Two Oceans half marathon. This will be the year that I am not overwhelmed with fears of not making the 3 hour cut-off gun. This is the year that I dash pass all those ‘walkers’ and come home with a medal I am proud of.

The Gene Kranz documentary “Failure is not an option” revolves around the team of very young engineers who ran the Mission Control centre in the 60’s and recounts their story of America’s space flight and man’s landing on the moon. But it’s the captivating story of the unexpected disaster that left the Apollo 13 crew lost in space which leaves me breathless. Faced with the unknown and a problem which at first seemed impossible to fix, the team at mission control managed to use their unique expertise and with the knowledge that “failure was not an option” pulled off an amazing rescue.

With the same spirit of those young NASA engineers, 2012 will be the year I rock at my job. I aim to make it known exactly just how skilled I am in my field instead of hiding in the shadows due to lack of confidence. I believe that I am capable of so much more. No more excuses! This is my year to take on new challenges and to shine!  

Bring it!

I found a coach! (or rather, he found me!)

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My Christmas present arrived early this year.

 

In early December, I received a Twitter DM (direct message) from one of my followers informing me that he was a running coach and asked if I would be interested in some coaching. Are you kidding me? Of course I was interested! However, being the sceptic that I am, I didn’t take it too seriously. In fact, I told no one.

 

Reason being is that I don’t have the best of luck when it comes to finding coaches. After missing the cut-off for a Two Oceans half marathon medal by a mere 6 minutes in 2010, I decided my only hope was to find myself a running coach. However, finding a coach proved to be quite challenging. I was either met with the excuse that it was too close to Comrades for anyone to take on my cause or that my running pace was so slow (8 mins/km) that I would slow the other runners down.

 

I Googled for names, searched local running sites, phoned running clubs with no luck. In the end, I landed up with a personal trainer at the gym who specialises in sports science and who was willing to work with me.

 

That was May 2010 and it’s now December 2011 and even though I managed to do a PB and get my Two Oceans medal in April this year, I still run at the same pace.

 

Yes, I feel much stronger and my core muscles are strong. And don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love my gym workouts. But I am still slow. The ‘walkers’ are still able to finish races well before me.

 

So yes, you bet I am interested in any running coaching!

 

As a typical Information Scientist librarian, I did my homework and discovered that this man came highly recommended, was known in running circles and knows his stuff.

 

But his credential was not what impressed me and got me hooked. It’s his motivation and belief in me.

 

From day one, he has spoken to me as if I am the New York marathon champion. He believes in me and makes me believe in myself. He has mapped out a training schedule and a planned goal of where I can be in the next four months. All he expects is dedication and hard work. Trust me, he’s a no-nonsense kinda guys too!

 

I secretly think the name of my blog “Keeping up with the walkers” bugs him. One of the first things he told me is that running at my pace is for old tannies. *ahem*

 

Anyhow, so I’m going in to 2012 not only with a renewed dedication to running but with butterflies in my stomach. My head is telling me that I am capable. My legs already feel like jelly after two days of training (mainly because I haven’t done squat for weeks and my belly is full of gammon) but what an awesome goal to work towards. I’m so excited!

Thanks Eldi!

I cheat. But hey, it works.

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Time trial: Measuring your current level of performance against the clock on a mapped out distance. In essence, evidence of running the same course regularly in order to see how much you’ve improved or worsened. In most cases, the route is either 5km or 8km.

 

I can still remember my very first time trial (TT). I was new to running and up until that stage had only attempted one or two 3km runs around the block near our complex. However being a seasoned runner, and having made it sound so easy, KK convinced me to join him at the Tuesday RAC time trial at the Old Parktonian Sports Club in Randburg. 

Bubbling with nervousness and excitement, I joined the other runners gathered at the meeting point on the field. After the usual race announcements, we all headed out. As the runners reached the first corner, I was already exhausted and needed to walk. 

(For those who are familiar with the time trial route at RAC Running Club, the 1st km starts out on the cricket field and then weaves onto another one. In fact, the first 800 meters feels as if your feet are being sucked into the ground as you run on lush, green grass until you reach the gate leading on to the busy street.) 

It came as a shock to my body and the more I walked, the more people ran passed me until I looked around and saw no one. 

I was last. Stone last. 

My first 5km time trial took me approximately 52 mins. Almost a full hour. By the time we finished (KK walked most of the way with me – bless him), it was getting dark and the majority of runners were getting ready to leave the club to go home. As happy as I was that I had completed my first TT, it did set in motion what would be my TT training in the future. 

Since that day, I do not start with all the other runners. Why not? Simple: That mental breakdown of coming last it too great. It’s not worth that feeling of failure. I know that I most probably won’t ever come last again, but I’m not going to take any chances.

Nowadays, I like to hit the road before 17h30 and take my time. I also don’t have scores of athletes shooting passed me as if I’m standing still. I can concentrate on my own pace. 

I still remember the day that two guys, carrying a canoe, came running passed me at time trial and I couldn’t catch them! Obviously training for some canoe race… I guess. 

I also skip the 800m running on the field. It’s too draining. Mentally and physically. It’s as if I can’t get going and it saps me of all the excitement of the run. Running on grass is not easy. Well, for me at least.

No. I start where the walkers start (how ironic!) which then cuts the route down to almost 4.2km.

Judge me as you wish, but what matters is that it’s my training. It’s my time trial. It’s my run. And I’m there… doing it. My way.

Is it cheating? Maybe. But it’s what works for me. See you on the road!

Tuesday 27th September TT time: 33:05   Distance: 4.2km

 

No turning back… 193 days to go!

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My blog is meant to be a ‘running’ commentary about my ‘jogging’ trials and tribulations (in addition to the moaning and groaning about daily life). But let me begin with an honest confession. I have not run a single race since July’s RAC 10km. Yes, I’ve done some runs at the gym, but no serious running training. Until now…

There are 193 days left until the 2012 Two Oceans Half Marathon. And I have decided to give it another go!

Phew…it gives me goosies just reading that back to myself. It’s a big deal for me, especially considering that for me, running a half marathon involves a lot more training and dedication than a simple 10km and because I have to ensure my running speed gets me to the finish line before that dreaded 3 hour cut off gun. (A gun, yes! It’s that dramatic!).

There are a few lessons I’ve learnt in the past 3 years of running Two Oceans that have prepared me for the 2012 race. The one is that I need to start training early in order to be fully trained in time for Oceans. The other lesson is that even if I manage to run 3kms in a day, it’s still more training than doing nothing at all.

So today was day one of my Two Oceans 2012 training.

I started with an hour’s run at the gym, clocking up 7kms. Mentally, this is a great start. It is important that I manage to run 7kms under 60 minutes. This will ensure that I run 21.1kms within 180 minutes in order to make the cut-off time.

I have always followed Coach Dave’s (RIP) training tips and so today, I did 2 minutes running, followed by 1 minute walking… (be honest Bron!)… 1 minute running, followed by 1 minute walking. As tough as some of those minutes were, I kept reminding myself that I have managed to conquer many half marathons already and have survived running for a solid three hours – one minute will seriously not kill me.

As with all things in life, I know that dedication and training will ensure I reach my goals and only I will know in the end if I have been honest with myself and have done enough.

Running is a very personal journey, especially if one has specific goals to reach.

I have one. I want to run the 2012 Two Oceans Half Marathon in 2 hours 45 minutes. *gulp* There. I said it!

Let the training begin! *my heart is beating so fast right now!*