"The limits are only in the head"
So there I was, the "silently afraid" newbie, starting my very first SLR (officially the SLR V)
with the super team of "running freaks" as Mr.L once described. I was very nervous because of both: the distance and the weather (not too cold, but for me everything below 7C is considered very cold.).
We started in Kista surroundings aiming to get to the city. After running for a while, the weather was not an issue anymore since it became the perfect weather! 0c and no wind, but then, my other worry began to emerge:
"How long it takes to run from Kista to the city? it most be a looong way! I wont make it!" - my head was constantly shouting. My fear came from the fact that the longest distance I run so far is the 21km for Stockholm's Halv Marathon and that race didn't go well; I crashed after 15km and I chose to erase the last 6km from my memory.
Back to the SLR, everything went very smooth as the SLR was perfectly planned thanks to El Maco who guided us through a nice and beautiful road, unseen territory for me; We ran at a "slow pace" "slow pace??, 7min/km is slow pace!! we are going fast!"- my head started to scream again. I've never liked to quit, so I just shut up my head and continue running. It was until then that I realized that we were running at a slow pace indeed (around 6:10min/km) and that Kista
is not that far from the city and that I always have the option to either quit with a very
unpleasant feeling afterwards or just suck it up (as my trainer would say) and challenge myself to at least finish this and get my rush of endorphins.
So I said goodbye to the former SLR team after 11km approx and run towards home which in total sum up to 14km only. And I said
"only" because former SLR team went for more than 21 km, as the SLR requires as the minimum distance. Therefore, for me this was a mini-SLR but definitely a very good one. I could actually quiet my head and forget about my own thoughts to get a hint of what it is said:
"Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional" affirmation that I truly understood after the recent SLR VI, but that story is left for the 2nd part of this chronicle...
So there I was, the "silently afraid" newbie, starting my very first SLR (officially the SLR V)
with the super team of "running freaks" as Mr.L once described. I was very nervous because of both: the distance and the weather (not too cold, but for me everything below 7C is considered very cold.).
We started in Kista surroundings aiming to get to the city. After running for a while, the weather was not an issue anymore since it became the perfect weather! 0c and no wind, but then, my other worry began to emerge:
"How long it takes to run from Kista to the city? it most be a looong way! I wont make it!" - my head was constantly shouting. My fear came from the fact that the longest distance I run so far is the 21km for Stockholm's Halv Marathon and that race didn't go well; I crashed after 15km and I chose to erase the last 6km from my memory.
Back to the SLR, everything went very smooth as the SLR was perfectly planned thanks to El Maco who guided us through a nice and beautiful road, unseen territory for me; We ran at a "slow pace" "slow pace??, 7min/km is slow pace!! we are going fast!"- my head started to scream again. I've never liked to quit, so I just shut up my head and continue running. It was until then that I realized that we were running at a slow pace indeed (around 6:10min/km) and that Kista
is not that far from the city and that I always have the option to either quit with a very
unpleasant feeling afterwards or just suck it up (as my trainer would say) and challenge myself to at least finish this and get my rush of endorphins.
So I said goodbye to the former SLR team after 11km approx and run towards home which in total sum up to 14km only. And I said
"only" because former SLR team went for more than 21 km, as the SLR requires as the minimum distance. Therefore, for me this was a mini-SLR but definitely a very good one. I could actually quiet my head and forget about my own thoughts to get a hint of what it is said:
"Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional" affirmation that I truly understood after the recent SLR VI, but that story is left for the 2nd part of this chronicle...
Excellent written Gaby. Please note that a long run has to be more than 20km, not 21km.
SvaraRaderaWill be interesting to read your SLR VI story. You looked so strong!!!
So great to read your story Gaby !
SvaraRaderaI fully agree with you, at least 75% is always in your mind. Of course you suffer less if you are well trained but no runners in the world are is free from this mental ghost. This is what makes long distnace running so special. Afterwards you are always a king/queen, agian and agian and agian. That's why we call ourselves "lifetime runners" . Looking forward to part two :-)
Gaby. Dont forget that during your first SLR you had no gloves and no cap. Not that good preparation. Your second SLR was far better. Totally equipped and prepared!
SvaraRadera