Set, beleive, acheive!

I found it and held it for about 100meters then... I lost it again. Running at 4min km pace is something I used to do all the time. When I weighed 75kgs and ran 3 or 4 times a week. Back then (6 years ago) I also swam 2 times a week and cycled 3 times a week. It is amazing looking back and realising how much time I spent exercising. No wonder I was so fit and so light on my feet.

Back then I would complete an 8km run in 40mins as my recovery run of a morning arriving home without breaking a sweat, feeling fresh and ready to start the day. Today I can run 8kms in 40mins but it is not a recovery run and I do not feel so fresh, although I am hoping this changes over the coming months as my long runs become my short runs and my long runs become extremely long runs.

It’s crazy to think that less than three months ago I couldn’t run for more than 10mins without needing to walk and catch my breath. On Sunday I ran for 1 hour and 20mins and in several weeks my average long run on a Sunday will be 2 hours and 2 hours plus, averaging 21kms on a Sunday then creeping up to 36kms before tapering for the marathon.

Am I scared, yes.

Have I run these distances before, yes.

Do I find confidence in this, a little bit.

Do I believe I can run these distances again and achieve my goal of running 42.2kms on the 3 of July this year, you bet I do!

And that’s half the battle, believing you can do it. Looking down the barrel of the wave and knowing you can ride it through to the end. Studying for three years and then walking across the stage to collect your degree. Setting a realistic, achievable goal and then working damn hard to achieve it. Having other people around you who encourage you all the way to the finish line can also help a lot but at the end of the day you have to believe you can achieve the goal that you have set.

At the moment I believe I can do all the training that is required, running 20kms most other weekends and 28kms, 32kms, 36kms and the 42.2kms on the 3^rd of July, it is up to my body to push through the pain and the torture that awaits it and recover each week before the next session. But it the next few weeks I have the Canberra Half Marathon to aim towards. I received my timing chip and running number today and I am looking forward to smashing out a solid but conservative 21.1kms on the 10^th or April 2011.

How about you, how is your training going, are you on track to achieve your goals, do you have the belief in yourself to achieve the goal you have set?

If you are having doubts on your ability or need a mantra to keep you focused in the coming weeks, try this one:

Set, Believe, Achieve!

As you are training, repeat this to yourself over and over and see what it does to your confidence and performance. It will keep you on track, go out there and achieve your goal J