The view from the outside lane…..
A semi-lucid look at things……
By Chuck Nacy
Truth in advertising? Sometimes. Genuineness in government?
Yeah…..right! Reality in running and racing? Well….yes, for the
most part anyway.
We partake in a sport where it's difficult to be something we're not, achieve
results without "putting in the effort," or rely on others to make
us look good. Do it or don't do it….put up or shut up…..a constant
reality check. Get out the door when it's cold or rainy, or head for the couch,
the remote, and a beverage. Train a little harder, run a little further, or
settle into the status quo. Choices…..
However, in spite of our dedication and single-mindedness of purpose, there
are going to be moments or periods in time when things just don't work out.
Injuries, time constraints, staleness, sub-par races….there's no escape.
Run long enough and you'll come face-to-face with a litany of unexpected -
and certainly unwanted - problems. It happens to the elite and the novice
alike….there's no immunity.
It's bad enough that we have to contend with the physical side of these issues,
but the accompanying mental aspects can drive a person to spike one's hydration
drink. Think about it….you catch a heavy cold a few days before that
marathon you've just spent eighteen weeks preparing for….you're on target
for a 10K PR when your right calf cramps with a half-mile to go…..you
get out-leaned at the finish of a 5K and find out that you've now finished
fourth in your age group. These can be mind-bending events…..unless you're
a practitioner of the fine art of excuse mak….er, ah, I mean rationalization,
the safety valve for human sanity.
Disappointment and frustration are feelings indigenous to the human species.
If a dog's owner forgets to feed his pet, Rover just hangs around waiting
for his master to finally remember (cats, on the other hand, instinctively
understand how to make their food needs known by getting under foot and meowing
, or simply by dragging a headless bird back to your doorstep as a reminder).
We supposedly more intelligent beings, however, require a means of assuaging
and massaging our psyches, a practice that will allow us to carry on through
troubling times or cope with adversity. Rationalization is the answer.
For runners, there seem to be two types of rationalization available: proactive
and reactive. Each can be used individually or in concert with the other,
internally, externally or in powerful combinations. As with most repetitive
acts, the more often rationalization is used, the better we become at it.
If you've run for any length of time, and particularly if you've entered any
races, you're probably adroit at the art already.
Fess up, now...we've all done it. You hear it in those casual pre-race conversations:
"I've had a really busy week, you know. Kids were sick, the boss loaded
me down with work. Made me miss two workouts!" or "Man, my right
calf is a little tight this morning. Can't figure it out." This is the
proactive approach….making ourselves comfortable with the fact that if
we don't run the way we would like to, there's a perfectly 'rational' explanation.
The back end or "reactive" approach rears it's head after a run
or a race, as in "I gotta remember not to eat bacon and home fries with
breakfast before I run," or "That headwind just beat me up in mile
two." Obviously, neither truth, logic nor common sense need to be in
the mix for rationalization to be effective; just be as self-serving as necessary
and we'll be OK.
The beauty of this technique is that it can be employed instantaneously in
our minds, providing a psychological Excedrin on demand, and, once we've settled
ourselves internally, we're so much better prepared to share our patently
clear reasoning with our peers….if they're not already engaged in the
same act themselves.
Life is hard enough without being overly concerned about the outcome of our
recreational activities. Let's give ourselves a break and allow our minds
to do what we pay them to do….and no excuses, please!
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