I used to be one of those people who would “only run if someone was chasing me.” Then one day a few years ago I had the urge to go for a run. It was a rainy day and by the time I returned I was soaked and strangely invigorated. That was that. I was addicted. But I didn’t really have a goal. I just ran casually to burn calories and feel good.

When I was young I used to occasionally participate (begrudgingly) in races with my father. They were usually short Christmas or Thanksgiving runs. Last November I signed up for a Thanksgiving 5k, willingly, for the first time. It had probably twenty years since I raced (okay, I walked) with my father. I didn’t really train or try to push myself. I just went and did the deed. I was ashamed, nay, annoyed, when I finished with an abysmal time. I was running something like 15 minute miles. I could have walked faster.

That race was one (of many) impetuses to get in better shape. I wanted something to train for in the future so sometime after that run, and shortly before I started this blog, I signed up for the Warrior Dash 5k in July 2013. That race was the original inspiration for this blog, hence the name theyearofthewarrior. But as time moved along I realized I needed more races to keep me moving along. I sort of floundered around for a while and put it off and then I read a book gifted to me by my stepfather called Eat and Run by Scott Jurek. I had formed a small obsession with ultra running after reading Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run. But McDougall looked at the sport from a soft angle. He was more of a fan and reporter. Reading Jurek’s book, which looked at the sport through the eyes of one of its top elite runners, took my small obsession with ultra running and made it a large one. Once I finished the book I needed a race to run and I needed it sooner rather than later.

So I signed up for a race this Thanksgiving. There were other races before November but they were all filled up, scheduled on days I had to work, or grossly expensive. The Asheville Turkey Trot was the only race that seemed to have just the right timing and cost. Of course there was the added bonus of trying to beat last year’s time. To psych myself up I started listening to running podcasts (UltraRunnerPodcast.com and Marathon Training Academy are favorites) and reading more running books. With all that motivation in my head I got so psyched up that I signed up for a half marathon next September. And now I’m obsessing over doing a full marathon after that. And maybe, one day, an ultra if the legs hold up.

The best thing about finding running has been the motivation it provides. I have trouble eating better and pushing myself to exercise harder just for my own good. However, if I tell myself I’m doing it to have a better PR or to run further for my next race my brain jumps right on board. And every step I take towards being a better runner boosts my confidence in every other area of my life.

I’ve tried other ways to motivate myself to exercise and to get away from workout videos. I’ve thought about boxing or martial arts or team sports. These activities could be great motivators for some people (my husband for one loves team sports) but I could never really get started with any of these things, no matter how hard I try, because they just don’t gel with me. I don’t want to pay membership fees or go to practices or have team spirit. Honestly, I’m a cranky introvert that prefers to be alone most of the time and do things on my own schedule–especially when I’m exercising. A perfect candidate for long distance running.

So what’s my point here? Well, mainly to provide myself and maybe you, dear reader, with some motivation. My Thanksgiving race is only a few days away and I’m hoping for a new PR. I think I may very well have one. My practice runs have been significantly faster than last years race with an average of 13 minutes a mile rather than 15. Still slow but better than last year. I should be assured that I will beat last year’s time on Thursday but I’m still afraid I might bonk. So much of running, though, centers around one’s mental state. So I must tell myself that I won’t bonk. It’s only three miles. I do it all the time.

I’ve had to do the same thing with writing. It’s all psych psych psych. Really, psyching yourself up is everything. It sounds like some cheesy motivational BS but it’s true. Confidence is always more important than talent. No matter how good you may potentially be at something if you don’t have the confidence or inclination to do it you’re nothing.

If you are struggling to find motivation, like I once was, don’t look for it in the latest fad exercise or diet or writing book or whatever. I’ve tried it. It doesn’t work. Look for your motivation to be better within yourself. I know, you’re groaning right now, but it’s so true. Try and try until you find the things you really love, not the thing you think you should love (this can be tricky), and then tell yourself that you will be the best you can be. Then just do it. In the last five months I’ve found that exercise is the best starting point to building the confidence I need for every day life. Maybe it will work for you too. It’s really a simple thing and easy for anyone to do. Don’t want to be a distance runner then try team sports, don’t like running or can’t run due to physical limitations then try yoga. Anything where you can improve yourself physically will boost confidence which will transfer to every other aspect of your life.

