Getting through the Blahs
Welcome to the weekend! Its Saturday and for me that means my long run.
"Long run" is relative for everyone and I have certainly had it mean different things for me in different stages of training (I am not training for a particular race now but would like to keep some distance training). Right now my long run consists of about 9 km of distance with the first 15 min being running to a destination of stairs, then ~ 6 sets of stairs (up a gruelling switchback hill, with each set taking over 4 min-by the time you reach the top your legs are so fried you don't know how you'll get back down) and 15 min back home. It usually takes 56min and feels really tough due to the previous 5 days of lifting and running.
Now, after reading the workout you might think "not so tough" or "are you bloody mad?" but regardless, it was tough for me today because I missed last week's long run due to being ill and today my bed felt a heck of a lot more welcoming than the cold wind outside.
Here is the pivotal point. Do I roll over and sleep? or do I drag my ass outside and teach those stairs a lesson?
Our new puppy Cherokee helped me "keep it real". Her boistrous, energetic, morning self needed some exercise and fresh air so out I went for a 10 min lap around the park. Because I am constantly worried about tripping over her or having her chase a cat-the time flew by. She gives me a few laughs and even makes me run faster. She is not ready for all the distance so I hand her off and continue my run, which now feels less like a chore and more like a favour to myself. It wasn't easy but it felt so good to get it done!
The point here is that no matter how dedicated you are to your training you WILL have those days that you try and talk yourself out of training. DON'T even entertain your internal dialogue...just start the workout! Use friends, or in my case our dog, your spouse or whatever you can to get you doing your workout. Remember the more training sessions you miss the easier it is to miss. But, the more you train...the EASIER it is to keep going!
Train on!
"Long run" is relative for everyone and I have certainly had it mean different things for me in different stages of training (I am not training for a particular race now but would like to keep some distance training). Right now my long run consists of about 9 km of distance with the first 15 min being running to a destination of stairs, then ~ 6 sets of stairs (up a gruelling switchback hill, with each set taking over 4 min-by the time you reach the top your legs are so fried you don't know how you'll get back down) and 15 min back home. It usually takes 56min and feels really tough due to the previous 5 days of lifting and running.
Now, after reading the workout you might think "not so tough" or "are you bloody mad?" but regardless, it was tough for me today because I missed last week's long run due to being ill and today my bed felt a heck of a lot more welcoming than the cold wind outside.
Here is the pivotal point. Do I roll over and sleep? or do I drag my ass outside and teach those stairs a lesson?
Our new puppy Cherokee helped me "keep it real". Her boistrous, energetic, morning self needed some exercise and fresh air so out I went for a 10 min lap around the park. Because I am constantly worried about tripping over her or having her chase a cat-the time flew by. She gives me a few laughs and even makes me run faster. She is not ready for all the distance so I hand her off and continue my run, which now feels less like a chore and more like a favour to myself. It wasn't easy but it felt so good to get it done!
The point here is that no matter how dedicated you are to your training you WILL have those days that you try and talk yourself out of training. DON'T even entertain your internal dialogue...just start the workout! Use friends, or in my case our dog, your spouse or whatever you can to get you doing your workout. Remember the more training sessions you miss the easier it is to miss. But, the more you train...the EASIER it is to keep going!
Train on!
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