I have been in this kind of situation countless times. I have been in this kind of problem before. I never learn. I never see it coming. I always end up committing the same mistake over and over again. Here’s how the viscous vicious A.W.F.U.L. cycle goes.
The Aim. It starts out ever so easy with a simple goal in mind: finish a sub60 10k, finish my first half marathon, finish a 10 miler. No matter what the goal is, big or small, I start out with a goal in mind and I want to reach that goal. The current goal right now is the Smart Subic International Marathon. I will conquer the 42 kilometers by hook or by crook. The pavement will bow to me, as if they weren’t already kissing my feet.
The Will. I start out strong. I start out with a training plan. I start out determined with red eyes. As soon as I have that goal in mind, I instantly have the will to condition myself to complete it. As soon as I said that I will join the Smart Subic International Marathon, I instantly told myself that I will train a lot and run a lot for it. 42 kilometers is no short distance and it’s not like a 5 kilometer race where you can let yourself out from the start. As I’ve said before, running is a mind game too and I must train my and will myself to run.
The Force. I have the Aim, the Will, now I have the Force. It may sound kitschy and cliché but that’s what really under the hood. A great big force that will drive and push me to train and condition myself for my goal. It is at this point of the cycle that I have the most energy and determination.
The Ugly. Just as I had the most force and energy in the previous stage of the cycle, I am faced with the Ugly. I am faced with a big hindrance to my goal. It has been a lot of things but a lot of times the ugly is myself. There was a time that I had so much of the Force in me that I got too complacent and trained less. There was a time where I would just slack off and be too easy on my trainings. I was the ugly a lot back then and I could not blame anybody but myself. I’ve in this situation a lot of times but never have I seen myself overcoming the stage of becoming the Ugly. As race day for the Smart Subic International Marathon draws near, there are only two choices that face me right now, rant or pant. It’s either a rant like a little kid that didn’t get what he wanted when he opened his gift on Christmas morning, or pant like a pug while I strive to gain more mileage for the run. Here’s to hoping I pant more.
The last and final stage of the cycle is The Laughter. I end the cycle with a big happy 12 year old girl scout giggle. Things haven’t always ended as how I’ve planned it but I sure did have fun getting there. How will my Smart Subic International Marathon end? Will it end with me crawling or sprinting to the finish? Will it end with me rolling down like I’m looking for my missing piece? What ever the outcome will be on October 24, one thing is for certain, I will end it with a big happy 12 ear old girl scout giggle. Not this kind of girl scout though so some of you guys might get disappointed. It will certainly be not like this one, sorry my dear P’s. Maybe more like this one but with a big smile.
See you guys at race day. Bring your game faces because I will surely bring mine.