As part of team C4C, Manuel Colon (Manny) would like to share with us what he felt was a non-cycling, non-cycle 4 cures experience.
On his blog he wrote of his first half marathon experience and his underlying inspiration and motivation.
Manny considers himself to be “more” of a cyclist than a runner. For all who know Manny, there is no question that cycling was and continues to be his true passion. Cycling twenty five, fifty and one hundred mile rides were a challenge that he set his heart and mind to, trained for and conquered. In that search toward bettering himself, he has that deep down desire for continuous improvement and that search for the extra challenge that will push his limit mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Hating the run is something that he expressed lightly, yet the sense of accomplishing a running event was boldly stated as a necessity. To psych himself into and to schedule for an event would mean that he would definitely need incorporate running into his training, even though he disliked it so much. Maybe his subliminal conscious told him that a better runner may equate to becoming a better cyclist. Maybe he disliked or feared the running and therefore had to assure himself that he would make a most valiant effort toward conquering whatever he set out to do. To schedule himself for a run in an organized, scheduled event would mean that there would be no turning back nor down without self disappointment.
In 2014 Manny ran the “Faxon Law Annual Labor Day Marathon” which was his first and last organized 5K running event.
In his heart he felt as though 2016 would be the year to challenge himself and get to running. He heard about Savin Rock Marathon set for March 19, 2016. Participants could do either half marathon, a relay or the full marathon. Manny decided to run the half marathon (13.1 miles). He signed up before January and started to train immediately. He would run every other day when weather permitted. He ran this way every month and added miles to each previous run with longer runs on the weekends. He started off with low miles and built up his stamina week per week and mile per mile until he was able to run 8, 10, and 13.1 miles.
He coordinated his runs with a “set in stone” goal in mind. Every month must consist of goal miles required for his “sense of accomplishment”.
January goal was set as “to run at least eight consistent miles”, February the goal was “to run at least ten consistent miles” and the distance grew with time.
my intent below to quote. for Mannys full quote visit his blog
http:/inthemindofalatinoman.com/
“Training was only half of the experience. On Saturday morning March 19, 2016, I put on my Under Armor, sweats, mask and gloves just in case (I knew it was going to be cold.) I dressed while thinking about how I had not slept the night before. My mind had already run the course all night long. My mind and I had already planned the strategy a few hundred times over.
My excitement and my nerves were overwhelming. Excited and nervous that the day had finally come. I kept telling myself that there was no way to back out of this event now. In my mind, I had already envisioned crossing that finish line and receiving the medal. This medal was the solid that represented the accomplishment of running a half marathon alongside a few hundred individuals of different gender and ages.
During the event day run, at mile 4.5 my right side started to hurt enough that I had to significantly slow my pace. I found myself running at a slightly faster pace here than I had done during my training. I did not have my mask on and breathing in the cold air must have affected me as well. I slowed down physically and began to re-strategize mentally. If I were to finish at a goal time, I may get hurt and not be able to finish. I knew that if I didn’t finish or quit here and now then I would probably never run again nor attempt another half marathon. As I slowed down my pace, I began to breathe normally. As I got back into my pace and breathing, I began to feel my body get back to normal and my right side no longer hurt. This appeared to be perfect timing because the hardest part of the course was approaching, this included the hills.
The fifth through tenth mile of road consisted of up and down elevations with the highest elevation measured at approximately 179 ft (we started at sea level approximately 0). As we approached the start of the hills, I passed many who were walking and I may have had a point or two where I had to walk too. Looking up at mile nine all I remembered seeing were hills. I ran down most hills and along most flats. It was mile eleven when I felt as though I was getting close to finishing but at the very same time dragging along. I tried to think of things to keep me motivated so that I would keep moving. The eleventh through the thirteenth miles felt longest and never ending most heavy miles ever. It was at this point that I needed to keep moving, I knew that my pace slowed down but had to keep moving. When I was a quarter mile away, I pushed hard, ran a bit faster because I felt like I needed to finish strong and as I kept up…. I did! I accomplished my goal of running my first half marathon!
There is so much more to this event and its training journey toward the event. Training your body is half the battle, engaging your mind and letting your mind control your body is also a battle that needs exercising. I personally refer to it as th / e place where every muscle in your body is working and in sync with your mind. Mind and body work together and keep going until they both decide that they are done, not when your body wants to give up, the mind needs to work and push the body, which is what I believe to be the key to the accomplishment of your goals."
Good job Manny!. keep up the good work.
to follow Manny on his blog.
http:/inthemindofalatinoman.com/
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