A few people have told me recently that they have had bad runs. They just felt lousy and were really hoping the feeling would go away. I was supposed to do a 33 mile ride today, but hail and crazy winds lead me to trade it in for a run instead. My training is way behind, so I can really use any additional mileage. As I headed out into the hail and wind with 2 coats, mittens and a hat on I felt a little tight. Since I am a big advocate of dynamic warm ups I now do one myself! Woo hoo actually doing what I preach. If only I could live by the nutritional advice I give. I should have done a few minutes longer; but started my run. I ran by some friends already headed back - bummer they were almost done and I was just getting started. I headed into a neighborhood to get out of the wind.
As I got going I could feel the protein shake I had recently finished in anticipation of a bike ride jostling in my stomach. A couple miles in a little stitch crept up my side and then my knee started to bug me. Now I was hot, why did I put on so many layers? Man - why am I having a crappy run? It sucks being out by yourself and questioning why and how long and other monumental issues! I started to think about the motivation note I wrote yesterday and about the athletes I coach and the ladies from the Freihofer's Training Challenge. What would I say to them?
Easy - change your attitude. Look for the good in your run. Feel positive about what you are doing like 'I nice forward lean'. Smile at something - little endorphin rush. I put the ipod on Empire State of Mind and starting singing along with Alicia Keyes. I decided that I wasn't running fast enough to cause digestive distress, so stitch be gone, jostling be gone. I adjusted my stride and the knee felt better. I adjusted my attitude and decided to add a little extra loop. My playlist was not all that exciting after Alicia, so I stopped and found a couple of strong run songs - - that lead me to add another loop on and I finished ahead of my normal pace to Preparations for the Last TV Fake (a great song the really builds to a strong finish). What started as a bad run finished as a great workout. How are you going to finish on a positive note?
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