Running today reminded me of when I first started to run.  I ran my first 5K with Art Schultz in New Castle, NH.  I remember finishing and how exhausted I was.  I asked Art, “How the hell can someone run 5 miles”?  That was over 20 years ago, and many marathons, ½ ironmen, ½ marathons, 5k’s, 10k’s, 10 milers, 5 milers – as well as an Ironman – I am convinced it is all in your mind.

I know you all remember wanting to walk as a baby and could only crawl.   Then after many crash and burns you were able to put 10 or 15 steps together so your parents could say you were walking.  How about the bike, when you first started, did you ever think you could go without the training wheels?

If you can see yourself crossing the finish line of a 5k, then it might take some time, but I bet you can see yourself finishing a marathon.  Anything that is new to you and that you have ever done is a challenge, and some are harder than others.  All it takes is to set the goal and then work for it.  The bigger the goal the longer it may take for you to succeed, but you can never give up.  You may need a break or a chance to rest and heal, but don’t ever give up.

The mental part of any training is that your mind will want you to give up.  “This was a stupid idea”   and “What was I thinking?” are the most common thoughts to people in training for the first marathon.  These thoughts might come after having to walk down the stairs backwards after the first “long training run”.  Most training plans for a first marathon have you running at least 20 or 22 miles.  If you have not run a marathon, following the training plan and doing the long run helps get your legs in shape.  BUT – I also believe it is to get you mind in shape.  You can convince yourself that “hey – I made it 22 miles, what the hell is 4 more”?  Many a marathon when I got to the 20 mile marker with 6.2 left to go I would tell myself, “Hey, you only have a short run left!  Let’s get it done!”, and that has actually helped me speed up my pace the last 5 or 6 miles than the first 20 miles.

I was running a 10 mile race last year in my 50 States marathon shirt and was passing a high school track athlete who was getting tired at mile 8.   He was discouraged because he was “running out of gas”. He told me he had never run that far before and probably would never try it again.  I told him that I had felt that way before, and he just needed to visualize himself crossing that finish line and that I knew he would probably win this race someday.   I moved ahead and made sure I watched him cross that finish line.  He was exhausted but was grinning from ear to ear.   I stretched awhile and tracked him down a few minutes later and asked him. “You going to do another one?”

“You bet!” was the answer I got.

Your running needs to be just like any goal in life.  Make it, and then work towards achieving it.  It may take you years to cross that finish line, but it will be worth it, and…

Make sure you have someone there with a camera to take a picture of that smile.

So, while you’re thinking about crossing that finish line, you guessed it, get up….and go for a run!