by Keith Paine..
I ran 16 miles through Brooklyn’s Prospect Park this weekend. I’m prepping for my second NYC Marathon in November. At Nimble Fitness, we’ve run the marathon as a team for the last 5 years to raise money for the international human rights organization WITNESS. It’s been a lot of miles and a lot of great support from our amazing community.
As a trainer and coach, I spend a lot of time focusing on proper form and mechanics in movement, but the sixteen miles were a good reminder that running is very much a mental-spiritual act as well as a physical one. Like many other intense activities, running has a way of forcing you into the present moment. As I got into a rhythm, the cobwebs in my head cleared, probably because our brains don’t have the space or time for small problems when tackling a big run. My awareness sharpened as the run progressed. And any worries are trumped by what I’m experiencing: How’s my form? Where’s my heart rate as I climb this hill? What’s my ideal pace?
Even preparing for a long run, for me, has become just as much about clearing the mind as it is about the physical warm-up. No run is ever the same as the last, and things change as you get into the longer distances. Any time I think I have a handle on what the run is going to be like, the run has other ideas.
The long runs are good teachers. Here’s what Sunday’s lessons were:
*Things Change Quickly: A surprise rain shower at mile 12—which actually felt great–changed the footing dramatically, especially on hills, and slowed things down. As in life, the ability to observe and adapt during a run is crucial.
*You’re Stronger Than You Think You Are: A big lag in energy at Mile 11. It’s like a little switch flipped in my body’s chemistry, trying to decide whether it was actually a good idea to keep going. This is where the mental-spiritual factor comes in. You need to mentally over-ride those feelings of fatigue, and you need belief to keep going!
*Skin Doesn’t Win: Nipple rash! Which is what happens when I’m dumb enough to wear a new shirt out for a long run.
*Ego Check: Which is what happens when I “get smart” and decide to abandon my training pace because I keep getting passed by other runners. The last straw for me was a couple that cruised by me on either side, chatting casually about their wedding plans, as I struggled to keep pace up the hill. Of course, I chased them for the next ½ mile, where they veered off and finished their run, leaving me to try and recuperate on the next lap around the park.
