The Wimp

Well, I did it....went ahead and ran 8 1/2 k on 4th day of a liquid only, cleanse.  And it was great!  I was ready to summon anorexic gymnasts into my head as proof that food isn't necessarily necessary for high performance at sports, but hardly needed them at all. What was interesting is that I did need to summon, and in fact defeat, something else.....

I'd seen this hilarious comic strip on Facebook all about 'The Blerch'.  It was written by a long distance runner known as 'The Oatmeal' who avoids hitting 'the wall' by realising it's not a real wall, it's just a hideous creature from his subconscious trying to make him stop running and eat cake instead.  

So there I was, running through smelly St. James, dodging vomit, doubles vendors, garbage strewn around the place and the usual early morning hazards, when I suddenly got tired.  I was particularly disappointed by this sudden onset of exhaustion (which was not hunger induced I might add) as I was on the home stretch and expecting to be feeling stronger.  So I looked over my shoulder for this Blerch fellow who was surely following me, trying to make me stop.  Well guess what? No Blerch.  Nope, not a sign of any short fat guy trying to make me eat ice cream and chocolate fudge cake.  So I ran a few more steps and realised why I couldn't see him.

I don't have a Blerch.  No part of me would prefer to be eating unhealthy food than running.  This is because if I ever do eat junk, I suffer greatly with stomach cramps and bloating which can last days. Not that I never cheat....it's just that my cheating is never inspired by exercise.

But what I do have, however, is a Wimp!

The Wimp is a weak and feeble version of me.  She always gets injured, she gets over tired and suffers from fatigue regularly.  She has no muscle tone, and just can't do anything which involves either endurance or upper body strength.  She's so cautious physically that although she may push herself at times (before scurrying off with her tail between her legs), she would never consider herself such a thing as an athlete!

And there she was at my shoulder, whispering to me, reminding me how weak I am, reassuring me that it's OK to stop as I'm not a real athlete and that I really can't go as fast as the other competitors.....

I was so glad I could finally see her, slumbering pitifully on her bed in baggy pyjamas, looking pale and gaunt. However, I had to take action fast before she dragged me into her melancholy world.  As harsh as it may sound to attack someone clearly so defenceless, I knew I had no choice: she was in my subconscious after all.

"Listen here, Wimp," I hissed at her through gritted teeth, while never losing my stride. "You are not going to stop me from running, Honey Pie!  I do have stamina and I am dynamic.  I am an athlete, a Triathlete no less!  In fact, I'll have you know, Pumpkin, I actually won a silver medal just last week proving that I am powerful, strong and determined."  

I glared at her for a few more seconds and then she scurried back into the recesses of my mind.  I then lengthened my stride, picked up the pace a little and took it home!

I think we all have something in our subconscious which tries to prevent us doing certain things whether it be staying up all night finishing a project, learning a new language, running a marathon, eating healthily, starting a blog....... and it was really helpful for me to personify it, picture it and characterise it, almost like having a punching bag, something solid to fight.  So I thank The Oatmeal whole heartedly for his humorous inspiration.

In conclusion, this Cherokee Proverb ties into the whole Blerch idea totally, and puts yet another angle on something so profoundly simple that we super intelligent humans tend to miss on a daily basis: