Comfortable with being uncomfortable.
After listening to Living With A Seal By: Jesse Itzler on Audible, I knew I wanted to change my way of training for the Philly Marathon. Just like Jesse, I had fallen into a rut with everyday living and being a creature of habit and routine. So, as Seal said " I decided to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. " I set out to accomplish a 30 day running streak for September. Even as an experienced runner, this was a challenge for me. I enjoy my rest and recovery days and have never done a streak before. Let the adventure begin!
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The first week was not too bad. My everyday routine was still normal and I was able to keep my running time to early morning. It did take a couple days to get use to running every morning and not take a rest day.
Week two started with an emergency call from a client needing pet care within the next 24 hours. So I packed my bags and headed off. This turned my week upside down! Now my travel time doubled. I had to go from the city to Fishtown to the burbs. Finding time to fit in my training was difficult. At least that was what my mind was thinking. To beat the traffic, I started my day at 4:30 AM, which caused my running to be put to the end of my day. Like most people, exercising after working kinda sucks. The excuses started to enter my mind as to why I didn't like running in the evening. A warm meal and the couch called my name. However, as Seal said " Control your mind." Now was the time I had to dig deep and find my mental toughness. I had to change my frame of mind and kick the excuses out. There were many nights when I put on my running clothes and just headed out the door. After all, to keep the streak alive I needed at least a mile a day.
By week three, I was now in control of my mental toughness! Evening runs and running everyday was becoming my new routine. I could feel my body getting stronger and I could see accomplishing this streak was doable!
Week four seemed like the longest week of the streak. I was increasing my regular training miles along with including running everyday. However, as Seal said "When you think you are done, you are only at 40% of what your body is capable of doing. It's the limit we put on ourselves." Having that saying going through my head as I trained pushed me to finish the final week of the streak!
As Jesse said "What a difference a month can make." I recommend others give this streaking a try! In 30 days I have become a better runner and stronger both mentally and physically. I have met new runners because I have changed my running times and places. I realized mind control changes what you can accomplish in a day. And as Seal said "If you can see yourself doing something, you can do it."
Take a look at your life and see how you want to improve yourself in the next month! Many people that I have trained changed for the better in a month and continue to improve in all areas of their lives!
