Happy Friday Friends! I’ve been ready for the weekend since Wednesday when the guy at the gym greeted me with, “are you ready for the weekend, Miss Emily?”
I got this really excited, “OMG, I didn’t even realize it’s Friday! Tomorrow is long run and nap day! Maybe even a shopping trip with girlfriends and a nice salad date for lunch filled with leafy greens and gossip. I don’t know, I don’t know if I’ll have time” feeling, until I looked at my phone, thought about it for half a second and realized it was only 6am on a Wednesday morning. Not even halfway through the week. Cruel, gym man, downright cruel. But now it’s finally Friday which means tomorrow IS long run/nap/girlfriend shopping date/salad lunch day. I think that deserves a little TGIF.
As I mentioned in a recent post or two, I’ve been in a little bit of a funk lately. Some non-sweat related stress has been weighing down on me and exercise has been one of my few truly reliable releases.
Until this week.
After giving myself a gold star for being smart and backing off for a day or two, I had a downright shitty run.
I’m glad it was dark out when I went so I couldn’t see my garmin telling me just how shitty it was, but I didn’t need to see the paces it was beeping at me every mile to know it was a truly atrocious run. My legs felt like shit, my calves and shins were burning, and my blister was making it very clear that it’s here to stay for the long haul. And as soon as I stopped, my garmin had no problem confirming my suspicions that I’d been plagued with an absolutely horrible run.
I sat there looking at my watch, completely perplexed as to just what went wrong with the run. Sure, bad runs happen. Sure, fatigue happens. And no, I don’t beat myself up after every bad workout. But seriously legs, this is how you perform after two days of pool running? I know I preach the benefits of aqua jogging, but it’s not exactly a muscle busting workout. Did you forget about the whole Ironman thing you went through legs? Would it help if I wore my IMLP socks to remind you?
After I was done with my internal complaining and leg lecture, I turned to my lucky, lucky friends over the gchatz to fill them in on how pumped I was about my bad run. (Side note: people ask me why I ditched the iPhone for a Droid and I usually make up some lame excuse that doesn’t really answer the question like “Oh, I just find it more usable.” The real reason? Better gchat applications. Because god forbid I ever be without the ability to chat my friends online. And no, texting is not the same thing. Now you know).
And believe me, my friends said all the right things.
Now accepting applications to be added to my gchat roster. I can promise you overly dramatic messages and links to running skirts I’m lusting after.
I then proceeded to wallow in self destructive thoughts for the next 120 minutes. Not all related to one bad run, don’t worry, I’m not quite that crazy. The bad run was just the thing that catapulted me over the edge after a long day. Kind of like when you’re in a really terrible mood because x, y and z actually horrible things have happened and then the froyo place is out of your favorite flavor and you start crying next to the self serve topping bar. No? Hasn’t happened to you? Just me then.
After I’d had enough self-destructing at home with only my internet friends to keep me company, I ventured out to hang out with someone who knows me very well.
And I gained a little perspective. As I sat there, clutching a glass of mystery white wine, spewing off negative thoughts/talking straight up crazy at a mile a minute, my friend stared at me and said “Who are you and what did you do with the (mostly sane) girl I know?” At least, that’s how I am translating his laughing in my face for no less than 5 straight minutes.
The tough love and perspective helped me come back down to earth. Some of the stress I’m going through these days is legit, some of it is ridiculous, and some of it is negative energy that I can completely rid my life of.
Yes, I had a bad run. No, it’s not the end of the world nor the end of my sub 3:20 marathon aspirations. So how about I get over it? I woke up yesterday morning and declared that shit was going to be different, the day was going to be good, and the bad run was getting left behind. I eliminated some unnecessary stressors, stopped stressing about things not worthy of my time and energy, and thought rationally about my running situation for a few minutes (or, many hours, same thing) and I came to some conclusions as to why my running this week is not my best ever.
