Pain is just a state of mind
That we can overcome,
I told myself this evening
On my marathon-training run.
It doesn’t hurt,
You think it does,
But if you just decide,
It doesn’t hurt,
The pain will vanish,
Run away and hide.
I told myself this many times,
Before my run was through.
But as I fell through my front door,
I knew my pain was true.
[I am running the London Marathon in April for Beat, the eating disorders charity of which I’m a trustee. All kind donations are very gladly accepted and helping to motivate me on these cold dark evenings! http://www.justgiving.com/pookyh – thank you!]
Pooky's Poems 
I have experienced these and biking pains and swimming pains and dancing pains;)
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I found myself telling myself ‘Oh get over it, if you can give birth you can run up a hill’ I’m a pretty harsh coach!
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Me, too. I am my worst coach;)
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Great poem! Oh what a challenge, well done taking this on! So it really is just mind over pain (for a time)? My Dad used to do that, no anaesthetic at the dentist at all. I’ve never managed to do that, but in saying so I do shift my inner energy and focus on core muscle support when my knees start to twinge while hiking steep paths and that usually makes a world of difference.
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It’s still early days for me but I’m finding the key thing holding me back is sheer boredom. My feet hurt when I run (they’re held together by pins) but they hurt when I’m sitting still too so I just need to get over it. Since giving birth I’m quite a believer in different types of pain – every contraction took me slightly closer to meeting Lyra so they were easy to bear. With the running I’m figuring that each extra step makes me more likely to complete the marathon and raise lots of money for a great cause, but it’s hard going when it’s cold and dark and wet and painful!!! I’m sure I will moan about it many more times… 🙂
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Well done Pooky, for taking on this challenge!
I have never “been into” running, but I am surounded by a family of runners who have done marathons, half marathons, 10k etc etc so your poem makes total sense to me even though not at a personal level! 😊
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I don’t really mean to get myself into running the marathon.. it was a flippant comment to the director of fundraising at the charity I’m a trustee of.
Until the last few weeks, I hadn’t run since school (It used to be part of my illness, I’d run under the cover of dark in the early mornings to aid my weight loss). I’m not finding it easy now – my feet are held together with pins and I’ve not done any form of exercise since school really… I think I’m expecting myself to be able to run as far and as fast as I could when I was seventeen!
Tom has taken up running too which has been a good motivator though we have to go out separately after the kids have gone to bed…
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A great motivational poem, Pooky. I’ve a friend who trained for months for a mountain run. Each Saturday morning she’d message me a photo of dawn from the top of the mountain, and I’d tell her how amazing she was for making it one more time. I’ve never had physical stamina and have great admiration for those who do. I think it’s wonderful you’re doing this to raise money for such an important cause. x
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Thanks Tricia, I’m not sure (yet) how much physical stamina I have, but I guess I will find out! I was damn good at giving birth though which bodes well 😉
Running a marathon takes rather longer though…
I love the idea of your friend messaging you those pictures and you offering her your support. That’s fabulous. I’ve found that the support of friends and family online has been very motivational and, of course, the kind sponsorship money I’ve been receiving for Beat is a great motivator too though I find it hard to get my head around the fact that people believe I can actually complete the marathon…
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Running a marathon takes longer than childbirth? How long was your labour? Mine was 12 hours and I was all “I think I’m going to die – give me drugs – why do people ever have more than one child if they have to go through this?” The nurse was lovely. She’d just rub my back and say “all of this will be unimportant once you have your baby in your arms” and she was right. 🙂
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Well… I predict I will run the marathon fairly slowly but I was also pretty quick when it came to childbirth. I wasn’t sure I was in labour until about two hours before Lyra arrived (and she would have been swifter but my midwife helped me slow things down so that my other midwife had time to get to my house).
It’s so true that it all becomes inconsequential the moment you lock eyes with your baby for the first time!
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Great poem Pooky!! All the best for the Marathon! 😉 Such a brilliant cause!
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Thank you, I am glad of any encouragement I can get as my late night winter training sessions are even less fun than I ever imagined they could be!
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Good luck with it i will sponsor you via your just giving link. 😊X!
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Bless you that’s superbly kind 🙂 xxx
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Thanks for passing by my crazy un paid blog. I like the subject matters you have here. This post specially got my attention though. Hope you have a good run, it´s for a good cause. Can´t donate myself since I have barely for myself but I will spread the word that could reach someone that can donate. You now have to deal with a new stalker!
Have an nice day, read ya.
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Thank you so much. I appreciate that.
Words of encouragement and as readily accepted as cash in any case. I don’t think I realised quite what I was getting into when I signed up and now the reality of winter training is really kicking in!
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Sorry for the delay response. About the panic attack, you commented before. Didn´t know you where talking about yourself but I believe or starting to believe that writing is a healing process.
Read ya later
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Thank you – I agree. Often sharing a poem helps me box up various issues and start to move on…
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