Here’s my word of the week. Momentum. The number one thing I hear from others is how do you have the motivation to run? I am not sure exactly where it comes from just that I woke up one day about a year ago and decided I wanted to learn how to run ultramarathons. I am not yet an ultramarathoner but that is my eventual goal.
In fact, the furthest I have run so far is 22kms. Which is not an ultra. But it is almost half of an ultra. So, I’m on my way. How did I get here? I put one step in front of the other. Simple as that. If I can just put one leg in front of the other repeatedly for a long period of time, I believe I will reach my goal. How far can you run before your body starts to complain? Before it tires? Before your mind gets tired of the repetitive motion of running and you just want to slow down to a more economical gait, such as walking. For most people their body and mind start telling them no in a few kms. For some its even less. But training to do ultras the question becomes how far back you can push those nos. It starts with one kilometre at a time. Until before you know it you only have halfway to go, then only a few kms. And then you are almost sad that all the running is over.
What is carrying you through in those tough kms? The ones where you want to give up? Well training is key of course, both mental and physical toughness. But also, one other thing. Momentum. The momentum of training for months on end for this. The momentum of not stopping, of keeping moving despite the obstacles you face. That is what gets you through a run.
There are two key moments in a stride. Stance phase in which your leg is planted down, I think of this as your motivation phase, the phase which drives you. Why are you running? Why do you want to be here? And then there is the swing phase, where your leg is airborne. This is your momentum, and it is powerful. Try stopping that leg midway when it is already swinging through. It is much easier to just let it carry all the way through into the next step. And before you know it you will eat up the miles under those powerful legs. Until you forgot what standing still even feels like. If you can gather enough momentum you will propel yourself through even the hardest moments in life.
I started running almost a year ago today. And I am still running. Momentum is carrying me through. Following through with each stride. And when I falter, I am kind to myself, not beating myself up for not being good enough. For perhaps today I am not where I want to be. But tomorrow who knows how far my legs will carry me. I have run before. But never like this. Running has taken on a new meaning for me in my life. Running is about smiling, about being outdoors, about living my best life. It is not a chore but a way to appreciate what my body can do. And most importantly, a way to gather momentum for the rest of my life.
After all, if I can conquer the kilometres, what can’t I do?
Wild at Heart 