Not Too High ... Not Too Low!

            Course:  HyVee Out & Back
                Miles:  10            
                Time:  1:15:08
         Mile/Split:  7:31/mile
         Workout:   Tempo Run
               Temp:  33 Degrees, Wind 8SW
          Calories:  1182
  Total Ascent:  863 ft
            Avg HR:  154 bpm
Miles this week:  41

Today was a very below average run.  It was disappointing and not nearly as fast as I planned.  It's my fault for pushing myself too much after a very good hill run yesterday.  But that's pretty typical - I try to complete a bunch of super-great workouts in one week and usually end up getting disappointed with one of them.  I planned on running 5 miles at 6:30, but only managed 4 miles of around 7:00 which sucked the wind right out of me.  After that I just held on to complete the 10 mile workout, but much slower than I wanted.

Over the past several years I have learned a few things about running - mostly by trial and error.  One of the main things I've found to be true is you are never as good as you think you are, and probably not as bad as you think you are.  It's probably a good thing to remember in life in general - but it really has helped me through the ups and downs of daily training.

So often after battling a nagging injury or missing my goal times during a speed workout, I get really bummed out.  I think, "Okay, that's it ... that's probably the end of this little running endeavour for this 42 year old."  But the next day, I feel better and run stronger and I think, "Man, I'm almost as fast as Ryan Hall, the Gouchers, and Bill Rogers!"  Neither of these mindsets is close to being accurate of course (especially the latter).  It's funny, the extreme highs or disappointing lows never really last too long.

I think that's important for us to remember as distance runners.  Our training, like life I suppose, is a marathon.  If we constantly ride the wave of emotion of disappointing workouts and victorious races, we will drive ourselves crazy.  There are going to be days where we simply just don't feel like getting out of bed and putting one foot in front of the other on a street light illuminated path.  But I have found if I can somehow just struggle through it, I end up feeling better - and the next day is usually a whole new high.

Best wishes with your training!!!