A “Don’t Wanna Run” Run

[Birdlady64]

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.

[nowster Graduate10]

A wonderful description of your dialogue with your inner gremlins.

I had a similar conversation with my snooze button gremlin this morning.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Thank you!

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.

Congrats on your second graduatuion! 👏

[Littleoyellow Graduate10]

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 😁👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Littleoyellow]

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"

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

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 🤞

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks Julia.

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.

The next one will most definitely be better 💪

[dijep Graduate10]

Love your post 😊

I'm sure we all recognise those gremlins..... it's so much warmer in bed 🤣😂🤣

Well done for slapping them down and firmly stomping on them with your running shoes 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃

As you say you know the next one will be better and you got out there and did the 25 minutes today which is fantastic .

Take that Mr Gremlin 😉🤣😂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to dijep]

Thank you!

In fact, I wasn't worried about being warmer in bed - in fact that was part of the problem. I was too hot which is why I couldn't sleep properly 😁

Ha ha! I'll take that image of stomping on the gremlin with my running shoes with me for next time

[NetCadet Graduate10]

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

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to NetCadet]

Whack-a-mole Ha ha! You've just reminded me of school summer fayres 😁

Thank you! It certainly is a success when you manage to get out there despite everything. Well done you for doing that 👋

[Tinytears60 Graduate10]

Absolute legend!

See the gremlins were out in force for you today ... but you showed em who’s boss! 👊💥 YOU are! 👏👏👏

So tough running after all that backchat from them isn’t it .. but you conquered and you did!

Be very proud of yourself! 💕

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Tinytears60]

Thanks TT 🙏

I learned it from you - the gremlin slayer Queen!! 💪 👑

They can be tenacious little blighters can't they?

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Way to beat that pesky gremlin! He tried hard to sway you but you are stronger than him! Take that gremlin 👊!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

KaPow! 💣

😁

[CBDB Graduate10]

🤣🤣💪👏👍🏽

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

Ha ha! Thanks

[Roxdog Graduate10]

You did it! Well done! Those gremlins are annoying. Loved reading your post!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

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!!

[Tillybeach Graduate10]

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!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Tillybeach]

Thank you!

Not quite the runners high this morning, but I definitely felt better afterwards for having made the effort.

[Dreambird 60minGraduate]

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 👍🏃🏼‍♀️👿

[MoliJ Graduate10]

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.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to MoliJ]

Thank you

Sorry about your ankle. I hope it's not anything serious

I think it's the time of year and what with the pandemic and everything things aren't easy right now.

Good luck for your next run 👍

[MoliJ Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

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 🏃🏻‍♀️

[Maz1103 Graduate10]

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.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Maz1103]

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👍

[Hidden]

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. 👏👏👏👏

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Of course I feel better for having done it and know that what you say is so true.

But sometimes we just need to hear it from somebody else.

You are always encouraging, ever supportive and finding the positive in everything, and I thank you for that.

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate10]

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”

Thank you for your post

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to TotalNewbie1]

Thanks - hope you had a good run 👍

[PandaCory Graduate10]

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 👏🏻👏🏻

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to PandaCory]

Thanks!

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.

[Scruff55 60minGraduate]

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 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👏👏👏👏👏👏

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Scruff55]

Thank you!

[Speedy60 Graduate10]

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. 😭

[Slothgoesrunning Graduate10]

Yep this sounds familiar - well done for getting out there. 🙌🏻

I tried the headspace app for first time today and would definitely use again.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Slothgoesrunning]

Thank you.

Yes it was really helpful and seems to fit with my mood right now.

It sounds like you had a similar experience so well done to you as well ✅

[Lifluf Graduate10]

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.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Lifluf]

Thank you! You are right, the shorter days and weather definitely don't make things any easier