I went out for a run on Friday when I got home to my parents house. It was probably the hottest day yet and I was tired, hungry, and most likely dehydrated. But, this weekend was my friends Bachelorette party and I knew that healthy eating would not necessarily be the first priority--although, it didn't turn out too bad--running as much as I could before the weekend, therefore, WAS a priority. (exchange--nice!).
Anyways, back to forgetting. I changed clothes and grumbled my way out onto the sidewalk, just knowing that it wasn't going to be a good run. I mapped out a 2.7 mile course close to my house, wrote the directions on my hand and prayed I wouldn't sweat it off before I got home. It was that kind of day, I needed directions on my hand to navigate the neighborhood I've spent practically my whole life in. Then...the dialogue in my head started up as it always does. This is going to be bad. I can't do this. I'm not in good condition right now, I've been sick all week, I'm dehydrated, it's hot, it's really really hot, Okay Self--if you can make it halfway that will be a success, oh, I don't think I'll even make it off my street...and on and on and on.
So, I decided to change my train of thought and this is the theory I've come up with. I need to plan to forget everything I think I know about myself, my body, and my abilities before every run. I continue to surprise myself with how much I can do and how far I can push myself, but it's a mind battle. I need to forget that I can only run 1 mile. I need to not think about that fact that I will not be able to catch my breath after 1.5 miles. I need to not remember that at 2 miles I will have to sit down and rest and skip over the fact that after that rest, I will be so tired I have to walk home. Because-the reality is, NONE of those things are true. At least not anymore. If I ran with no expectations I think I could run much farther than I thought possible. I think my brain is exhausting me well before my body is exhausted. I finished the run just fine, no stopping, no falling over, and I was still able to breathe when I walked in my front door (of course it was heavy breathing--but breath none the less). So. I plan to forget.
