The Mental Game

When training this last weekend, I promised myself I would do a certain distance and fulfill that commitment. This is a pattern I make all the time, I commit to a challenge each running session before I train, also depending on the type of training, for example; hill reps, interval sessions, etc. But most of the time, for me the commitment at the beginning of a session is made on time not distance, so I changed it a little this time…

The real commitment this time whether it be time or distance was in staying power. I’m not talking about endurance with physical staying power that the body needs to make the distance or time. This time I’m talking about the mental staying power, which so many experienced runners warned me about in the early days of training for my marathon challenge last year. People who had ran marathons and ultra marathons, all saying the same thing; “Running a marathon is a mental game Donna.” Back then I initially focused on my physical capabilities and how I could improve on them every day!

Hearing these words more than once; “It’s a mental game Donna.” I thought there must be some truth in this. Of course they were right! I experienced this on marathon day and all through the training before hand in fact, especially through tough times of injuries, lack of encouragement from certain people in my life, and the death of my brother last year. These were all tough times mentally that I had to pull through and turn them around to get me over the line…each day!

So getting back to my weekend training session, the weather was fine at first a little cool, but that’s fine for me as I warm up quickly when running. However today there was no warming up or taking off my jacket after a km, instead there was rain and strong winds to run against like a slow motion Bionic Woman episode or was that Baywatch?… Whatever! It was hard going and very challenging (even the cricket team I ran past packed up and left) and the thought of stopping this distance challenge and racing home in the hope of feeling fine with quitting “Sheez! It’s a valid excuse and I’m not training for a freakin’ marathon or running to save the world” said the voice in my mind.

But what I did have in my mind also was a 10yr old boy named Thomas. I will be running a 5km fun run with Thomas next Sunday and this will be his first 5km fun run ever. We are both super excited to be running together and he is doing something even extra special with this run. He has decided to raise funds for the MS Foundation, in hope to find a cure for MS, only just recently finding out his mother has been diagnosed with MS.

Thomas is a real example of strength and a champion going through challenges and fighting on, as he too has been a patient of the Royal Children’s Hospital, just as I was and has been following my RDR journey. He ran a little with me on marathon day last year and was one of the ‘Whys’ that kept me going the distance that day. It was windy and raining and even hailed that day, but nothing was going to stop me from completing the marathon, not even the extreme pain I was feeling in my right hip.

So thinking of Thomas last weekend, thinking of the weather (I have ran in before and survived) and thinking that maybe it just may be raining and windy on the 5km run with Thomas on Sunday, there was no way in my mind I could stop my training session and race home and quit.

Nearing the end of my distance challenge the strong wind and rain stopped and the sun came out, feeling as if it were congratulating me for making the distance and not giving up 🙂 It was all worth it.

Have you ever been so close to a goal and let something get in the way, because it just wasn’t going as you planned? Some things may get in the way or even some things out of your control will blow you off track. Is that a reason to quit and go home?

Please show your support to Thomas at https://give.everydayhero.com/au/thomas-running-for-ms  he is very close to his goal.

The Power is in Me!…it’s in You too!

Donna

 

Looking back to move forward

Last week I wrote about time and dare I say ‘Time Management’ the term we often shy away from, thinking maybe that’s possible for someone who has a Personal Assistant 🙂

It got me thinking about time and goals that I’m pursuing.

Yes, this week I had a ‘moment’ with a goal where I was left feeling flat and disappointed. It is a running goal that I’ve set with a time and date. This is to happen in a couple of weeks time, so I thought I’d test myself out.

This run had me a little disappointed this weekend, ok I was in tears! I ran for a certain time; smiling, being grateful that I CAN run and doing the best I could on the day … and didn’t make the distance in the time planned and YES I was disappointed. “In tears about a dumb run?” The voice in my head questions almost mocking me. Yes, I cannot believe I’m admitting this to you.

