I put my kit out before I went to bed last night, so the intent was there.
But I woke up at 4:45 this morning and just couldn’t get back to sleep. I started thinking about what sort of run I was going to do and then those pesky gremlins started talking to me! 👿🗣🗣🗣
"You haven’t had much sleep so don’t want to push it too much, and anyway you don’t have that much time before work so it can’t be too far. "
I could get up and go now – I’m awake
"But it’s still dark outside"
So? I have some high vis kit – and a clip-on light
"But you’re tired right? And anyway, the high vis kit is in the chest of drawers. You’ll wake Mr B up if you start rummaging around for that now. Try and go back to sleep for a bit. You can get up when the alarm goes off."
OK
"Hang on - you set that earlier alarm on your mobile as well as the normal one on your watch, didn’t you? That will wake Mr B up. You’d better turn that off."
OK.
I dismiss the earlier alarm on my mobile and the gremlin goes quiet.
💤 💤 💤
I'm in a deep sleep when I feel a buzzing on my wrist – time to get up!
But he's back 👿🗣
"Why don’t you hit snooze?"
I hit the snooze button and feel myself drifting off 💤 - but No!
"You could leave it and go tomorrow"
NO! I’m getting up!! Now!!!
I sit on the edge of the bed for a couple of minutes.
"Why don’t you get back into bed?"
NO!!!!
I force myself downstairs. Quick glass of water. One fig (we have no bananas). Clean teeth, kit on, warm up, loo and out of the front door. I thought of using the NRC “A Whole Run” again but that damn gremlin is back! 👿🗣
"You don’t want to run for as long as 45 minutes this morning, do you?"
Then I just happen to notice there is an NRC guided run called “Don’t Wanna Run” – and it’s only 25 minutes long! Perfect!! 😁 This seemed to pacify that pesky gremlin, so that’s exactly what I did.
No looking at my watch, no music, just the words of Coach Bennett in my ears. And he really talks a lot in this one!
This was a tough run. My legs felt heavy. There was a noticeable aroma of smouldering wet wood and it felt hard to breathe.
The gremlin is back again! 👿🗣
"Why are you doing this? You could just stop and walk home. No-one will know."
No! I will know!! Gremlin be gone!!🏃♀💪
I finished the 25 minutes – but boy was I ready to stop by the end. This run was a mental struggle to start with and just didn’t seem to click for me physically at all. But I did it, which I’m taking as a positive.
I know my next run will be much better.
Written by
Birdlady64
Graduate10
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He wasn't going to totally beat me this morning, although now I feel like I capitulated slightly by doing the shorter run. But it felt reasonably good afterwards at the time.
Oh my goodness you dug deep this morning! Really good going to get out there and get that run DONE 👍 you're made of strong stuff 😁 I cut an intended 4k short yesterday as legs didn't want to play and I just didn't have the strength of mind to defy them 😬 suppose this first autumn/winter is going to take some acclimatising to ... but you must feel great about this run 😁👍
He was certainly a very dogged little gremlin this morning
The darker, shorter days don't help at all do they?
You may have cut the run short - but you went for a run, which is a success in my eyes. As coach Bennett says - "if you can't run the run you wanted to run, run the run that you can run"
Wow, Diane, you beat so many gremlins so get there, but beat them you did! Well done 👏👏👏🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Great idea using the ‘Don’t Wanna Run’ run 😀 it obviously suited your mood this morning.
We all have those runs! Chalk it up to experience and the fact that you still went out and ran for 25 minutes. Of course that’s a HUGE positive! The next one will be better 🤞
Yes it was a real struggle this morning. I was tired and the smell of wood smoke seemed to affect my breathing. I'm glad that I made the effort though, and that guided run was wholly appropriate for the mood and available time.
I think you're amazing for overcoming them! I had a similar chat with the gremlins yesterday as the day got older but then I raced out the door at dusk and had an averagely good run. I felt that was a huge success given the struggle to get there! We will fight back those pesky gremlins one by one even when it feels like a game of wack-a-mole
Thanks Roxodg. Yes - they are very, very annoying. That guided run this morning was just right for my mood, but I don't plan on using that one again for a long while 😁
BTW - I tried my foam roller on my thigh after my run on Monday. Ouch! No I mean OUCH!!
Well done on doing the run. It seems there are so many gremlins out at this time of year!! But you did it! You overcame. I'm sure another run will be different!
Wow so well done on your perseverance - I’m not sure I would have ignored those gremlins- but you did. A lesson for me to learn ✅ You kept on running 👍🏃🏼♀️👿
Well done for getting out there. I have big gremlins too at the moment. My ankle twinged a few times on my last run and this weather does not help. I really need to get out there. Reading your post has made me realise that I am not the only one suffering at the moment. Happy running and I hope the next run is gremlin free.
Went out this morning and I had to stop after 5 mins. I think it’s a recurrence of the injury I had in August. I can walk on it without any problems and I can cycle too. I am going to rest it for a couple of weeks and see if it improves. If it doesn’t I will be back to the physio. In the mean time I am going to continue to cycle to try and maintain my fitness. Happy running 🏃🏻♀️
I enjoy NRC and did the 3,2,1 go after work today. I hate going after work so this 17 minute intervals was just right. Was nice to speed up knowing it was just for a short time.
A couple of people have said good things about that one so I might give it a try.
It sounds ideal for a mid week lunchtime run👍
We need these runs so a massive well done!! Sometimes we just don't feel it or it seems hard but by going you're making progress even if you don't see it or feel it. These ones are the ones that make us. 👏👏👏👏
Sitting in my dressing gown reading your post with my gremlins chattering in my ear about why I shouldn’t go out for a run.
Be gone gremlins! Your post was brilliant and just what I needed to get me going. Hopefully by the time I have finished typing they won’t be back and I will be out there. May even try “Don’t wanna run”
I did that one on Tuesday- it was exactly what I needed. I used the recommended playlist for the first time, but it was mince, so I'm now working on a better one (for me). He did talk a lot in this one, but it seemed to work! Well done for beating the gremlins 👏🏻👏🏻
I've never used the recommended playlists on NRC - don't like the look of them. I just use my own music or more recently, and especially with the Headspace ones, no music at all.
Well done a good 25 minutes of running. Inspire of those pesky gremlins you bopped them off. Like you say your next run will be better 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️👏👏👏👏👏👏
Well done you. Runs like that are all part of the mental learning curve. The next time the gremlins are out, you will know that you're strong enough to overcome them.
I read your post with complete envy. I have the NHS covid app counting down the days until I'm allowed out of the house again. It's non negotiable, unlike gremlins. 😭
Well done Birdlady. That sounded like a real challenge. In these cold dank days it can be so hard can't it. But you succeeded. And the next one will probably be much easier.
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
