Running when you have to dig deep

Today was a dig deep kind of run. A ‘I might not go’ kind of run! But those ones are just as important as the ones that feel good, because ultimately I’ve just learnt that even when I think I can’t, I can!

It turns out dringing 3 large glasses on sauvingnon the afternoon before a run the following morning, doesn’t make for progress! Or does it?

I gues it’s all about how we frame progress! Today I didn’t want to go, I was worried I might get a migraine so I put all the things in place to try to prevent this (let me know fi this would be useful to you because it’s taken years of honing this) and I went anyway.

 

I decided from the outset I would lower my expectations. I had intended on 5 miles today0- the longest I’ve ran in years, I planned the route, a nice gentle undulating road run along the one track lanes of my local area, and it was sunny- bonus! BUT if I didn’t manage the whole run, if I got a mile in and felt awful, I promised myself I’d come home.

 

And I went. I allowed myself to walk whenever I felt really exhausted (good old Jeff!) and this also gave me a small chance to check in with myself….how do my legs feel? How do my lungs feel? What’s my head saying? Is it true!? Then, I picked my feet up a little higher, added a tiny extra spring into my steps and plodded a little further. And I bloody well did it! The whole 5 miles! Did I run it all? Nope. Did it matter? Nope!

Did it feel good along the way? It really didn’t BUT because I was being kind to myself, allowing for stops and stretches and I could turn back at any point….it wasn’t that bad!

 

The biggest progress here was also telling myself I could do it. For me, my biggest running hurdle is mindset and I’m working on it all the time.

 

I’m so pleased with myself for getting those miles in the bag when I could easily have bailed, I actually felt a lot better for going and I keep reminding myself, although 13 miles feels a long way, I’ll get there eventually.

If, on the day, it still feels too far for me, I’ll get there eventually.

 

Jules x