This made me think of my running journey and looking back at my diary, I read:

“Jan 21, 2013 – Doing my long brisk walk session this evening, I found myself walking along a path with a huge grin on my face. This isn’t as long as I once thought… not so long ago it was a massive achievement to run this length. Now I finally take time to breathe and look back at how far I’ve come and the improvements I have made.

This is something I’m learning to do with this marathon challenge, as I have done in the past with my whole life journey, just to pause once in a while, breathe and look back and see how far I have come and where I am going.

I have heard people say, even motivational speakers, “Look forward and never look back.” I understand what they mean, but I still think looking back for me, personally reminds me of the journey that has led me to now hasn’t always been rainbows and lollipops reminding me how I have succeeded and struggled in the past to get to my goals. At this particular moment I am reminded of the fact that it takes baby steps to get to a big goal. So I look back at my small baby steps here; 30 steps, then this path and next my 5.3km fun run challenge and now it appears more achievable in my mind, encouraging me to keep believing in me.” 

Reading this brings me to a state that encourages me to keep going, keep striving to reach my goal, even if it doesn’t happen on the exact date. I must also admit, I haven’t put in the training time as I should to train for such a result to happen…

Have you ever made a goal and haven’t quite reached it at the exact time you aimed for? We all do it from time to time; I’m not claiming to be Queen Goal Achiever 🙂 So maybe we should look back once in a while and keep striving for that goal and pat ourselves on the back for the distance we have made already along the way…I’m not just talking about running.

The Power Is In Me…it’s in You too!

Donna

Too busy?

So last week I was set a challenge by a friend…as you know, I love a good challenge!

If you take a peek at my last blog; he figuratively slapped me in the face to make a point of my need to keep going, moving forward and make the time to write. Write my book…as planned.

Ok, I came up with some fairly convincing excuses, as we all can do from time to time AND time was one of them. So now following what was my idea, well not exactly my idea, but a topic I once trained people in ‘Time Management.’ Time Management, boring blah blah blah…yawning as I think of this idiom… but maybe not so boring after all!

I’ve realised that when making this into a challenge or even wanting to prove my friend WRONG…(grinning as I write). Children do this all the time, maybe the child still hasn’t left my mind yet. I am currently enjoying the step I have made to move closer to my goal and not see it as a chore.

This could even be compared to training for a marathon, putting in the time, the km’s, the effort, this all comes out to be a positive result in the end, right?

To refresh your mind on what my challenge is; I promised my friend last week I’d set aside at least one hour (this included switching off my phone and email) to write at a specific time each day giving my book the respect it deserves AND the people who read it. These words made me realise there was a true meaning to this challenge and not just about proving my friend wrong. The report; I am even writing more than one hour most days!

Well, what if we looked at this even in our bigger picture? We could make everyday efforts a challenge in our own mind or have a friend, partner or even colleague make us accountable if this is what’s needed to move forward.

Instead of making excuses to our imaginary friend in our mind whom always understands and allows us to get away with missing that training session, or eating that extra cake or just finishing off the last cigarette packet for the one millionth time, or even just watching another two hours of TV. But what’s wrong with that? I hear your brains humming 🙂 Nothing!

Nothing if you are good with creating a gap that’s way too big to even contemplate your goal. A gap away (not toward) from you running a marathon and empowering your son, or you losing weight and feeling great about yourself for fitting into those slim jeans, or you quitting the cigarettes for better health and seeing your kids grow, or you spending more quality time with your partner than with a box opposite your couch.

Remind yourself when setting your challenge and reaching for your goal to focus on what you are aiming for…just sayin’

 

The Power Is In Me…it’s in You too!

Donna

 

Ouch!

Creating time around our BIGGER picture goals is another goal in itself, it seems. I am finding this when writing my book.

