About Me

My photo
I'm a 45 year old mother of 3 boys. I live in a beautiful old house that needs a lot of TLC with my youngest son and 2 dogs. I am working hard at keeping myself healthy and fit by working out and doing a spot of running. I'm a creative person and am passionate about keeping traditional skills alive. I cook, knit, bake, garden, preserve, read, write and am now learning to spin and quilt. Oh and I sometimes swear.....

Sunday, February 20, 2011

A different mindset

I know that no one will ever pick up running tips from reading this blog even though JK has kindly put me on the WHW blog roll.  In fact, I'm not sure if anyone picks up any tips on anything but I hope that if you take the time to read my ramblings you are at least amused or get an inkling of the workings inside my head!

I ran (nearly) 4 miles this morning.  Not far compared to the distances many of my friends can run but a good run for me.  Especially as it included a bit of a walk/run up Laggan Hill in Crieff.


Halfway up looking back


Halfway looking up and thinking 'Shit, it's steeper than I thought!'

I managed to run wee bits of it but one day I hope to be able to run all the way up it.  In fact, I'm going to say that one day soon I WILL run all the way up. That's how much my mindset has changed over the last few months. 


My shoes are muddier than Gordy's shoes!


Post run snack of chicken, bacon, tomatoes and guacamole on white toast!!

I have a lot of friends who are good runners and for years I've always felt inadequate that I couldn't just knock out 10ks and half marathons easily. But now that I've found something I believe in, I'm training in a completely different way and I find that I'm no longer comparing myself to anyone else. I'm doing it my way and I like the confidence it's given me. Not just in running, cycling or swimming but in all areas of my life.  Corny maybe but definitely a different mindset.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't think there's any need to compare yourself to others. Just get on and enjoy it; and, over time, maybe compare how you are doing with how you were doing a while back. Hopefully it is good news, like running all the way up that hill. If you do not seem to be improving, don't get upset. Dump the comparison thingy and enjoy each outing as it is ~ a pleasure, and a privilege, just to be out 'n about!

MtM

Fiona Rennie said...

Ali, glad you no long feel like you need to compare yourself to other runners, or anyone else. Take pride and pleasure from what you are achieving. The way I see it, some run fast miles, some run slow miles, some run long miles, some run short miles but it’s all running. Kinda like an old race t-shirt, one size fits all!

Debs M-C said...

Fiona - those T-shirts fit no one :-)

I was listening to a podcast when I was out running today and the chap called himself "self competitive" and he just wants to be the best he can be. Simple, but smart.

Debs xx

Unknown said...

Tell you what Ali it took me 25 years of running to discover I love running for the sake of it. That is, that it dosn't even matter that I've no race scheduled in. If you can get the mindset early on that there's no pressure and running is just bliss then you've learned quicker than me by about a quater of a century or so.
Have you run Lady Mary's Walk at Crieff and up Laggan?

allybea said...

Yep Bob, that's the run I did this morning. Dunno about running being bliss but it did make me feel great at the time. Sore now!

Debs, 'self competitive' is definitely me right now! It's about finding my limits and pushing myself out my comfort zone. And not just in running!

Fiona, wise words as always! I'm in the slow miles category but I'm ok with that.

Murdo, right now it is a privilege and a pleasure to be able to get out and about.

karinsmiles said...

Ali, your take on life, the universe and everything is brilliant. Like Clodhopper, it's taken me years to find that it's enough just to run because I love it - I'll always be at the back of the pack. As for tips, your slow-cooked chili beef with chocolate recipe was delicious. I love that your blog has a bit of everything in it - keep blogging with abandon.