“Think positive!” that’s what Coach Paul called out to me last week during speed work as I was fading fast with two more endless laps to go.  He was right of course.  So much of this running thing is mental and I am reminded of it during every workout.  It is a miracle what your mind can accomplish when you think your body just doesn’t have it to give. 

I ran the Celebration 5K on Sunday, July 4th and got a PR – and all because I had Coach’s words in my head pushing out the barrage of negative self talk that had settled in for the duration.   I was tired and hot and thinking about all the other things I would rather be doing, including getting a root canal.  I was thinking about my friends, most of whom had already finished the race, and I was worrying about keeping them waiting.  I was thinking about my running buddy Judy and hoping that she achieved her goal (she did by the way!)  I was thinking, “Please legs – please keep moving forward and DO NOT STOP.”  I was worrying about dry heaving at the end of the race and about how totally un-hot I must look with my bright red face, streams of perspiration dripping off my nose and crotch sweat.   Mostly I was thinking “Oh please…a little walking couldn’t hurt, could it? ”  (Apparently I do a lot of pleading with my inner self.) 

All of a sudden, when I needed it most, Coach’s voice popped into my head, “Think positive, YOU CAN DO THIS!”   I wasn’t sure how much further it was to the finish but those words kept me going and I was able to push myself harder.  And then Coach joined me a couple hundred meters from the finish, shouting more words of encouragement.

Truth be told, I dry heaved most of the last 200 meters, but I stopped caring about what I looked like or the pleasures of dental work and let my inner voice take over.  I crossed the finish line with a PR that was 22 seconds faster than my last 5K.

So think positive and be amazed at what you can accomplish!

Katrina Papillon

Celebration 5K, 7/4/10