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Friday, January 11, 2008

Perceived Reality

Some days the difference between how I perceive a run and how it really is is significant. Today, for example, I felt tired (as I pretty much have all week) and slow, and I thought for sure I was running much slower than usual. But when I finished up the 3 miles and reviewed the laps on my Garmin, I was surprised to find them evenly paced at my normal pace:

1: 9:33
2: 9:31
3: 9:28

Total Time: 28:33

I guess this is why the Garmin is a handy device. Sometimes it's there to remind me that perception is not always the best tool of measurement when it comes to assessing a run.

Anyhoo, on a related but separate note, I thought you guys might appreciate a brief running/mother anecdote: I received an email from my mom today checking in on me and asking about my regular news, and I emailed her back, mentioning in my note that I was in the middle of training for 2 half marathons. She emailed me back that she was glad I had decided to go with half marathons instead of full marathons because she and my step dad were worried about me "ruining" my legs and feet doing all that running that I did when training for Disney and Chicago, and she feels it's best for me to stick with the shorter races for my own good.

Her comment seriously made me want to sign up for a full marathon. I'm 29 (almost 30), and I don't know when I'll ever quit feeling rebellious against my mother.

Maybe it's another case of my perception versus reality, but sometimes my mother really rubs me wrong.

17 comments:

J~Mom said...

That seriously made me LOL. People who don't run just don't get it. But it's worse when it comes from your mom. I am such a bad daughter I didn't even tell my mom about Sunday. She just won't get it. :>X

I don't think I ever got back to you about our hubby's jobs. Yes, Aaron is an engineer. His degree is in Aerospace but I think he does electrical stuff now? He designs chips anyway. So he will be working on chips for GPS systems. What about your DH?

Tri+Umph said...

Be rebellious, run Chicago!

My extended family gives me a lot of crap too, telling me how I'm going to break myself. You have no idea how many "I told you so"s I had to put up with when I visited family after my hip injury!

Junie B said...

Gurrrrrrrrrrl...oh how I feel ya sista! I have dealt with my mom for so long, and even at my age (which is older than you) she still treats me like a baby, and not in a good way.

I'm so over it. I'd tell ya to hang in there, it'll get better, but well, I'm afraid it won't :P

lifestudent said...

HAHA. Hope your mom doesnt read your blog ... mine reads mine, so I have to keep it cool when she drives me crazy :(

Unknown said...

You are not alone. My mom keep telling me how dangerous it is to run in a marathon. She keep telling me that I might have a heart attack or my knees will blow out. My mom isn't a runner. She thinks I am still a little baby boy! My mom actually said this to me the other day that I will regret if something ever happen to me. Pfftthh! I am still a living proof and I have completed 3 marathons in 13 months.

TonyP said...

Same thing happens to me when I train every now and then.

By the way, I run 50s and 100s, and my family is always telling me that I will have no knees in 10 years ! Such downers. :)

Stuart said...

Go on, you know you want to just so you can say..."see"!!

MNFirefly said...

Awesome splits, Jess. Wow!

My Life said...

Ohhhh I hear you! My parents were fine with my running until I ran a marathon. My mom's been forwarding my mail and in one batch there was a newspaper article she had clipped out - something about all the dangers marathon runners face. At least they love us, right?

sRod said...

Sheesh, do I have the only supportive parents? They're all about me running. Of course, I've only run one marathon. I'm sure the next one, especially given the condition of my knee, will evoke talk of "it's dangerous."

Viv said...

I tried not to laugh, but it is funny how we still rebebl at this age. My Mom really has no clue on the running. I am draging her to "Spirit of The Marathon" so she gets 1/2 a clue about the 1/2 I want to do in May.

L*I*S*A said...

Get really rebellious and sign up for an ultra. Tee hee....

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christine said...

I hear ya on the split times. Yesterday I was going for a 6 mile run and about 5 miles in I feel like I'm barely moving. Almost as if the trees were laughing at me....and I look down and I'm running on a 9.08 pace. I also find sometimes I have my best runs/workouts when I'm "tired" bc my mind is more foggy and it's easier to zone out. Things are easier when my mind isn't watching every minute/second tick by.

Marathoner in Training said...

Go for the full, my mom rubs me wrong everytime she opens her mouth. As for the RNR tomorrow, what ever time I finish at it will be a PR (my first half marathon :p ) You have a great weekend.

Cheryl said...

LOL! I hate to tell you, but you never outgrow it. I'm over 50, and my mom still makes me crazy, telling me to be careful and asking things like, "Are you taking your vitamins?" etc! But I'm sure I make my daughters crazy, too. :-) Oh well.

Mendy said...

It's so funny the perception of running from non-runners. I hear all the time "you'll ruin your knees or legs" - blah....

My Mom asked me the other day how my "triathlon" went. I told her I ran a Half-Marathon. I still think she doesn't know what that distance is. Oh well... I can't complain. She just isn't into it, but she doesn't tell me what your Mom told you.

Like Lisa said, it's worse when it comes from someone that's close to you.