Have you ever found yourself dreaming of a wish, goal, aim…whatever you want to call it? But hear yourself (whether it is out loud or that annoying voice in your head) saying; “Where will I find the time?” or “I don’t have the time!” or “There are higher priorities than me following some dream.” Oh, it looks sad when I see it written in words, but we find ourselves saying this too often.

I found this has been the case for me recently unfortunately. Yes, there have been distractions in my life in the last month or so that were truly important…but also if I think about it, I have allowed other not so important diversions get in the way.

Just the other day I had a discussion with someone about the lack of commitment I have recently felt toward my book writing, not intentionally, but maybe subconsciously through fears of my own. He stated; “Donna, you need to share your story, think of the people you will be helping when they read it.” Yes, I have heard this said to me before but then he went on; “Donna, STOP being selfish! This is not about you, this is about your message that you need to share, so give this book the respect that it needs!”

Whoa! Ouch! Was this a slap in the face OR just what I needed to hear? Whatever you call it, it shook me up! After we spoke of the lives that I have already touched, inspired and encouraged, including adults and children, and even how parents have stated to me how I have become a role model, this was the stuff that took me aback; me, a role model?! To children?! This is the kinda stuff that is honestly scary to me… maybe the stuff that makes me a little nervous about writing.

But after looking back with my friend, who just knocked me out, realising the impact that little ol’ me has given with my story already, he was right! I had to get out of my head and into my heart.

Reminding me also of other BIG goals I have achieved. The marathon I achieved by remembering “why”…Why was I doing (some would say) this ridiculous challenge? Why was it so important for me to achieve? These are the questions we need to keep reminding ourselves when setting a goal, WHY? Yes, it is important to know how too, but the real reason for reaching your goal comes from your why… and setting a date.

So the steps I now promised my friend I’d do were to set aside at least one hour (switch of my phone and email…aahh!!) to write at a specific time each day to give my book the respect it deserves AND the people who read it. Ready! Set! Go!

What steps will you make to reach your goal!

 

The Power Is In Me…it’s in You too!

Donna

A Frame in Time

Have you ever gone back in time with thoughts that bring a smile to your face? Or thoughts that may even leave you feeling in a state of agony? Or perhaps the sound of a tune brings back an emotion that captures you in the exact state of feeling and brings a picture from the past in your mind or even that physical tingling of joy that is associated with that tune. We’ve all been there right?

I am feeling this today as I write and reflect back in time of past stories I am sharing in my book. I keep going on about how scary and exciting this is, but it is also a adventure that I am happy to go back to and experience all the exciting moments all over again, which is my aim as a writer to take you into a journey as if you are in it and there with your own thoughts and eyes to see what you wish through my words of reflection. However there are moments of my past that bring tears to my heart, but also give me and the reader the opportunity to reflect and feel different emotions all over again.

Today though, I am pleased to be writing about when I first started sharing with people close to me, other than my coach’s, about my huge marathon challenge.

The feelings of excitement that I had in myself, to learn to run again came rushing back. That original feeling even gave me the past feeling before that; from a memory of myself at seven years of age, running across the school oval in a race with my classmates and coming across the line first. Not really fully realising back then the distance of what a marathon would be like on foot. Yes, I knew it was 42.2 kms but that was a number I really hadn’t initially fully comprehended. I just knew it was a huge goal and that I was going for it and that I was excited.

As silly, naive or some would say just plain stupid as that may seem, I like to think of it as an exciting time and a case of having no fear of the unknown…this makes me smile as I write.
It reminds me of how we can associate feelings we place on ourselves that we connect with any goal. This can be a positive result or even end up as a negative.

If I held onto negative feelings associated with running a marathon, then that is what would have manifested negativity, and I would not have even started training for it.
So today’s writing has put me in a frame of time, bringing back an animated feeling, giving a response of joyful overwhelm all over again as if I were back in that picture.

Who knows what tomorrows writing will bring, it’s not all sunshine and lollipops…but that’s what makes life interesting.

