After a week of extreme stress resulting in very little sleep, very poor nutrition and more coffee than water consumed, I put back on my running shoes and headed to my favourite city pathway. My motivation was low, but I knew I had 8 hours all to myself before I was back on call and the chaos would ensue. I didn't set a specific distance or time into my Runkeeper, just kept it as a free run. When I did that on my last run, I barely managed 5k, but today the sun was shining and there was no wind and this is an out and back route so harder to quit early. In the back of my mind, I hoped for another 10k but didn't want to commit to it and end up disappointed if I didn't succeed. I was able to turn my mind off and get lost in my music. I didn't have it in me today to sing out loud so ended up running faster than conversational pace but was careful to not huff and puff. I ran my 10k and it was wonderful and peaceful. Unfortunately work started texting me on my cool down walk and I set my car alarm off since my key fob battery died so my relaxed state was short lived. But after going out for a belated birthday lunch with my previous running partner, I'd say I'm back in my state of bliss......at least for 3 more hours when I'm back on call ......
Thank you running shoes, you always know what I need ......
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SaskAlliecat
Graduate10
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Yeah! That's brilliant Sask 😀... sorry your week has been so busy, and great idea not planning on the distance, you just let it happen....I'm thrilled for you for being able to pull out another 10k like that.😊
Bask in the glory of your fabulousness😊.Good work.x
Sounds great - and I might just steal your idea of an inner cat. Ours is curled up on a chair by the radiator: her new favourite spot now that the temperature had dropped.
Should hopefully be on the homeward stretch now. Just got back in from another call and haven't looked to see what's on the books next week but at least I have a week without call and can hopefully eek out some more me time on my days off
It really was a wonderful run. It still amazes me that in such a short time, we can go from huffing and puffing through 5 or 8 minute intervals to running just over an hour without feeling overly taxed. The body and these programmes really are amazing. We just need the mental strength to push through the tough times and the rewards will follow.
Lovely post. And you are so right. No matter what else is going on in our lives we can always rely on how our running makes us feel. I hope you have a better week 🙂
Thanks. I hope so too. But if not, I will still force myself to get out that door and get a run in. It made such a difference in preparing me mentally for this weekend.
Aw, so sorry to hear you had a rough week, Sask. But happy that your good long run was so lovely! You deserved that. I have not run in a week because of a virus of some kind, and am longing to feel well enough to get out again!
I wish I could say I was at least eating yummy chocolate and Christmas baking but unfortunately when I get super stressed I struggle with eating anything at all. Throw in there a wicked work schedule where there isn't time to pee, let alone eat or drink, makes for an unhappy Allie. Oh well. One more day of call, then it is back to just a normal day to day chaos and hopefully a few more "me" runs
It definitely does create an edge. Even trying to watch tv when I get home to relax, when you hear a cell phone ring, the heart rate and blood pressure goes up. Oh well, it is a necessary evil. Fortunately, I have wonderful outlets for when I'm not on call and after today, I get a week with out call. Whoohoo!
I don't know how I missed this post but I hope the stress is running at a more manageable pace this week Sask. Glad the run got you where you needed to be for awhile. I swear its part of my mental health program now :).
Thanks Decker. This week is a little better so far. Work stress is high as usual, but at least the extra stuff that was throwing it over the top last week has subsided some. I managed to get out for a nice 5k run this morning in some freshly fallen snow where each km got faster and faster. I was in my groove by 4K and wished I could've went past 5 but had to get home and get cleaned up and eat before my Physio appointment. The icing on the cake though, is the supper I've got going in the crockpot for tonight called for wine in the sauce so I'm going to treat myself with a glass of wine with supper tonight since I'm not on call. Ahhhh, it's the little things that make me happy 🏃♀️🍷😊
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
