Shaming leads to Hill Repeats leads to the Long Run leads to.....

I was shamed.

It went something like this:

     ME:  I'm really thinking of not running.  Its getting late and I'm kinda tired.

        Coach:  When you don't want to run, that's the most important time.

     ME:  Well, I guess I could go for a quick 4 or 5 miler.

        Coach:  So you can do an hour, yes?  What else are you going to do for that extra 15 minutes?

     ME: <Ran for an hour>

Yes, shaming is a perfectly good form of motivation.  I would love to say its good-natured, or perhaps done is "fun".  But really, its exactly what it is:  its shaming. Its meant to call a person out and basically say, "You are pathetic."  

Its also meant to motivate.  Which it did.  When a guy commits to a race which will require running for 24+ hours it requires a certain mindset.  The mindset of, I'm going to run a lot.  And I do mean, A LOT.  My current training schedule has me running upwards of 70 miles some weeks.  

So its not going to be uncommon to think, "I could skip a day here and there."  Of course, this is unacceptable.  There is not room for being weak-minded.  That's not to say I won't be at times.  So it seems better to say, "There is no room for allowing a brief moment of weakness to hinder the plan."  

Its always good to have a motivator.  And I feel like I'm going to need it in the coming few months.  I'm already prepared for the mental fatigue.  I know its going to be tough.  What I'm not prepared for, and I'm pretty sure there is no real way to actually prepare for it, is the mental break that is going to come at some point.  I don't know when this is going to happen.  Or if it even will.  But I have the feeling it is unavoidable.  

I find myself of a few different mindsets when it comes to running.  

Some days, its what I look forward to all day.  I can barely think of anything else.   I look forward to it like the Kitten looks forward to Christmas.  

Some days its just a matter of the daily routine.  Its just on the schedule.  Something to do before I tackle dinner.  

And some days its pure torture getting myself out on the pavement.  

Funny thing.  When I am planning a long run, which from here on out will be defined as 10+ miles (although it won't be too long before that's considered a "Short Run") I get excited.  Refer back to the Kitten looking forward to Christmas.  

I get snacks all ready.  I get my clothes out early.  I make sure my hydration plan is all set.  I map out my general route.  I plan for the weather.  And as I'm typing this I literally can't wait for this evening's run, which will be about 12 or 13 miles in total length.  

This is actually a few miles shorted than I had originally planned, but my schedule was thrown off by the Kitten, which is just about the only acceptable reason to adjust my mileage.  My cumulative mileage for the week will still be over the set goal (27 miles), so this still falls under the acceptable category.  

None the less, With a 12 - 13 miler set for this evening, I am pretty much headed in the right direction, which in this case will be:  Clockwise.

More on Clockwise and Counter-Clockwise at a later date. 

Long Run Reflections to follow soon too.