The Power is in Me…it’s in You too!
Donna

It’s all in the mind

Announcing my scary goal to you a couple of weeks ago was a very big deal to me! Yes I have made the commitment of writing a book that reveals my true essence, sharing my thoughts and interpretation of my journey!

This is truly a big commitment. It’s time consuming and sometimes mind boggling as to how I am going to fit this into a legible form of interest; involving my experiences, story of determination, struggles, humour, motivation and lessons in my effort to pass on encouragement, inspiration, curiosity and hope this will guide readers into a time of reflection and motivation. I have done this many times at speaking events, but to write a book; to bring a certain voice to my pages can be a tricky mission.

For those who know me well, realise I am a person who detests being called a sufferer or a victim…eeew that really doesn’t work for me. I explain my story as a grateful survivor who just likes to get on with things and believe that there’s no such thing as can’t…

In the past I never liked to draw attention to myself regarding my stroke or diabetes, but then WHAM! Run Donna Run happened www.RunDonnaRun.com.au with no other reason but to raise funds for the RCH and encourage others, it was a huge personal goal too. No, I didn’t have to make a big song about it, but it just kind of grew into something I am proud to say made a positive difference and still does.

So back to the book writing dilemma, is it a dilemma or a process that I’ll grow into as the pages come to life? Yes, I write short pieces, such as my blogs, or articles where you are so wonderful to give feedback…good or bad, I am open to opinions and constructive criticism…although it’s all been good so far, thanks! 🙂

This reminds me of my first solo art exhibition a few years ago. I was revealing my work without hiding behind other artists talent, it was all me! Whilst being exciting it was scary too when I paused before opening night! Would people like it? Would they purchase my work? Would they totally bag it? Having a conversation with a friend of a pleased buyer at my exhibition; he said once he stopped painting for himself and painted what he thought would sell, that was when he actually didn’t sell! Hmm…interesting observation.

Where am I going with this? Well, it makes me think of scary challenges I’ve faced in the past, surviving a stroke, learning to walk again, changing my little sisters nappy (she probably won’t read this… 😉 ), launching a solo art exhibition, learning to run all over again (after 34 years) 30 steps to a marathon in 11 months…now writing a book… it’s written, in my mind, I just have to transform it into text.

We all have our own version of paintings, books, running a marathon, some sort of scary and exciting challenge, but do we go with “what sells” or conform to others expectations? Or go with our heart and our own PB (personal best)?

 

The Power is in Me…it’s in You too!

Donna

Back in ‘blogger world’

It’s been awhile since I have written in ‘blogger world’, apologies if it appears that I have neglected you.

If you have been following me at www.RunDonnaRun.com.au  or  www.facebook.com/RunDonnaRun you will have seen I created a running group called ‘PIIMP My Run’ (Power Is In Me Program) this was a 20 week online training program, providing keen participants with a program, this included expert running training and a nutrition program from my awesome coach’s, along with our continual motivation, fun and encouragement to reach the goal to Run For The Kids in April. Some travelled to Melbourne, while others ran in their town/city. We all raised funds for the RCH, here is the team http://www.rundonnarun.com.au/#!piimp-team/c22uy I am very proud of this awesome group who inspired me throughout the program, and some had never ran before this program! PIIMP team members are now going on to bigger challenges of their own and have found a new love, running!

My goal as you may know is to raise $50,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital which is something I am continually focusing on to achieve in 2014.

My next RDR challenge and fundraising activity is called ‘Falling for a Cause’ http://www.rundonnarun.com.au/#!falling-for-a-cause/cydj involving a team of 20 adventurous people to skydive with me in October 2014, for the kids at the RCH.

As you can tell I have been busy so hence I have been away from writing in ‘blogger world.’ I hope you will forgive me for the break and welcome me back.

