A run is a run

[Run_rabbit_run]

Hello everyone! I hope your week has started well in whatever way you wished it to be. So from a previous post I shared I suffer from hayfever and well, this has gone another level up and I decided to join my friends at the gym yesterday. Eager to stay consistent, I ran on the treadmill and had hoped to do a long run but after 6k, my friend wanted to do weight and she is a newbie to the gym so I cut my run short and went through an upper body workout together. Admittedly this little annoying voice in my head was nagging at me that I didn’t get my long run in, but I know a run is a run and I got to do one and fit in a quick but effective upper body strength session in. Does anyone else get this annoying voice too? Whether it is a shorter run you end up doing or getting less runs in your week than planned? I try my best to balance up my overall workouts so I’m getting aerobic cardio in as well as strength sessions but there are weeks I am more motivated to run than others, but the discipline makes me stick to get at least 2-3 strength workouts in whatever happens to reduce injury and I find strength sessions generally just good for me overall. So I know the rationale but it’s just that voice…!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Oh yes, that voice is there when I'm slower than usual or when I don't run as far as I hoped or I don't go, but you are right, a run is a run and nothing wrong with 6k

[Run_rabbit_run Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you Sola - good to know it’s not just me with that voice! It’s just annoying that even though I know the reality is that as long as I have what I could that day, then that’s all that matters, that voice still gets to me!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Tell that voice to wind its neck in - 6k on the treadmill is more than plenty! Really well done. 👏👏👏👏👏

[Run_rabbit_run Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Haha that is true certainly for me - I used my music to run fartlek style and make it more interesting running on the treadmill and although I could have ran for longer, it felt right to show up for my friend and support her with her feeling confident in the gym and I probably needed it to learn to tell that voice to go away. Thank you

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

That voice is an absolute pain. A 6k run is a great run. In this weather especially, any runs you can get in are to be celebrated.

I find taking a longer term view helps-as you say, some weeks things go up and down but if you look over a month, or a few months I bet you’ve been pretty consistent.

I’ve been injured so doing more strength and a bit less running at the moment. Both are brilliant for you and you can play with the balance to suit what you need at different points in your run journey. It sounds like you’re doing all the right things. Maybe when the voice comes along next, you might be able to remind yourself. We’re always going to get those sorts of thought but we can get better at responding to it.

[Run_rabbit_run Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thank you MissUnderstanding - that longer term view does help with perspective. There is no race to fitness and it is certainly not something that can be rushed. Thanks for reminding me of the need and importance of sustainable health and fitness. Longer or faster/intense workouts have their place but any physical movement or activity that supports greater overall wellbeing is as significant than getting that long run in or whatever it is we had aimed to complete that day. I try and remember it’s about being able to get to the next starting line - and I can only do that with no/minimal injury and still say I enjoy it. I love to run and would like to continue for as long as I can.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Run_rabbit_run]

I try and remember it’s about being able to get to the next starting line - and I can only do that with no/minimal injury and still say I enjoy it. I love to run and would like to continue for as long as I can.

This is exactly me too!! Let’s hope both of us are running strong for many years to come ❤️🏃‍♀️💪

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

we all hear ya Run_rabbit_run …those annoying little voices are so persuasive! Well done on this lot though 😉