3 February 2013 - Logbook

I failed my driving test the first time I sat it. I made a ridiculous give way error in the first few minutes and it was all over. My mistake was in thinking that after minimal hours spent practising I was ready and in my eagerness to join my older, licensed friends on the road I rushed sitting the test.

In Australia as a means of avoiding this scenario and learner's without enough experience getting to the road test stage they are required to complete a log book which records their hours spent learning to drive. Once they have logged a certain number of hours they are recognized as being capable of sitting the practical test.

I wish they had had this in New Zealand (I aced my second test after much more time spent practising).

I can't help but relate the positivity of this system back to running. There is an excellent challenge that has been set recently by the trainers at Tone it Up which encourages participants to log their distances ran in order to have run a total of 100miles by Valentines day - a day which they are promoting as a day to "Love your body."

I would challenge anyone who considers themselves a "learner" when it comes to running, or views the task as too difficult to start their own "L plate" runner's log book with a distance goal in mind to reach; and a race day as your practical running test. My theory is that, like practising to become a capable driver, we need a lot of time to practise to become a competent runner and that logging over 150km of training is sure to turn a novice into an enthusiast over the course of time it takes to get there.

Advice for those who have never ran before (and think they'll never enjoy it):

- Before every run you will likely need to give yourself a pep talk. For your first runs the pep talk will just be to get you out the door but it won't be long before getting out the door is no longer in question at all and you hear your pep talk becoming one of self-motivation to run harder and faster than the time before.

- In my experience the first 2.5km of any run are the hardest. It doesn't matter if your intention is to run 5km or 20km. Those first few km hurt the most. Your body is adjusting to the activity. Push past that early threshold and you won't regret it. I love it when I reach the point that I think of as "running on cruise control" when you're so adjusted to the activity you almost forget you're even doing it.

- Runner's stitch will not kill you. I promise. No matter how much it feels like it may do.