Before I forget the winners of the Milestone Pod giveaway are Ariana Martinez and Carla Shiver. Congrats ladies! Email me at saralovingontherun{at}gmail{dot}com and I will get them on the way to you!
Remember in yesterday’s post when I talked about how I am getting acclimated to the Virginia humidity?
Monday morning my husband and I headed out to the track to get in a workout. I was bound and determined to get back on my training plan after my week of moving.
We had scoped out the track the night before to make sure we could find one that had access to the public. It wasn’t quite as fancy as what we were used to in Erie, but we knew it would be perfect for what we needed!
We got up a little bit later, which was our first mistake. After a week of getting up super early we felt like we needed one morning where we slept in without an alarm. We still were up by 8:00, but that was a little too late to get moving for a workout like I had planned.
My original workout called for:
2 mile warm up
7 x 400 (with 400 recovery)
6 minute recovery
7 x 400 (with 400 recovery)
2 mile cool down
I immediately decided to shorten my warm up and cool down because that mileage was a little too high with what I am comfortable with at this point.
The heat and humidity were already pretty high when I began, but we had a little cloud coverage so I was hoping that would make it bearable. After 2-3 400’s I was already struggling.
There is a difference in training between tired and being at your limit. I finished the first set of 7. I took a break, got some water, and then did the 6 minute designated cool down. I was getting ready to start the next set of 7 and I was exhausted. I was already dizzy from the heat and began the first of 400 of set 2.
After about 1 minute in I knew that I was done. I kept reminding myself two very important things:
1. One workout isn’t going to break you. Sure, it would have been better had I gotten the entire workout completed, but it wasn’t worth it.
2. Heat builds up on you. I could have easily pushed through and finished it. I would have been exhausted, but that wouldn’t have been the end of it. The wear and tear that heat has on your body can build. I knew I have a workout today and several more runs throughout the week. Why would I push myself and risk a complete burn out by the end of the week?
We ended up leaving the track and going to scope out a local trail that ran by the river. It was beautiful and I ran for another slow 30 minutes before calling it a day.
In running we have to know our limits just like with anything. We have to know when to push our bodies and when to say “that’s enough.” There are many quotes and people that will tell you to always try to push past you limits. Sure, I agree that at times we need to push ourselves but we have to have a point where we realize we are only doing harm to our bodies. Those are the limits I am referring to.
It was a bummer, but I know in the long run it will pay off! I know there are many more great and fully completed workouts in my future!
Not sure this quote entirely applies, but I saw it the other day and loved it. Things happen, bad days happen, just pick yourself up and move right along!
Have you ever had to cut a workout short?
Do you know what your “running limits” are?.
I can totally relate. For some of us who have a tendency to push too hard, the real discipline is in holding back and resting. If you look at those “push through” quotes and read them as push through what is hardest for YOU to do, it makes more sense to me. The hard thing for me is often extra rest…THAT is what gets me uncomfortable.
I LOVE that Michele! What a great way to look at it 🙂
I definitely have had to cut workouts short! Especially if I get to the track and the sun is beating down.. it makes it a lot more challenging!
Yes it does! Glad to hear I am not the only one this has happened to!
Who IS this person and what have you done with Sara?!? I remember last fall as you ramped miles too fast, tried to increase pace too rapidly, and ate entirely too little some of us were concerned, but you said you ‘knew what worked for you’. And I also remember how injury and dealing with your disordered thinking on food and fueling was at once humbling and instructive. So it is great to hear when you really listen to your body and back off. 🙂 Yay!
I am definitely one of those people who is awful about resting – I wrote the other day about how I decided to quit the Runner’s World Streak and take a rest last Monday. It was hard for me, but absolutely the right thing to do … and even though I have run every day since, it is by choice and not due to external pressure.
And so glad you guys are getting settled in! I will be happy to follow as you get your life going in an area that is more ‘you’. 🙂
I know who am I!? haha I guess I am finally learning and growing up!
I saw that Runner’s World streak all over the blog world and even though I was asked a couple times to do it I decided against it. I knew that I wouldn’t take a rest day (which is a MUST for me now) and I would then start getting back into the mentality that I needed to run all the time. It just wasn’t worth it with my other training. It is awesome for those who can do it though!
Thank you – we really are loving it here!
I have definitely cut workouts short. Yesterday I did in fact. I cut my run short because I could feel my hip wasn’t 100%. I’m coming back from injury so I knew I had to back off rather than push it.
Good for you for listening to your body! That is the KEY!
The heat and humidity make things so much harder! Good for you for listening to your body. Sometimes we make bigger gains from taking a step back than from pushing too hard.
Very true Lisa!
Your post reminds me of a competitor article I read yesterday…
http://running.competitor.com/2014/06/training/ask-the-coach-should-i-adjust-for-heat-humidity_11857
Hopefully that makes your feel better knowing that even though you didn’t finish your workout you planned to, you put forth the effort and it will still pay off physiologically!! 🙂
I have definitely had to cut workouts short before… and mentally it blows. Lately I’ve had to be more cognizant of my running “limits” being 18 weeks pregnant. There will be times of the trail when I feel like I want to walk… and my pride and previous work ethic tells me, “umm, no. we don’t walk. you’re a runner. people will see.” I’ve obviously had to adjust my mindset with a bun in the oven and know even if I do take a short walk break, that may mean I’ll feel like going a little farther at the end of my run.
As far as heat goes, I got lucky this morning… it was 59 degrees when I started my run!
59 degrees!? That sounds amazing! I know one day when I get pregnant I will have to adjust my mindset too then. It’s all about doing what is good for your body! It took me a while but I am FINALLY learning!
Good for you…I’m not sure if I’m at the stage where I could cut a workout short (I’m too Type A, going off schedule makes me physically uncomfortable). Hopefully all your de facto heat training will pay off in the fall!
I used to be the way but after a couple injuries I’ve finally learned my limits. A healthy me is much better and if that means cutting some runs short, i’ve finally accepted that! It took me a while though.
It’s so hard to train in the heat!
I think the key to getting better is to approach your limits, but not go past it. That leads to injury/burn out.
Yes very true Matt! My goal is to avoid a burnout. Nothing good comes from that!