Running Notes

Just yesterday I blogged about a terrible run in the heat, and how I am behind in my marathon training. I also posted several tips for running in the heat. It's really too bad I don't take my own advice.

So today, I found myself in the rare situation of being home alone in the evening. It had cooled off to a mere 79 degrees from the 90+ temps we'd been experiencing. I'd been good all day about drinking lots of water. I decided to go for a run. Now I've been feeling very down that I hadn't run the 8 miles that was on my schedule for last weekend. So of course, one mile into my run, I decided to go for 8.

This was a very bad decision for a lot of reasons. 1) I've been running mostly one-mile runs, on a treadmill. 2) It was still 79 degrees, which is warm for a run. 3) In my experience, it is a VERY bad idea to UP your mileage DURING a run. I tend not to make sound decisions during a run. Add in just because I'd had lots of water today, didn't mean I'd had lots of water yesterday. Did I mention I've been running on a treadmill with a 1% incline, not the nearly pure hills of the roads by my house?

Now the beginning of this run was terrific. I was composing eloquent and meaningful blog posts in my head. I may have even discovered the meaning of life. I also stupidly chose an out and back route, which means, no matter what I will be covering 8 miles because there is no shortcut back. I hit the four mile mark and turned around. Things started to feel a little shaky at this point, but I told myself I could do it. I just needed to HTFU.

I briefly got my second wind. And I mean BRIEFLY. Like five minutes. Suddenly, I felt very sick. And woozy. And kinda didn't really know where I was. In case you aren't aware, that's not good. So I stopped. And walked. Let me repeat that. I stopped. And walked. And nearly burst into tears. Since I completed the Couch to 5k program in November 2007, I have NEVER stopped and walked.

As that realization hit me, I nearly burst into tears. Now, rationally, I know there is no shame in walking. I had after all just run a very respectable 5.7 miles. And still had 2.3 to walk home. But I have never felt so disappointed in myself. I have never stopped and walked. To clarify, that is largely because I NORMALLY pick appropriate distances for my training. To suddenly decide I could will myself to do 8 miles was stupid and unfair.

Anyway, why do I post any of this? Well, why do I blog in general? To motivate myself. To motivate others. To warn you of the idiot things I have done, so you won't do them. Or to make you feel better if you've already done them, just to see that someone else makes mistakes. The blissful beginning of the run included comparing life and running. This run is no exception to that. Sometimes we bite off more than we can chew. Sometimes we can just HTFU. Other times we need to be smart and back off. Sometimes we need to push and challenge ourselves. Other times we need to accept our limitations so we can gather strength for the next challenge.

Another parallel between running and life is what we take away from those challenges. Do I dwell on the fact that I stopped and walked? Or do I celebrate the fact that I ran 5.7 miles and walked/ran another 2.3? Do I wallow in self pity and stop running altogether or leave it behind me and run again tomorrow? I think you all know the answer to that one.