ROB OSBORNE | Go Forth & Conquer
So a little bit about me. I'm an artist, a writer, a creative thinker, a runner, a husband, a father, and everything else. I draw cartoons, design things, make things go.
Are you interested in art? Living a life of adventure? World domination? Then you may like what's happening here.
The world is yours. Go forth and conquer!
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For more, visit: http://robosborne.net
And: http://absolutetyrant.com
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New people are tuning in to the bloggy-blog all the time, so please allow me a moment to set the table. Soon, I turn 39 years old. In celebration, I intended to run thirty-nine miles.
On Saturday, I did just that.
It took me 8 hours and 50 minutes. The longest I’d run previously was a marathon, so this was thirteen extra miles over my longest run ever.
This kind of experience typically shares its wisdom with me in drips and drabs. I’ll be showering, and my mind will wander back to the run. Then, I’ll have an ah-ha moment.
Nevertheless, I’ve got some pearls that are ready for consideration. I’m not claiming that these are flashy, new concepts. These are just some thoughts. Some are tips I found in my research, preparing for the long run. So off we go.
- Start slow, go slower. This is an approach I’ve been reluctant to employ. The ambitious runner in me wants to start every run fast-ish. The thinking being that a solid start is the foundation of a solid overall time. For the 39-miler, I replaced this thinking with “start slow and go slower.” I did just that, starting slower than my goal pace, and I’m damn proud of that.
- It doesn’t get longer or harder. This is about progress. Every step you take toward the finish line is diminishing the remaining race. You might think, “hey, it CAN get harder. Because it might be more difficult, more insufferable to continue.” True, but it will never get harder in this sense: there will never be more race ahead of you.
- Keep making progress. Sweet in its simplicity, this one is a friend in those tough moments that come during a long run. No matter your situation, no matter the pain in your legs, if you keep making progress, you’re making progress. It’s the sibling of “don’t stop” and “always forward”.
- It’s not that hard unless I make it hard. By pacing myself, drinking lots of fluids, and fueling up with foodstuffs, I paved the way for a successful 39-miler.
That’s all for now. More to come.