1) My footwear this week, while cute, has not been supportive in the least. Unfortunately, I have a limited selection of shoes that don’t aggravate my still open wound of a blister (do some blisters NEVER heal? Serious question) and the ones that work for my friction wound are not working for my calves and shins.
2) My normally stellar approach to hydration has been lacking in the stellar department this week. More nuun please.
3) I’m breaking in a pair of new running shoes (more on this later) and while I truly madly deeply love them, they have a “rocker” function that changes your stride. My friend who also sports this particular make and model of footwear talked me off my ledge by convincing me that some of my lower leg fatigue could simply be due to adjusting to this new profile.
Now that I have identified some likely culprits behind the shortest, slowest and worst run I’ve had in months, I feel calmer. I further calmed myself by heading out on a little redemption run to convince myself not all speed was lost this week.
Last night, I met up with a friend who I am completely incapable of saying the words “slow down” to. While my legs, especially in the calf region, were still not feeling fresh and full of spring, they finished 7 miles at a pace that didn’t make me cringe when it flashed across my garmin at the end of the run. Strategic choice of running partner FTW.
And if you’ve made it this far in the post, congratulations, you have a very high tolerance for crazy.
Let’s end this slightly irrational ranting with some fun thoughts for Friday:
I’m sure you’ve all heard about this new Boston Marathon beer by Sam Adams by now. I’m a bit shocked that more of the running community is not up in arms about the way they are marketing this beer for runners. Lower in alcohol? Mr. Adams and I are not clearly not hanging out with the same group of runners.
Today was run to work day. Did you play along? Two days of running in a row sidelined me from the party but I ran home from work last night and walked to work in my running compression gear this morning, so that counts for something, right?
It is the weekend! Long run and race time. While I’ll be extremely jealous of everyone racing this weekend: fill me in on your plans. I’m getting my long run on with 12-15 glorious miles tomorrow morning.
Gurl-
You need to calm the F down and enjoy life! Big whoop you had a bad run…build a bridge and get over it. The wounds will heal and soon you will back you your regularly scheduled (sweaty) program. Look at the positives from this past week: Hung out with some good friends, great (unseasonable) weather, gchatting with me about boyz, vodka, and bagels.
I don’t like Negative Nancy Emily! So take time to reflect about all the good in your life (see above for examples) and then you will realize (hopefully) that one bad run is not the end of the world for an Iron (wo)Man!
xOxO-
Your fave gay
My blister that was on the bottom of my foot took over a month to heal. It wasn’t open like yours.
I need to get in on the gchat. I would tell you to add me if I had it. :)
Ok I have gchat set up. Now I need to find some friends. If you want to add me I am at mhanson1973@gmail.com
March your butt down to the nearest drugstore/pharmacy/walmart/whatever and buy yourself some blister bandaids!! I thought for sure they were marketing hype to get me to buy yet another fancy kind of bandage (as injury prone as I am, I need to be well-stocked…), but not only do they actually speed up healing, they will not chafe or cause another blister. Magic, I tell you.
You came back from the brink of the end of the world being confined to that boot – one bad run is a (super sucky) speedbump. There’s a 3:20 marathon with your name on it at the end of this smart recovery :)
No, I did NOT hear about the Sam Adams Boston Marathon Beer…. thank you for the information. I can now sleep better at night.
Although, like you said, what the heck is up with it being light and having a lower alcohol content?? I am going to brew a special marathon beer that has the consistency of syrup and a 50% alcohol content, any takers?
I always get blisters on my arch… it sucks… I have found two solutions and both work great…
BandAid makes Blister BandAids (cushioned) These are a good sent…. plus they last all day and promote faster healing.
And sports tape –
Good luck and I hope your day gets better…
I hate goat cheese but I like everything else about this post. Way to tone down the crazy and pick up the pace. That’s the Ironman I know and love.
I would like to be put back ON the gchat roster please. I promise I won’t talk about the fact that I’m racing this weekend…and twice next week. ;)
Also I will tell you motivational things like “bad runs only make the good ones that much better.” But you already know that. So less freaking out and more celebrating how most of your runs coming back from your injury have been awesome.
