Sweet spot ... and then not

[NettieNoo]

Having graduated at the end of March, I've been consolidating my socks off. I've tried all sorts ... shorter runs, very slightly longer runs, walk/run intervals, different routes, back to front routes ... and I have borne in mind the excellent advice I've had here about conversational pace and not beating myself up about distance or pace. I got myself to a real sweet spot - of actually enjoying my runs. Not just enjoying them, but looking forward to them, running about 5k, 3 times a week pretty consistently and comfortably. (Comfort being a relative term in this context 😁😁) Brilliant! Until all of a sudden last week, I had an absolutely HORRIBLE run.

I did about 1½k feeling uncomfortable ... my feet hurt (my feet always hurt, but generally don't bother me when I run, strangely) my right calf felt tight and hot and it felt generally just all wrong. So I stopped and walked, whereupon I was stricken with the sudden and urgent need to have a poo. I've heard horror stories from others about this, but it's never happened to me before. I had to complete the 5k as I was being picked up by my husband at the other end of my route. You try walking 3½k with your buttocks clenched!

Anyway, I went out again 2 days later to try again - it wasn't the best run I've ever had, but I did it. I've just done another this evening, which I did very slowly and eally enjoyed. Isn't it weird though, how you can be doing so well and then just have a rubbish run which knocks your confidence? I've had enough rubbish ones by now to know that it's not a permanent arrangement and that things will get better again, but I find it makes me really nervous the next time I go out - I think I'm afraid that all the previous, more successful runs were just a fluke.

On a side note, these socks have been a revelation! So comfy! I bought them for Race for Life and my choice (although they are proper running socks) was based purely on colour. They're like putting your feet in a pair of fluffy clouds!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator]

Those tough runs are tough! The more you have, the easier it becomes to shake them off as “one of those days”. If I’ve had one that’s really knocked my confidence, I usually plan an easy run that I know I can do along a familiar route with something good on the headphones! The “Suckcess run” on Nike Run Club is good on this-proper runners all have those runs and it’s useful to remind yourself as you start that it’s a normal part of running to have off days. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad runner. You’re just part of a huge club who all have those runs sometimes!

Nerves and doubts are funny things. I get nervous before runs for absolutely no discernible reason. Again, as you get more experienced you’ll get more strategies for running through them. I tend to remind myself that feeling nervous is ok. It’ll pass as I get further into the run because I’ve done all the training to make my body capable of doing that run. Basically, I separate what I know I can physically do with how I’m feeling about it. Running is such a mental game. Once you find you give yourself permission to be nervous, you might find it affects you less badly.

Love those socks! The colour is gorgeous! ❤️

[Pugwash Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Nicely put MissUnderstanding . Some days you eat the bear... All will come good again, just trust that it will.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Oh gosh... sometimes a run will be just a struggle... for all sorts of reasons... You may have been just off side that day...and a little bug whizzing around your system ? But, for every run like that there will be loads of other wonderful ones!

As MissUnderstanding says.. they are tough. Just choose a route for your next run, that you love and have always enjoyed, and then just run it, taking it all in and letting those new running legs do what they do best.

In that sweet spot again and letting the legs carry you. Run as long or as little as you like and when you have ... pat yourself on the back and treat yourself to another pair of those amazing socks!!!

[Adebris]

Hi Nettie Noo, I've had both the negative experiences you mention ! One thing I noticed was that as I got more confident post graduation I had a tendency to just get out and run without a proper warm up walk or stretches. as your muscles develop they'll need extra warm up and stretches both pre and post run. Apols if you are already doing this but looking up some stretching regimes (this site will have some links) might help

[NettieNoo Graduate in reply to Adebris]

I think you're spot on ... like lots of people I'm not great at the warming up and stretching, I just want to get on with the running part! I run VERY slowly so I think I probably warm up as well as a warm up walk, but stretching is something I'll definitely look at. On this particular occasion I think I just overestimated my ability ... I'd had a busy and physically tiring day and had already been for a long walk. I'd done 15000 steps before I even started running. When I'm feeling good and it's going well I just want to keep going forever ... I need to remind myself how old and decrepit I actually am 😁