The way I see it, there are five stages when it comes to running. One. This is before you start. You think to yourself, "I can do this, it'll be easy." Although you have not actually begun the work yet, you know what you are capable of and you forget the physical strain your body will soon endure. You want to do this. You want to test yourself. There's nothing but positive thoughts racing through your head. Two. You have started and there is no going back now. Your legs start moving as you pump your arms. You think about technique and proper form; breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. A little thought creeps its way into your mind and whispers, "You are not even a quarter of the way there, do you realize how much more you still have to do?" This is the, "I have a ten page paper to do and I've only completed one page so far," feeling. And with that thought, a slight burning sensation rushes to your calves and the bottom of your feet. Your head starts to feel a little light as the slow, steady breathing becomes more like a pant. This is not fatigue, but a false fatigue that is simply testing to see if you have what it takes to commit to this run. Some may stop here and turn around, claiming they'll try again another day. Some may put down their pen and convince themselves they're just taking a quick break. Others will push through. Three. You're caught up in the middle of the run. It's almost as if you turned into a machine and lost some of your feeling. Some like to lose focus and daydream as they run. I like to talk myself through it. "Come on reach that tree." "Okay, now you have to get up the hill." I am my own coach. I control what I do and what I don't do. No one else can race my legs for me or control my breathing. This is all me. If I want to give up and stop here, I can. It won't affect anyone else but me. But I don't. I know better by now. I've been down a number of paths similar to this one and I know what stopping does. It sets me back. So instead I press on as my body feels like a machine that is working too hard and is about to over heat and shut down at any second. But it doesn't. Four. This is where the real test sets in. You are coming down the home stretch. You have almost made it but not quite yet. Because your body knows that you are almost finished, it tricks you into thinking you can slow down or stop earlier. You can't though because you are not exactly done yet. If you have paced yourself right you should have just enough energy to push yourself a little harder than you have the rest of the run. You see your finish ahead and you can't help but think, "I did it!" This is the feeling I run for. Five. You stop. If you gave all of your effort, you feel like you want to vomit and collapse onto a cold surface. However, you walk. You let your body cool down and congratulate it for a great run. Some may run to get in shape. Some may run so they don't feel guilt about going for ice cream later that night. Some may run because it relieves stress and they love the feeling. Along with a combination of those, I run for the challenge. For me, someone who doesn't exactly love to run, it is one of the greatest mental challenges I face. To push through when your entire body and everything around you telling you to stop is a sign of toughness.
Is this too cliche? I've written a few and I don't know how I feel about this one. Suggestions? Improvements?