I saw that beer. Lower alcohol or not, I am trying it and am VERY excited! :)
Oh I have never herd of that beer. I will have to give it a try. And I’m sure you will have tons of good runs in your near future.
and running to/from work = ftw
forget all this “blister bandaid” talk and get real with some new skin! you put a few layers on and you CAN’T FEEL YOUR BLISTER ANYMORE! my boyfriend’s dancing sister let me borrow some (yes, she carries it in her purse) after some heels had their way with my poor feet in vegas and it was like putting on a new pair of uninjured feet. warning: it burns like hell for 5 seconds.
ps: http://newskinproducts.com/
we all are allowed bad runs…that makes the good ones that much better! :)
I agree- different shoes could change things.
My plan calls for 15 this weekend…most likely will be 10-11 miler though as my IT band/hip flexor/piriformis are not currently friends!
Unless the beer is meant for consumption WHILE running, I’m at a loss for the reasoning behind the lower ABV. WTF, Sam?
Thanks for screenshotting something grammatically correct and not embarrassing. I’ll start proof-reading and putting extra thought into all of my chatz now knowing the threat for blast on SOAD.
Lower in alcohol so you can…drink more of them and still make your post-happy-hour run? Maybe? Cause otherwise, yeah, Sam knows different runners than I do, too.
I think the gym dude’s weekend statement is akin to saying “You’re almost there” at mile 20. Punishable by groin kick.
best comparison ever. yes yes and yes.
Maybe Magic Hat should make a higher alcohol beer for VCM. I would definitely test it out for them after all my training runs. Bad runs seems terrible at the time, but they definitely make you appreciate the great-super-happy runs more!
YES. Let’s jointly pitch this to Magic Hat and VCM. I think the idea is top notch.
Good thing I hit up the free samples at the brewery at least monthly. I’ll mention this brilliant idea next time I’m there.
You need these: http://www.amazon.com/Band-Aid-Adhesive-Bandages-Multi-Day-Protection/dp/B001E96LIG
A few months ago our CrossFit WOD was 30 rope climbs, which I did without gloves like an idiot. My hands were covered in shredded blisters and those Band Aid things made me a new person. You might have to rig up some tape or something over it to keep it on the bottom of your foot, but it will definitely help heal it and make it less painful.
I’m pretty sure that your slowest, shortest, and worst run ever was probably the six weeks with a broken foot where no running at all was involved. =( Crappy runs just serve to remind us that our goals are going to take work to achieve and fuel us for the work that lies ahead. Oh wait, I meant bagels. Bagels fuel us for the work that lies ahead.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who had a mini meltdown over running this week. I could have used some of that tough love!
You’re freaking me out coz I’m being a sloth today!!! ;p Anyway, 10k event tomorrow, still a long way to go before I can be within smoking distance of your long run! See…you’re way way ahead of me!
I know how that irrational raving goes. You start on one topic and then over the course of however long the funk lasts for you can manage to bring in every negative thing that’s ever happened to you over your entire life. And my entire life is heading up to 49 now so my irrational ranting can go on for some time. You did exactly the right thing by getting out with a friend. Hope things pick up for you soon.
Be excited that you are back from injury and running 12-15 miles! But, don’t worry the rest of us do that, too. Or at least I do…after a bad MP run or tempo, I usually email my RC with “WTF is wrong with me, do we need to change my goal MP? I think so.”
oh yeah…and does gchat (I use “talk” or wtv that is) not run down your battery? It does mine! (And makes me angry).
I have had a lot of runs like this…actually about one per week. After last week’s long run, I complained to everyone who would listen that I was out of shape and there was no way my marathon goals were going to happen, etc etc. But then….this week was better! Running is funny like that….full of surprises, so many ups and downs. Bu it sounds like your gchat friends (and the wine) provided some good perspective. No bad run last forever! And as Jay-Z likes to say “On to the next one”.
:)