Fiona N
Veteran
My sister and I were comparing notes after our respective 400's last weekend. Boo was on an El Supremo event somewhere in Kent/East Sussex or thereabouts (sorry - I'm a bit vague about southern geography
) and I was on a Lucy MacTaggert event in the Borders. Weather seems to have been equally bad.
But when we discussed at what point we felt like giving up, Boo said it was near the end whereas for me, it's always early on, well before half way. By the time I'm 'on the way back' (after half distance), I feel like I'm on a roll, physical niggles seem to have died away, my breathing's settled down, my leg's aren't done and I'm really enjoying it. Sometimes, the last 50km drags on a bit but by that time I really don't care.
It really intrigues me that I usually feel so 'miserable' (i.e. 'why am I doing this' sort of thoughts) so early, irrespective of the conditions, and it suggests that it's totally a psychological barrier rather than any physical shortcomings.
Does anyone else get this sort of late stage* reluctance?
* I call it late stage reluctance as after all, I did get out of the car in the pouring rain and get to the start and, indeed, start. Earlier stage reluctance would have seen me stay in bed or at least the car.

But when we discussed at what point we felt like giving up, Boo said it was near the end whereas for me, it's always early on, well before half way. By the time I'm 'on the way back' (after half distance), I feel like I'm on a roll, physical niggles seem to have died away, my breathing's settled down, my leg's aren't done and I'm really enjoying it. Sometimes, the last 50km drags on a bit but by that time I really don't care.
It really intrigues me that I usually feel so 'miserable' (i.e. 'why am I doing this' sort of thoughts) so early, irrespective of the conditions, and it suggests that it's totally a psychological barrier rather than any physical shortcomings.
Does anyone else get this sort of late stage* reluctance?
* I call it late stage reluctance as after all, I did get out of the car in the pouring rain and get to the start and, indeed, start. Earlier stage reluctance would have seen me stay in bed or at least the car.