Run for sanity... (Reason #955)

[Irish-John]

Had THE lousiest few days at work. God I was in a bad humour, and even worse - still was this morning.

Run day, but didn't feel like it - got enough of a beating this last few days to go out and be 'too slow', 'legs heavy' 'lungs heaving'...felt bad/frustrated/irate enough as it was.

However - knew it would do me good. Wasn't even thinking 'enjoyable' or 'fulfilling' or 'keeping up the good habit'. Just figured it would be good to run some of the negative energy off, and I didn't want to be around anyone anyway.

Talk about 'run slow' - I set the timer and put all thoughts of 'waymarks' on the back shelf and just ran. And when the 'effort' started kicking in, well what the hell...I just slowed WAY down, because not trying to 'achieve' anything, just running. The heck with distance and speed. I could have sworn I never ran more slowly...

Worked a treat - burned off all the negative energy.

And, surprise surprise - actual distance was only a wee bit less than all the 'faster' running.

I do believe that some of us Runners have a very narrow range of 'speed'. We run very consistently and that's fine - unless of course you really want to set increasingly improving PBs. Me - I run at the same pace as I did my first year pretty much. The one time that saw me REALLY train 'hard' for an event only improved my time over a Ten Mile event by something like eight minutes. The stress of training wasn't worth the investment of time LOL

Funny how it goes with motivation - there are days I can't wait to get out to run, and days when it just feels like its 'dutiful' to run and of course all the days in between the extremes. Some days I feel great but the run doesn't really reflect that, some days I think I am too tired or whatever but at times have my 'best feeling' runs. Some days I just quit in the middle of a run because dammit I just don't want to run any further, no bigger reason than that

I guess my point is - maybe it's helpful to not 'complicate' running by having an ulterior motive - 'getting fit', 'losing weight'' 'being faster'. 'going longer' .

Keep it enjoyable on at least some level - challenges are great motivators, but there are times when just going out the door can be the beginning and end of the challenge...and the run itself the payoff, not it's conclusion

'Just running' made for a great running day today.

[JoP61 Graduate]

Me too. I sometimes hate the thought of running but when I do it I'm so grateful xx

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to JoP61]

Definitely better than the sofa 🙂

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Just running! Yep, that's it, that's what gets rid of all that negativity some days. And that's what makes you strong.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

The healthiest addiction I ever had 🙂👍🏻

[Gthants]

This is so true! A run last week when I just had to run, though I was knackered, I just took it very slow so I'd be ok over that first few minutes and I knew I could decide then to run 3k, 4k, or 5k. Just one foot infront of the other, turn at the end of the path, over the footbridge, through the gap in the hedge, just keeping it really slow, down this path, okay, that's been a few minutes now, check the watch - and that was fourteen minutes. I'd had four hours sleep, dragged myself out of bed and had barely noticed I was moving, but I'd already done half of my run. Not complicated. I just somehow ... ran.

Wishing you some happy running in the near future.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Gthants]

Sometimes its good to let the body push the mind into yhe background

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

You are so right. Sometimes the trainers need to go on and the brain needs to go off. Just run. Don’t think about pace-just do what your legs tell you to.

It was one of the toughest things about being injured-not having that stress relieving processing time available. I’m so glad to be back again.

Being able to run is such a good thing and definitely not to be taken for granted. ❤️

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

It certainly changed my life for the better 🙂👍🏻

[Joy57 Graduate]

I did run 1 of week 6 this morning and am so glad I restarted the programme (program to you!). I have so much more headspace when I'm running (not just during the run, but afterwards too). Well done to you, Irish-John

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Joy57]

Well done Joy 🙂👍🏻

[Teresa1632 Graduate]

Running slow is the new fast. And when you leave the tech at home, all the better! I'm trying to run in heart zone 1-2, and its hard to stay slow, but its also good.Well done lacing up and getting out there. Run slow, easy, comfortable and straighten your head out. No better feeling!

"This is the time to be slow,

Lie low to the wall

Until the bitter weather passes.

Try, as best you can, not to let

The wire brush of doubt

Scrape from your heart

All sense of yourself

And your hesitant light.

If you remain generous,

Time will come good;

And you will find your feet

Again on fresh pastures of promise,

Where the air will be kind

And blushed with beginning."

(John O'Donohue)

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Teresa1632]

Brilliant poem T! Thanks for sharing 🙂👍🏻

[Birdlady64 Graduate]

So true. My last run was exactly like that!

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

It brightened my day 🙂