Hardcore to the full bore

More and more recently I have been doing things or realising things that have made me think about how serious I am getting about this whole running business. So much so that I thought you lucky people would like to read a blog post about it... Don't worry, you can thank me for it later :)

Here are my top 10 ways you know you are a hardcore runner (or trying to be, like me):

1. You have a shoe collection like this:

And you get more excited about new running shoes than you do about any other type of new shoes (sad but true!).

2. The pile of books on your coffee table, in the toilet, next to your bed, or wherever, looks like this:

Yes, all running books (Yes, that does say for 'Serious Runners' - I'm attempting to take things to the next level, I'll let you know how it goes).

3. You have started to wear sports brand clothing as casual wear - probably my saddest confession, I must say.

Thanks Nike for this casual wear

4. EVERYTHING tastes better dipped in some peanut butter!

5. Your earliest night of the week is a Friday or Saturday night (because you are doing  your long run the following day).

6. You have Nana naps that are longer than your actual Nana's naps.

7. You are constantly resetting your speedo in the car to measure distances of different routes.

8. You get more excited about buying new sports wear than you do casual wear.

9. Your life gets organised around your training plan.

10. You're always looking up running motivation and quotes like these:

11. You start planning your next race before you've even done the current one you are training for.


So what things to you do that show that you are serious about running? What are your 'hardcore' habits? Do any of these things sound like a bit of you??

True Grit...

I am currently staying with my Uncle and Aunty and two cousins in Rotorua - the city of Saturday's marathon. My Uncle asked me this morning as I was strapping on my running shoes to head out for my last light run before the race: 'What makes you want to just run a marathon?'

'Well', I said, 'great question'. But what is the answer to that I then thought? I told him my story of how I got into running, but then he was still like 'But why a marathon, what is wrong with you girl?'... Haha. I love how whenever you tell someone you are going to run a marathon (that's not a runner or sport-minded) they automatically assume there's something wrong with you.

So I thought about it and here is what I came up with:

Perhaps it is craziness that made me first decide to run a marathon. Or maybe I thought I had something to prove to the world (or just myself, I honestly don't think 'the world' actually cares what I do). But to actually go out and do it takes what I like to call True Grit! AKA determination.

This definition of determination is as so:

Definition of determination

In terms of running a marathon, my true grit/determination is defined as:

• Getting up out of bed on a Saturday morning (which to everyone else is sleep in day) at 5.30am and hitting the road by 6 (so I can be back by the time everyone is up from their sleep-ins - lucky so and sos!) and running for several hours. 
• The sore feet, joints, muscles and whole body from the enduring training
• The 'Can't stay out too late tonight as I have to get up for a long run in the morning' attitude
• It's putting your running first 
• It's putting down that cupcake the size of your head
• It's having your apple crumble and ice cream without the crumble or the ice cream 
• It's carrying snacks all the time like a mother with a mini van load of children. 
• It's constantly thinking about how your next move is going to impact on your training and running...
• It's saving up or sacrificing other things to pay for the race you've entered, new running shoes, sports supplements, clothing, massages, physio, etc. etc.
• ALL totally worth it!

That is grit, to say the least. But... Here's the catch:

Crossing that finish line knowing you had true grit and determination to get you there without dying is one of THE BEST feelings in the world.  AND... It's addictive, which is where the need to run a second marathon (and possibly more after this one) comes from.

So there you have it people - the short version to answer my Uncle's question is craziness or mild insanity followed by true grit and determination. Viola!


Although I say that I have true determination and grit, I also have God helping me too. This is what the Bible has to say...

Zechariah 4:6b -
'Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit', says the Lord.

So if all else fails God's word never does!

Stay cool kids,

RunnerGirl.

Marathon countdown: 2 more sleeps!