I wore my Camelbak, more to carry my waterproof as the sky still looked like it could decide to rain at some time in the next 2 hours. Stuck some tape on the top of my feet (to prevent knot rubbing), tied on my Luna’s grabbed a bottle of Nuun and set out.

I was doing my 10 mile circuit, through Crane Park, along the river to Richmond, over the bridge and back along the river to Teddington Lock where I cross back again and then head back home through Teddington.

I was aiming for around 10:00 – 10:20 min/mile pace which I seem to settle into almost without thinking these days. That level of “autopilot”  is what I’m going to need a week on Saturday if I’m to run farther than I have ever run before, 69 miles!

As it was starting to get dark I wasn’t listening to my usual diet of running podcasts (UltraRunnerPodcast, Trail Runner Nation, Talk Ultra) , though I reckon I can recite Sunny Blende’s (from Chris McDougall’s “Born to Run” book) nutrition interviews (http://www.eat4fitness.com/) on running Ultra’s from memory!

I saw a couple of runners on the way to Richmond, but none after that point as it was getting dark and the path to Teddington is very dark in places and wooded. I was grateful for the incredible light from my headtorch (http://silva.se/products/sport/trail-runner) which gives a powerful central beam and 2 wide side beams which is very useful when you need to see outside of the usual “light tunnel” you get with some lights.

Alas the river had been high recently (and we’ve had lots of rain) so I was having to negotiate my way round lots of mud & puddles, trying to keep from getting mud between my feet and my sandals, as it is the one thing that makes running in them nigh on impossible, as you just slip and slide around on top of the sandal. It is the one reason I will be doing the ultra with my pair of Vibram FiveFingers KSO Trek in my pack, just as a backup in case my Luna Sandals become unwearable due to mud.

Don’t get me wrong I love my Luna’s, and have done trail runs where I have had to run through mud, but I’ve been able to wash off the mud quickly by standing in a puddle (boy do you get some funny looks) or using cups at a water station to wash your feet clean (funny looks there too), but if it is just miles of muddy trails then I’ll switch to VFFs.

I finally got home at 10:45pm, hungry (only had 2 shot bloks) but feeling like I could keep on running.

One week tomorrow I’ll be on the train to Carlisle (I’m taking the slow scenic route over what is considered the most scenic railway in england, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Settle-Carlisle_Line), starting The Wall 69 mile Ultra at 7:00am the next day.

Only a week to go, almost time to start laying out my running gear!

I weighed myself naked, went running for an hour, towelled myself dry, had a pee, and then got back on the scales. The result was a weight difference of 0.9 kilograms meaning I had lost almost a litre of fluid in an hour! That was running in the evening, at around 9:45 min/mile, HR of 60% and a bit chilly so I wore Toesox with my Luna’s.

I was a bit shocked, as even on EcoTrail I ran for 7.5 hours, in 22 degrees C, and probably drank only 2 or 3 litres (which may explain a few things alas).

Running “The Wall” 69 mile Ultra in June (http://thewallrun.com) in something like 18-20 hours means I will need to drink a hell of a lot, which is tricky as frankly the taste of water sucks, so I may have to look at Nuuns or something to a) make it taste better and b) get electrolytes back in.

Looks like I’ll be taking a drink with me for all runs an hour and over from now on.

A planned rest week.  Took an extra day off as well to recharge the batteries, because next week I start the real training schedule. Up until now it’s been about building a base to start the schedule I got from the great book: Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons by Bryon Powell. Bryon also runs the great ultrarunning website irunfar.com.

2-28-2011 – Tues: 7.5 miles – Wash Park

3-1-2011 – Thurs: 5 miles – Wash Park

3-4-2012 – Sun: 7.5 miles – Wash Park

Week Total: 20 miles

Nice run by the birds in the park

Sounds to run to:

Giant Sand – “Remote”  – Music, friends, family, beer…a fantastic video from an all time great band.

Sparklehorse – “Gold Day” – real pretty tune that I used to sing to my kids when they little.  Always gave me shivers on the line:  “…in silver piles of smile, may all you days be gold my child…”

Ultrarunnerpodcast.com – Great podcast!  Lots of excellent interviews with the sport’s top runners.  An especially informative episode with Ian Torrance this week.