Thursday, October 18, 2007

Number 5 Is Alive

I was wondering if this day would ever come. My anti-schedule, freedom of choice, don't-box-me-in self has finally conceded. This past week I have noticed a change in my thought process as the alarm goes off shortly after 4 a.m., or 5 a.m., depending on the day.


Snooze button? Haven't touched it.

Curling up on the bathroom rug to get "3 more minutes"? Haven't done it.

Sending out a text to announce that'll I'll be the "no show"? Nope.

I haven't even been late this week.

That's right, the Devil now has a severe case of frostbite on his evil little toes.

What gives? I don't know, to be right honest with you. I am not an early riser by nature. But about 3 years ago, when I went back to work, I realized that on work days, the exercise had to be done while everyone else was asleep or it might not get done. There's any number of curve balls that might get thrown my way if I wait until 5 p.m.. So I started working out at 5:30 a.m. and realized the amazing effects it had on the rest of my day. I loved it, but don't even, for one minute, think it ever came natural. It was more of a "Just go...you can do it...you'll be glad when it's over."

I trained for my first marathon the same way. "You must get this run done now or it will not get done and you will fail miserably at your quest to complete a marathon. Go on, now. Go. Go. Go."

Same thing for triathlon training. After going through about 3 cycles of "snooze", I would finally convince myself that I would be better off to go on to the pool rather than get 1 more hour of sleep.

But it is so hard. I'm not wired like that. I am wired for flexibility. Say we've got plans for Friday night, ok? Last minute...you wanna change the plan? No problemo!!! I roll with the flow. My program has tons of nested If, Then, Else's.

Here's a common scenario:

ALARM CLOCK = RINGING
IF LANA = TIRED x 100 THEN

***Lana didn't get enough sleep***
IF (TRAINING_CAN_BE_COMPLETED_AT_LUNCH) = TRUE THEN
LANA = GO BACK TO BED
LANA = TRAIN AT LUNCH
ELSE
LANA = GET OUT OF BED
LANA = TRY AGAIN TO GET OUT OF BED
LANA = TRY ONE MORE TIME TO GET OUT OF BED
END IF

ELSE

***Lana got enough sleep and is not tired x100***
LANA = GET OUT OF BED
LANA = GET SWIM OR BIKE OR RUN DONE

END IF

IF LANA_GOT_SWIM_BIKE_OR_RUN_DONE = FALSE THEN
LANA =(((GUILTY x 100) + LAZY) - TRAINED)
ELSE
LANA = (((HAPPY x 100)+CONFIDENT) + TRAINED)
END IF


But lately, it's just been this:

ALARM CLOCK = RINGING
IF LANA_HEARS_ALARM_RINGING = TRUE THEN

LANA = GET OUT OF BED
LANA = GET SWIM OR BIKE OR RUN DONE
LANA = (((HAPPY x 100)+CONFIDENT) + TRAINED)

END IF

I hear the alarm, and I get up. Just like a robot. Call me Number 5.

And if I can be robotized, then anyone can. I'm sure one reason that I finally conceded has to do with the fact that when I am running multiple 12 milers in the middle of the week, I really have no other choice than to get up and run before work. Lunch break will not permit 12 miles. And neither will afternoon/evening with 2 kids. The only other option involves the possibility of not reaching the sub-4 goal. And that option hasn't been included this time.

And another reason has to be just plain classical conditioning - further proof for Pavlov. Do it 5 days a week for 10 straight weeks because... 1.) you want a sub-4 marathon so bad you can taste it and much more so than an extra hour or two of sleep, and 2.) because the sting of defeat still lingers from 10 months ago... and even the most robot-challenged of us can quit hitting snooze.

All that being said, I ran another 12 Wednesday at a 9:37/mi pace and 5 recovery miles today with Michele, Amy, Mary Beth, Kim, Tracy, and Mike. Tomorrow is the second 20 miler. Number 5 says "Bring. It. On."

10 comments:

Lance Notstrong said...

At first I thought you might give us that in binary :-)
0011010001 = 10001101010

E-Speed said...

:) I'm the same way. But this past week it has come more natural. Must be fall! I just hope we can keep it up during the winter when warm comfy beds are more akin to black holes before 9 AM!

Benson said...

Yeeeeeeeeaaaahhhhhh! You got it right. "up and at 'um" my dad used to say. Now I'm always up early and there is no "snooze" in my life either.

Tri-Dummy said...

Here's my equation for you, Miss Lana...

Lana get up outta bed + training = sub 4 marathon = Happy Lana

Phil said...

I need to get your alarm. You're on a great track for a sub 4.

Taconite Boy said...

Tac boy reads Lana post = Tac LOL

TJ said...

the bad part is when you get so hard wired for the early wake up that you can't sleep late on none training days......i'll begin de-wiring in a few weeks.

congrats on getting the early work done!

RunBubbaRun said...

You must be a computer programmer?
If ~ end if?

It does take time to get used to it, then one day it becomes automatic.. Because you relaize you have to and need to..

No I think I need to stop hitting that snooze button myself.

Rae said...

Ooooh, can you translate that to binary???

Great job on sticking with the training!

My Life said...

This is a really cute post & shows how dedicated you are! I admit- I read it on my phone at 8 am, sitting all cozy at my gma's house with some coffee... not wanting to go out and get a run in... and this inspired me! Got up and ran 4 miles on the beach & about 20 min after I finished it started to pour... all day! Thanks Lana! ;)