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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Pushing beyond

So... as I finished my second round of Insanity a week ago, I began work on another goal I had set for myself after giving birth to my second daughter: to run a half-marathon before I turn 30. Well, 30 is fast approaching. November 19 of this year it will be here. I'm not worried about getting older; it's a fact of life and a welcome one considering the alternative. I'm just not good at setting goals for myself. With a "milestone" birthday approaching, I figured why not give myself that deadline to accomplish something.

I was kicking myself yesterday when I set out for a 7 mile run in 80-something degree heat and humidity. I'm not a fast runner and yesterday I was even slower than usual, given the fact that it felt like I was running through the seven circles of hell. It took only about 25-30 minutes to start telling myself to give up. My breathing was much more labored than usual, and my heart rate seemed to be out of control. Aside from my mind telling myself to quit, it seemed my body was sending the same message. But I kept on.

What is it within us that pushes us to keep going? Before you start something like a long run or a heavy weight-lifting session it's easy to tell yourself that you're going to accomplish this or that. But when you get in it and the pain starts, it seems like the smartest thing to do is quit.

But you don't. Why is that?

The change for me came after giving birth when I realized just what your body can do with pain. Prior to that pain had been a fear. What childbirth taught me, though, was that if you focus enough on the pain you can beat it. Don't be afraid of it. Embrace it. Look it right in the face and accept it. Know that your body can handle it and will handle it as long as you let it.

So... what do you do when the pain comes? How do you push yourself? Or do you...?