June 25, 2018, I signed up and paid for an entry fee for a 20 Mile Run.
This event occurs in Port Allen, LA October 6th-7th 2018.
I signed my son Joshua for the same event and distance too.
Then a run Club member says, … ” HEY! Y’all should run the 100 Mile Relay with us, it will be fun!”
So it looks like no matter what results, Josh and I are in for a 20 mile run in “The Children of the Cane 100” .
Awesome! I am so excited ! PUMPED UP !!
Well, I felt that way till it was way past my ‘Bed Time’ later that evening.
Then the ‘worry’ began.
What the HELL was I thinking!?
Sure that is a few weeks away, BUT TWENTY MILES! AT ONE TIME!?!?!?
And to top THAT off, I seem to be committed to a team effort, running through SUGAR CANE FIELDS, where 5 other guys will be depending on my ability to complete MY PART, in an acceptable time, and not ‘screw it up’ for the team!
I think these guys are all younger than I, by at least half my age….
What was I thinking!?
What if I let them down?
What if … what if … what if …
Yeah, I was beginning to worry, and doubt this decision.
That is what my thoughts were even till this morning.
I was having coffee at about 4:20 AM. (Yes, I still drink coffee…)
I was rearranging the laces on my Running Shoes, to offer more toe area/freedom, and maybe deal with some numbness that usually occurs at 2.5 miles.
(According to you tube, it is a common issue with most runners)
I also learned some stretches and things you can do to prevent the numbness.
I grabbed a Banana, and a bottle of water, and went out the back gate, and started my Run under an almost Full Moon.
Just before 2 miles, the battery in the left ear announced it was almost ‘gone’.
Ok, I had not turned on the Book I am listening to, nor had I turned on my Running Play List…. I was just listening to the sound of a wonderful Summer Morning.
I can listen to audio books, or music via the Blue Tooth connections in my Hearing Aids….
I figured I would head back to the Back Yard, go ‘potty’, stretch a bit, grab a drink, grab the Banana, and replace that Hearing Aid Battery.
Just before I arrived about a Mile later, I thought, “… FORGET THE BATTERY!”
I was doing fine with the sounds of the Morning…. and my THOUGHTS.
I will be the first to tell you sometimes, my THOUGHTS are just plain TOXIC.
By the arrival to the back gate and my back yard, I had worked through the ‘doubt’, ‘fears’, and the such about the 20 Mile Commitment Oct.6-7th.
I can do this.
I am going to do this.
Screw the Hearing Aid Battery.
Screw the doubts about 20 Miles.
I race, one race.
When I run, my COMPETITION is only one opponent.
That one opponent is ME.
The old ‘Sofa Surfer’, ‘Couch Potato’, ‘Slave to the Standard American Death Diet (SADD)’… …
Actually, I won that ‘race’ and beat ‘HIM’. this morning while running the first 4.5 miles.
I decided to not listen to ‘HIM’ any longer.
I decided I need that goal of a 20 Mile Event Oct. 6-7, 2018.
I decided to TRAIN.
I decided to be there.
I decided to be there every day until then, eating the best nutrition, and training my body and mind with the best thoughts, and physical preparation.
I decided to not be ‘SCARED’ of 20 Miles, a 63 Year Old Body, and a ‘something I have never done before’.
I decided to kick it’s ASS.
I ‘placed’ FIRST in that Event this morning…
AND I ran that 6.23 Miles this morning with 16:56 pace.
Not bad!
(for a starting point)
oldmanskinandbones.com