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Hills!

Posted by Running-Girl Mar 22, 2009

TACKLING HILLS

Hill. The dreaded 4-letter word. A mere mention of the word and runners are quick to respond. I hear it all the time-the sighs and groans of runners-in-training at the base of a hill.

The last couple of weeks with Team In Training (TNT), were spent focusing on hills. We worked on drills at track and practiced hill repeats in preparation for our runs at Pacifica and Portola. Our 10-mile run in beautiful Pacifica started at the base of a long hill. And Portola turned out to be a 12-mile hiking adventure, instead of a run, for some.

Runners freely expressed their feelings about the hills.

"Are you ready for the hill?"

"This is going to be painful."

"I'm gonna die."

"Let's get this over with!"

As a seasoned runner, I too, can feel dismayed just hearing those comments. It makes a little hill sound like a huge mountain, which can be discouraging. When I run, I try not to think of the hill in front of me. I find it better to face the hill one step at a time rather than look at it as one long hill. If you look at the hill as a whole, it will defeat you before you start your climb.

Life is like a hill. If we look too far into our future and speculate what may or may not be, we can get overwhelmed. The bible reminds us that we only need to be concerned about today.

"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things." (Matthew 6:34)

Hills will make you stronger. It will also add variety to our runs. We may not welcome hills, but it's good to face them because we will eventually run into a hill and it is better to be prepared for them. As in life, adversities make us stronger. We learn from our problems and grow. We become better people-better able to handle future adversities.

Our running coach recommends that when running hills, we do the following: shorten our stride, keep the same cadence, keep our body upright, and look a few feet in front of you (not at your feet nor the top of the hill). That's great advice when we tackle a problem in life. When we are faced with our own hills of life, it is better to handle a problem one at a time, keep our spirits high, stand tall, and take it day-by-day.

When I feel discouraged, on my runs, I always think about my team honorees. They are my source of encouragement. They are fighting cancer-the ugliest hill no one wants to face, but they do.

So whenever I feel that the hill is too hard for me to conquer, I think about how much tougher it is for my honorees to endure the physical pain and mental challenges of cancer.

"Every hill in life is too high if we think we must climb it all at once. But no hill is insurmountable if we take it one step forward at a time, with God." ~ Dave Branson.

Now go tackle that hill!

~Running-girl

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/avegiant09/rguittap

182 Views 0 Comments Permalink Tags: running, life, team_in_training, cancer, tnt, hills, problems, portola

To Run or Not to Run

Posted by Running-Girl Feb 25, 2009

The New Year is a time when we think about our resolutions. We always start with good intentions. We make good on our resolutions with determination and enthusiasm. And then we start to lose momentum and eventually quit.

I often tell myself that the word, “resolution,” when broken down, is “re-solution.” The prefix, “re” means to do over. I try not to beat myself up about failing to commit to my resolutions. I pick myself up and get back on track. The only time you fail is when you don't try...or keep trying.

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.” ~Nelson Mandela

Less than 1% of the population has run a marathon, and yet thousands of new runners enter marathons each year. Then there are those who are thinking about it.

It’s already 2 months into the year. Maybe you’ve started running and stopped, and in the back of your head you tell yourself, I’ll pick up running again later. Or you’ve thought about it and never started. We think about our plans all the time. We wait for the next time or when the time is right—perhaps next year again. But it’s never the right time to start, is it? The thought about waiting for next year and then next year again, creates a vicious cycle.

Running is a great sport. It doesn’t require much equipment. All you need is a good pair of running shoes. And you can train just about anywhere and anytime. Running also has health benefits. It improves your state of mind, cardiovascular system, endurance, and fitness.

Running relieves stress by helping us to forget about our problems. In addition, when we run, our body releases the hormone beta-endorphin in our blood stream. These hormones give us a sense of euphoria, contentment, and happiness. Running outdoors can accentuate these feelings.

There is also a sense of community among runners. Running opens the doors to meeting new friends and striking up conversations. The social aspect of running is motivating. When you see people run, doesn’t it make you want to run? After you’ve completed a run, you can’t help but feel good about getting it done. Running gives you a sense of accomplishment.

So don’t let little set-backs discourage you or let excuses deter you from running. The fact that running is in your mind is a good start. It’s the cycle of trying that is worth acknowledging because I find it good for establishing a routine—a routine that will someday lead to running regularly. And don’t worry, it’s never too late to start running. Let Margaret Davis be your inspiration. She entered her first marathon at age 79. And at 85-years-old today, she is still running.

So, whenever you think it’s too late, remember this ancient Chinese proverb:

“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

So start running today. If you need some inspiration, accountability, or companionship, join Team in Training, the largest endurance training program in the U.S.