Just to start this post off backwards above you'll see a 3 happy as Larry ladies after a hard morning of racing, and now I shall take you back to the beginning....
Hunting the pain is a phrase I was recently introduced to and a phrase that I feel perfectly describes racing. Every time I find myself hunting the pain I also notice there is a lot of self talk going on to get me through to the finish line or the end of a training session.
Last Saturday I set out to do the Taupo 10km and I realised something not long after finishing. I realised that the brain is a cheeky little thing, it's as if the moment you cross the finish line it erases all memory of the pain you just experienced and replaces it with the urge to enter another race. When I feel the pain the self talk starts and below are a few of the things that were going through my mind whilst hunting the pain during my 10km
1km - why would you put a 1km sign up... no one wants to know that they're 1/10th through a race. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
4km - Yay here's the turn around! That seemed quick! ..... no wait that's not the turn around I have another hill to run up. KILL. ME. NOW.
5km - halfway turn around, AKA repeat that 5km sprint again.
6km - ooh hey 15 year old kid... you trying to pass me? nope not today. Astalavista.
8km - You paid money to feel in this much pain. That's screwed up
9.5km - LET IT BE OVER. The burn is so deep. I'm never doing another race.
10km - That was AWESOME where do I sign up for another one?!
So despite my bipolar thoughts whilst racing I still go back for more and with each race I feel more determined to better myself and push harder! The feeling of accomplishing something that was mentally and physical tough is like no other and can only be described as addictive!
Last Saturday I came away with a result I was happy with and of course I can't wait to do it again! So until next time I will continue to hunt the pain.
- N
Hunting the pain is a phrase I was recently introduced to and a phrase that I feel perfectly describes racing. Every time I find myself hunting the pain I also notice there is a lot of self talk going on to get me through to the finish line or the end of a training session.
Last Saturday I set out to do the Taupo 10km and I realised something not long after finishing. I realised that the brain is a cheeky little thing, it's as if the moment you cross the finish line it erases all memory of the pain you just experienced and replaces it with the urge to enter another race. When I feel the pain the self talk starts and below are a few of the things that were going through my mind whilst hunting the pain during my 10km
1km - why would you put a 1km sign up... no one wants to know that they're 1/10th through a race. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
4km - Yay here's the turn around! That seemed quick! ..... no wait that's not the turn around I have another hill to run up. KILL. ME. NOW.
5km - halfway turn around, AKA repeat that 5km sprint again.
6km - ooh hey 15 year old kid... you trying to pass me? nope not today. Astalavista.
8km - You paid money to feel in this much pain. That's screwed up
9.5km - LET IT BE OVER. The burn is so deep. I'm never doing another race.
10km - That was AWESOME where do I sign up for another one?!
So despite my bipolar thoughts whilst racing I still go back for more and with each race I feel more determined to better myself and push harder! The feeling of accomplishing something that was mentally and physical tough is like no other and can only be described as addictive!
Last Saturday I came away with a result I was happy with and of course I can't wait to do it again! So until next time I will continue to hunt the pain.
- N