something interesting happened during my run this morning.
I'm on my last week of this return to injury program that I've been following, I can't believe it's already been over 6 weeks since I got the ok to start running again. Things have been going well.
About 1/2 way through my run, I found myself checking my Garmin a lot... and noticed that I was fairly quick (to my standards anyway LOL) but really felt the urge to take a walk break. Whether 5 seconds, 30 seconds or a minute, just felt like I needed it, but at the same time I was in a groove. Classic devil and angel on the shoulders...
So I bargained. Let me hit the end of this street, and if I still need a break, I'll take one then. I didn't, and by the time I realized it, I was on a completely different street.
Devil played with my mind again, "hmmm, maybe you should walk now?" Again, I bargained. If I hit the stop sign and still need one, I'll take one then.
I ran home. :)
This type of trickery, delaying, pushing aside the devil, bargaining in my own mind was a huge part of my success in quitting smoking over 3 years ago. Instead of having a cigarette, then doing something, like dishes, cook dinner, or whatever, I'd do the opposite. I knew that chances were good that I would get busy, distracted, eventually delaying the next cigarette longer and longer.
It worked then, and worked today.
Hoping tomorrow's run will go as well, and give me the same positive feeling to get my out of my funk. Since this afternoon, I've been feeling particularly emotional, sad, and just blah. Nothing happened, there really is no reason for it; I'm just down. Perhaps just the weather, cold, grey, dark, dreary days... but I hate this feeling.
Happy early Thanksgiving to all my US neighbors in case I don't chat with you all before then... safe travels to those of you travelling! And good luck to all of you racing!
13 comments:
I hear ya on the 'feeling down' - I'm there myself, but hey, isn't that what running is for? Nothing like a good pavement pounding to work out some of those blahs. You're doing so awesome with your return to running plan...
Oh yeah, I knew that feeling when your body tells you something and your brain tells you something else.
Your brain is telling you,
"this is too uncomfortable",
"you need to conserve your energy",
"you've never run this far before".
Your brain wants you to protect your body, to keep it out of harm's way, but your body tells you something different.
It's a pretty awesome feeling pushing beyond those mental limits, isn't it? :)
You're doing a great job with your running plan!
I do exactly the same when the going gets tough in races or it's hurting really really badly in a tough training ride. I just tell myself to hold on for another ten seconds or the next intersection or the next street sign ... and another ten seconds or the next sign and so on. Before you know it you have settled in again. It really works.
I think it's awesome that you have the mental toughness to outwit your body when it try to beg for a break. :-)
I totally understand what you did and I use this technique when I am having a rough time. I give myself these sort of intermediate goals and it allows me to keep going.
I am totally impressed with anybody who can quite smoking. Both my parents are heavy smokers and will probably never quit. The only good thing about that is that I am so grossed out by their smoking that I would never even touch one.
Best of luck with your training and have a great holiday.
It's the November blahs.
You are doing so awesome with your runs... you went from almost always taking walk breaks, to being injured, to following a post-injury plan to running like a rockstar without breaks!
I totally recognize your bargaining techniques... "just run to the next light" etc. Whatever works, right?
Nice job, Mel. I'm proud of you!
That's awesome. I play the mind games with myself all the time. It seems to be the only way I can get through a run on the tough days.
I'm doing the exact same thing. The only problem is that I tend to psyche myself out to run just one more block instead of walk. It sounds like you're doing way better than I am, though, and that's wonderful!
Good luck with your next run, and it WILL be better than the last one!
If that trick worked with smoking, I am DEFINITELY going to employ it more during my more challenging runs and races. I usually only think of it when I'm NOT running. Thanks for the tip!
Hey, put a smile on that pretty face. You're doing great!
Awesome job on the run. Keep it up.
Sounds like you are doing awesome still! Great to hear it and great run girl! :D
Woohoo, yay for being speedy! Sounds like bargaining with yourself works really well.
I know what you mean on feeling blah. I've been feeling that way too. I'm sure it is a combination of how busy work is and how much other stuff I have going on at the moment. I took a "me" night last night and ditched my other plans, so hopefully that will help! Good luck.
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