Writing has been something I have dabbled in from a young age as far back as primary school, I loved creative writing. My mother even kept a story I wrote about a hippopotamus in my backyard, written on ancient paper with blue lines 5 cm apart. Always keeping a journal when I was younger and in my over analytical teenage faze and writing letters to my cousins and aunties who lived afar, back when we hand wrote letters and sent them in an envelope with a stamp. I even secretly considered myself a poet in my latter years of high school, although I would dread to read them now and come to realise why it were a secret (silently giggling to myself).

My next personal challenge is one without a team, a challenge that is solely my own that reveals my truth, my vulnerability and my soul. It’s a truly scary but exciting challenge that I have held inside and now revealing this to you means that I need to follow through, just as I did with my original RDR marathon challenge.

Doctors regretfully told my parents when I was 8 years of age; I would never walk or talk again after surviving a stroke and other serious complication. Many people who hear my story of determination, are amazed and quite frequently tell me; “Donna, you should write a book!”  So, by popular demand, this is my new challenge that I am sharing with you. I am writing a book! Aauugghh!!

There’s no such thing as can’t…

Donna

Pushing Back Harder

Recently I was lucky to meet an amazing woman on a running track…
but was it luck?

We met whilst fighting our own personal war (not with each other, but with ourselves) while running a marathon last month! Yes, I am a marathon runner! It feels great to brag about it 😉

Her name is Athena and I am grateful to have met this inspiring woman.

We, my wonderful team and I, ran beside her and noticed she was at a point of struggle. We asked Athena, “Do you want to join us?” thinking she may benefit from our camaraderie. Pointing out that she was finding it tough, but looked appreciative of our offer, Athena hopped on board.  We encouraged Athena and kept up with our high spirits of “let’s do this together and achieve!” attitude, even though admittedly I was experiencing great hip pain myself.

It was at the 10km mark where we met our new found goddess of heroic endeavour, who was close to quitting, as Athena was in great pain and was fighting her own conflict of the mind. Only two weeks before she was hit by a car! Yes, physically hit by a four-wheel drive vehicle when running! But she was here! Running a marathon! Fighting her own battle! This was a very reasonable, some would argue qualified reason to stop at 10km and many would pat her on the back and say “Good on you Athena for trying, 10km is great…”

It is even amazing that Athena turned up to the start line!

After meeting us, Athena proclaimed that she would run to the halfway mark, “yes, that sounds like a great achievement, well done for going halfway!” said the voice in her mind with the white suit and wings, stroking her forehead.

We reached the halfway mark, to see Athena was still on her heroic journey! This was a tough game, made slightly easier (I said slightly) at times with encouragement, great team spirit; determination and positive self talk. I am speaking from my own experience too of this massive challenge.

As we ran, my coach revealed my personal story with our new team member. About my survival of a childhood stroke and determination to achieve my marathon goal, after just learning to run 11 months before where I could only run 30 steps. This inspired her even more to stick with us and keep going on this purposeful journey.

Stories were shared along this taxing track of challenging weather conditions and immense physical pain. We were impressed to learn that Athena had run in the Athens marathon the year before and that it was a victory like no other. (Hearing her name was Athena and she had run the Athens marathon impressed us alone!…haha).

Her Athens challenge was an amazing run, she trained with her heart and soul to run for her Grandfather who lived in Greece and was no longer able to walk, but had a fighting spirit of a soldier sharing his love and positive advice to his inspired Granddaughter and many who knew him; “When Life Pushes You! Push Back Harder!”  This quote had stuck in her mind all the way during her marathon wars and applies to her positive and inspiring attitude in life.

Sadly Athena’s Grandfather passed away before her massive Athens marathon achievement began; although he was still with her in spirit pushing her on to achieve her special marathon victory.

There are people we meet in life that inspire us, that will live in our mind forever, this is the case for Athena with her much loved Grandfather, and this is the case for me with the strong amazing woman that ran with us till the very end.

Watching Athena achieve her tough goal, for me… was gold.

The Power is in You!

Donna