Originally when I looked at my running schedule for last week, I really thought it would be a nice break. Aside from Tuesday and Thursday all of the workouts were “easy.” I thought that would give my body a chance to recover.
Saturday morning everything seemed to change. I woke up on Friday feeling a little “out of whack.” My body felt weak and I just knew that I wasn’t my normal self. I figured I was tried from Thursday, so since it as my rest day I figured I would be back to normal Saturday morning.
Wrong.
Saturday’s run was the worst run I have probably had in years. I went out hoping to do 12 and cut it at 10. I knew there was no reason to push it any further. I kept telling myself “it’s okay you can try again tomorrow.”
Sunday came and I was feeling a little better but nothing like I normally do. Something was still off. I fought with myself. I consider everything from not running at all to pushing through and forcing myself to do 10. In the end I opted to just go run and see how I felt.
I left my music at home so that I could listen to my breathing and make sure that I was really going easy. I knew that the moment I felt bad I would stop.
I ended up doing a total of 7 miles. I was happy with 7 miles. It wasn’t the 10 originally planned, but 7 was solid and I felt much better than Saturday. My legs felt great, but my body still had that weak and groggy feeling. I knew that with a 57 mile week coming up, cutting another run short was not going to hurt me. 3 miles is not going to make or break me!
I would be lying if I didn’t say that cutting runs short frustrates me. However, I have learned through some very hard lessons that even though I don’t like doing it, it is what I need!
I could have easily pushed to 10 today, and maybe I would have been fine. However, my week ahead is a tough one and I knew it wasn’t worth it.
One of the hardest things that we as runners have to learn to do is listen to your body. It actually is very smart and you know when you need to give yourself a break. We push ourselves too hard and eventually we will break. Sure, it may not be today or tomorrow but we keep pushing ourselves, we can only take so much.
This weekend was challenging for me. I was getting the rest I needed, but my body wasn’t recovering. Maybe it is sickness getting ready to strike or maybe it was just a sign that I needed to back off. Either way, I knew it was time to cut myself some slack.
I don’t know if this exactly a great “motivational monday” kick start, but it is an important lesson that has taken me many years to learn. We all know that we need to do it, but actually doing it when it comes down to it can be very challenging!
Here is to positive thoughts for a big week of running ahead! Hopefully giving myself a bit of a break this weekend will mean great runs coming up!
When is the last time you had to give yourself a break?
Are you good at cutting runs short when you need to?
Good idea to take it easy when you are not feeling well. I took a 2nd day off a few weeks ago and had a deep tissue massage. My recovery was slow and the heat was intense. I think I am still feeling the benefits of that day off. My calves haven’t been as tight and my runs have more spring.
Another thing to consider is food. With all the extra mileage, you do need to eat more. And eating more carbs can help. I know that is not always popular to say these days, but carbs will refuel your legs for the next run. Bagels, sandwiches, rice and pasta (I choose whole wheat of all of these items) will all help. I’m in week 7 of Hanson’s now and I am on “carbo load” throughout the entire week.
I haven’t run a 50+ mile week since high school and it is exhausting. I need at least 8 hours of sleep every day. Besides a multi-vitamin in the morning, I take ZMA (zinc magnesium) before bed to help with recovery sleep. It has helped me sleep through the night.
-Run with joy!
I think I need to steal your idea of the deep tissue massage! That sounds AMAZING! 🙂
Oh yes, I have eaten more pasta over the past few weeks than I have in a long long time! Pasta, rice and quinoa are my favorite carb forms. Oh, and of course BREAD!!
Bad runs happen. Don’t let it discourage you, and good for you for listening to your body and not pushing yourself to the point of injury!
Yes they do! Just pick yourself back up and move right along 🙂
So important! I listen to my body as much as possible. I think the more you try to be in-tune with it the better you get. Sometimes I will move my workouts around if I feel I need more rest in between.
That is so true Lauren!
You are absolutely right that the 3 miles won’t make or break you. Giving your self a break will only help you in the upcoming weeks:)
Thank you Lisa!!
No, I’m not good at cutting my runs short! But I’ll do it if I’m feeling badly. Then I go home and beat myself up… LOL…but really, you’re right, in the big picture, 3 miles isn’t going to make a bit of a difference.
~Wendy at Taking the Long Way Home
I am not good at it either, but I am learning it is so much more important than dealing with an injury!! 🙂
Cutting a run short is such a hard thing to do mentally but always worth it in the long run. Having a bad run is so frustrating that you end up more likely to push yourself further and harder than your body can handle and then ending up getting injured.
Very true Mary! No run is worth an injury!