After a 6 month hiatus, I’m back to my running. It’s a slow process. God help me if I injure myself again. But just before the new year, I bit the bullet and reacquainted myself with the tready again.
I was apprehensive about pounding the pavement again, constantly making excuses not to. But I took the grief and tried to transform it into some form of constructive energy. Then I ran 5kms. On the road. Like a boss.
So I thought about what it takes to cut the rest of the negativity in my head. Because as much as I love running, there seems to be this psychological barrier from reaching my distance and PB goals.
Stop the F-Bomb:
My potty mouth can cuss like the best of demons. Running to the top of a steep hill or busting biceps with killer chin ups is never completely satisfying without a loud, resounding, expressive “Faaaaaaaark!!!”
But I found that the swearing cluttered my brain with the negative. It became a withholding effect on how I ran.
Now, it’s refreshing to finish up with an upbeat “Yay! I did it!” rather than a defeatist “Fark. How the hell did I get through that?”
The Essential Playlist:
While I don’t use my iPhone when I’m running outside (Road safety hazard), I do crank up the tunes when I’m on the tready.
I stick to the oldies but goodies – something with a strong, heavy beat and bad-ass lyrics with tons of attitude.
Some of the big faves are Titanium (“Bullet proof, nothing to lose, fire away, fire away), Just The Way You Are (“If perfect’s what you’re looking for, then just stay the same”)and an oldie but a goodie, Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (“Lift your head up high, sing out to the world, I know I am someone, let the truth unfurl, no one can hurt you now, because you know what’s true, yes I believe in me, so you believe in you…”)
Miscellaneous Mum rounded up a list of great ideas for playlists. Check it.
Grab Something New:
I’m not condoning unnecessary purchases. However, buying sports gear – new pair of shoes, sunglasses or even comfy, durable socks – can give you that excitement to get out the door and try out your new buy.
It doesn’t matter how small or inexpensive it is.
Make sure it’s, of course, something you need and will constantly use.
As part of my preparation to get back running outdoors, I bought myself a bright fluro orange visor. I’m planning to take it to use it on those long, sweaty, tough runs. It’ll be my little good luck charm when I run that marathon in September.
The negativity will always be in the back of mind to steer me away from exercise goals, to stop me from getting my daily fills of endorphins.
But if I don’t at least try, I’ll never know what I’ll be capable of.
What do you do to stop the negative talk?
***This is not a sponsored post***