What motivates me?

I was reading the latest issue of Runner's World {more like devouring it the second I got home after picking up the package my parents sent with Chevi, which consisted of 1 December issue of Runner's World, a freezer bag filled with Clif Bars and 9 postcards with yours trully waving to the crowd - my mom - as I finished the marathon and captured by the marathon photgraphers(!!)} and I came across an article called Get Fired Up and the article interviewed all different types of people who live different lifestyles but share the same interest in running and began to analyze what motivates each person to continue to wake up or go to sleep really late just so that they can get in that much needed run. It all boils down to the fact that you have to want to run as opposed to thinking that you need to run and then everything else will fall into place. Obviously there are aspects that motivate us to want to run. They are competence, relatedness and autonomy. I guess all 3 motivate me to run.

Competence meaning that you started at a certain point a certain way and over time you improve to become a better runner. Check. I now enjoy sprinting up hills.

Relatedness is the feeling of belonging to something greater and being part of a community, of runners. Check. I feel part of a community of runners, especially during races but if you asked my non-running friends they would say I'm part of a community of crazies :)

Autonomy is being in control of your running destiny, its up to you if you are going to run today and no one will give you slack about it except your conscience. Check. I am in control of my own destiny, I guess. I chose to sign up for the Jerusalem Marathon and therefore I am following a certain training schedule where I have to do what it says or I won't feel so competent anymore.

All technical terms aside, I like the way I feel after a run and even sometimes during a run and that is what keeps me running.

Until next time.

Peace.

Runner's high. Addictive?

So...
I have been contemplating running the Jerusalem Half Marathon in March and was planning on keeping up the running, but with less intensity, before starting to train again for another race. And then... someone told me that I should just do the full marathon if I've just done the marathon and running feels good, that I'm in prime shape to do another one in 4 months' time. Plus, I get to be part of history and run the 1st ever Jerusalem Marathon! I live in this city, might as well take part in such a great event. So... I signed up and paid (so that it's official).

Now I have to start training. I have decided to try another method called the FIRST method. Their approach to training is "Less is More", meaning running 3 quality runs per week, each day a different type. Sundays will be my long run days, Wednesdays my speed work and Fridays my tempo runs. Plus 2 days of 45 minutes of cross training and weights (of course)... I think I should be able to keep up with this program with school and all the other things that I do. I will just be administering acupuncture to myself to keep me awake and strong :)

Since the marathon is at the end of March, I don't officially need to start training until December 8th which gives me a good amount of time to get back up to running for an hour and a half. Danielle and I went for a 45 min run Sunday night and it was really good. I decided to sprint up all the uphills without telling her but I think we did well. This Sunday night's run will be a little over an hour and Wednesday will probably have some sprints and Friday a nice short/fast run. There will definitely be hill repeats this time around since there are a million hills that need to be conquered during the marathon itself. I don't even want to talk about the route. Its going to be nice, scenic, historic and LONG. It also cuts back on itself numerous times which I am less thrilled about but in the end it will be a big challenge and thats what I'm looking for. Over the passed week I have come to the conclusion that people should challenge themselves at least once during their life to feel alive and worthy to be living (not necessarily in the form of a marathon). I did it once and it felt great. That runner's high really is an addictive drug. Some people say its dangerous. I say they are just weaklings.

'Till next time.

Peace.

Back in the game. Almost.

The marathon was two weeks ago and I feel as if it never happened. I went to the gym last week pretty much everyday, each time concentrating on a different muscle group and using the stationary bike for about an hour. Thursday night I tried out the treadmill and with only 20 minutes that I had to spare, I think it went pretty well. I ran the first 11 minutes on 11 kmh, walked 2 minutes and the last 6 minutes I ran on 12 kmh. Sunday night I decided to go out for a run. It was really cold so I wore my Solomon running jacket, which is amazing and I should have brought it to Italy, next time... I ran down Azza to Gan Sacher, cut through the park and ran up Bezalel and back home. I think all together I was out for 20-25 minutes. I met my cousin in the park, by chance, which was nice. We ran a bit together and then parted ways. All in all, I think it was a successful first attempt. My legs were definitely tired on those uphills and I think I should have started out a bit slower than I did.

Tonight I will try again and hopefully, Danielle will come with me this time.