Consolidation… a disappointing one

[ktsok]

I can try to analyse why this run felt more difficult than the last, and certainly more difficult than the one before that. Food, hydration, weather, hills, speed, hormones, sleep, alignment of the planets, etc. But perhaps it’s none of that, and it’s just an off day, or an on day?

I was feeling good. I went to a sound bath the other evening and was feeling well grounded after a bit of astral travelling and dancing in the Aurora Borealis. That’s where my mind took me…

The knee was hurting slightly more than usual after getting a pounding the day before at the climbing wall so I started off very slow… nose-breathing for the first km, feeling steady. I felt a bit laboured at the 10 minute ‘toxic 10’ mark, which eased off and I felt ok at 20 minutes, despite a muddy uphill track. But then I gradually felt more and more laboured, and I haven’t yet found a low enough gear that I could recover and run through it. I got to 30 minutes, and stopped with wobbly legs.

Whilst I recognise on some levels that this was good (think week 1!), it nevertheless felt a step backwards compared to my lovely easy W9:3 5K, or even the first consolidation run where I managed another not-so-easy 5k. I know it doesn’t work this way, but I want it to feel incrementally easier each time!

Despite only running 4k, so going less distance at a slower pace, with a lower average heart rate, I just felt I couldn’t run any further this time. The tank was empty.

I don’t like finishing runs this way. I like to leave a bit of fuel, so next time I turn the ignition the engine will start.

I guess most runners have days when their easy runs don’t feel quite so easy?

Keep… on… running…

[Katnap Graduate]

You ran for over 30 minutes. That's still good 😃👍

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Katnap]

Cheers Katnap. I am holding that thought. It’s just the tough days are tough!

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

 ktsok …you are doing brilliantly…and you ran for 30 mins..that’s so much longer than when you first started…some runs are easy, some runs are hard but every run is a run, another one under your belt & in your running bank…so well done you…keep it going

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Mummycav]

Thanks Mummy. I like that your name is mummy and you give unconditional support, btw ❤️

[PaulS83]

Is there any other aspect of your life that you’re utterly consistent with, day after day after day? Even, say, reading. Are there days when your brain is just not engaged as usual and you find yourself backtracking and putting down, picking up? Running is the same as everything. Nothing profound about an off day. No backward steps either, if you plotted all your runs you’d see an upward trend like a rocket’s trajectory.

Slap that one in the don’t look back drawer and move on.

[ktsok Graduate in reply to PaulS83]

Yes. Definitely maybe.

I’m worried my knee might be playing its old games.

How’s yer noggin? You seem to have come over all sensible…

[PaulS83 in reply to ktsok]

I know. It’s a horrible habit, one I need to quit. I sound like a bit of a tool when I’m sensible.

Noggin still truly stoved. Day 8 of it. Not fun. Not fun at all. 🥴

[ktsok Graduate in reply to PaulS83]

You poor thing.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

You ran... To run an easy run is easy, when it feels easy... its impressive when it doesn't feel easy... Rest up, hydrate well and maybe an extra rest day xxx

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Might be a good idea x

[Gthants]

30 minutes is a proper consolidation run! 🙌 And it's a really good time for the distance and you are running.

I found that after the first few C25K runs, I felt a sense of achievement, but not always a sense of pleasure. Some runs were a grind; some were fine; some felt simply awesome.

I just had four 6k runs in a row where I felt fantastic; tried to change it up yesterday and ran just over 3k in I I have no idea what time and it was wretched. Something was just not right - certainly my head was not in it. And I ache more today than I did after the longer runs. 🤷‍♂️

So, I repeat: you ran. You did good!

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Gthants]

Thanks GT.

Four 6k runs in a row feeling fantastic - that’s great! I guess it is inevitable there will be days when the system just isn’t syncing and it’s a slog.

I shall plod on and hope for better… 🙃