Bad Run

Last night was a bit of a wake-up call. I went out for a routine 4.5k trainer, just to put in some time, and had to stop at about 4k. Everything about me just rejected the concept. I tried to continue... to make it the last stretch, but it just didn't happen.

I went out with no purpose, no gameplan, and no optimism. I'm learning that the mind is an equally important component to success.

I came off a bad day of work. One of those days where nothing goes particularly wrong, but everything seems decidedly annoying. I hadn't eaten, I hadn't stretched... I started my run out of obligation, and with no intention of enjoying a second of it. I wasn't looking at anything, I wasn't thinking about anything. I was just plodding along loosely. No discipline.

Great metaphor for life. Success is a function of knowing what you're doing and why you're doing it, and then attacking it with the positive energy that that purpose provides.

I'll be back out tonight trying to make a better effort of it.

JB

Seven

Getting stronger. I did a 7Km last night and everything felt pretty good. I'm focusing on using my left side more... I gather that a lot of my knee issues stem from a weak left side, which results in my over-rotating at my right hip, and over-using my whole right side in compensation. It seemed to help a fair amount to focus specifically as I ran on using my left side equally. It feels completely unnatural initially, but in reality is also that much more balanced.

Huzzah!

Day off today... headed home to Leamington for the weekend.

Long country road run tomorrow!
JB

Back At It

I'm back on the trail!  Or the pavement, more specifically.  This weekend I was able to squeeze in two 5Km trips around the block.

I will say this... taking even a week off of the schedule is devastating.  That first trip out again seemed impossible.  Adding to this was likely the fact that the week was full of beers and burgers with friends.  Too much good food, too little good activity...

That first 5Km was killer.  The last bit was nothing more than a dull trudge, the ankles having long since ceased to perform.

The second kick at the can was much better.  I certainly felt as though I was back in the saddle and in control of myself.  The knees have yet to fully exhibit any serious pain, but I'm not yet sure where I stand.  5Km isn't really a good test-drive of how long they're going to hold up.  In both of those runs, I could feel the right knee.  Not as though it was particularly unhappy, but it was certainly letting me know that it was there.  That said, my leg did feel pretty strong.  We'll see.

Here's to a good upcoming week.

JB