As I started my charge up the hill, I could feel my body start to fatigue and my mind not so sure it wanted to continue. Looking ahead I picked a point and told myself, "I have to make it to the beginning of the railing and then I can walk." The deal made in my head I charged forward. Pushing myself. Pushing my body. Pushing my limits.
My body wanted to stop. I had just pushed myself further than usual. I was incredibly fatigued but my brain said, don’t you dare stop! It STINKS! So I pushed forward and continued to push past. And do you know what? It was easy to push past. I had pushed myself to the limit, but then had been able to push myself to run just a little bit further. I had (surprisingly easily) pushed myself to do more than I thought I could.
A few weeks later the dead opossum and stench were thankfully gone but as I approached the spot where he used to lay, my body was again fatigued and ready to stop, I told myself, “Oh no! A dead possum! Keep running!” And do you know what. I DID. I was able to trick my body to go a little bit further and a little bit faster than I thought I could. All because of what I told myself in my head. By imagining the dead opossum there, I had tapped into that same push and drive, even when it wasn’t in fact there.
Happy Running!
Kelly