This post actually refers to Saturday's run but I started blogging it and didn't have time to finish yesterday.


Hey, this is fun...

Ok, another good run for me today! First of all - I wish it could be spring forever because the low 50's, breezy, overcast with intermittent sun is my most favorite favorite weather for running! And that's how it was today.

I mentioned last time that I started out with a 5 minute run rather than a 5 minute brisk walk before stretching because I didn't think I was getting warmed up enough. See, in my usual 'finding my way as I go' routine, I thought that I should absolutely not run a single step until I had stretched, but I knew I shouldn't stretch cold. Well let me tell ya, this 5 minutes of running right off the bat feels like it's made all the difference in the world. I just feel stronger when I start off on my actual run/walk reps and my endurance has been greater! Now it's only been twice that I've done this but my response was immediate. The other thing - and this is one of the silly mind games that I play with myself but that seems to be effective - is that I take longer with my stretches after that initial 5 minute run - which I expect can only be good. Prior, I rabbit-ed through my stretching because I was so eager to get running , but now I'm more willing to take the time and prolong my stretches and stretching repetitions.

It's not the first time I've been called "loose"...

It's not that I'm not putting effort into my running, but it's taking a little less effort. Here's the thing - I went to the Black Belt graduation demonstration last night at my (former) martial arts school. I was watching the sparring and, not for the first time, noticing that the best fighters were the ones who were relaxed, free, almost casual in appearance - but then they'd throw a punch, or kick, or block and they were fast and fluid. My downfall in sparring was that I was always wound up in a tight little ball and it took too much time and effort to get out of it to be effective. So I made a conscious effort to loosen up today while running - unclenched my fists, let my neck relax a little so my chin wasn't sticking out ahead of me, and let my shoulders swing a little more. I had no idea how letting my shoulders go would increase my momentum and rhythm! I'm trying to make sure I don't end up sashaying down the trail with shoulders and hips flopping side to side but I sure do feel a little freer!

Freud would have a field day...

One of my goals for running right now does not have only to do with fitness or endurance but with psychological growth - that being the curse of perfectionism. The reality of my perfectionism is not that I work myself into the ground to attain unrealistic self-expectations, but that I quit most endeavors well prior to completion because my expectations are not only unrealistic but that I constantly compare myself to others, and when I fall short I crap out because it's way safer than my constant perception of failure.

This is probably why I like to run alone and why I am wildly self-conscious when I meet other runners along the trail. Today, the running super-couple passed me (twice): he with large, hard grapefruits where his calf muscles should have been and she with a beautiful, smooth stride and chit-chatting all along the way, seemingly with no effort at all. I have to – and have been – reminding myself that they may have been like me sometime in the past, and I may be like them someday in the future. I’m not going to run a marathon tomorrow but that doesn’t mean that I can’t be, or in fact am not at this moment, a runner.

Better – Faster – Stronger…

On Thursday’s run (which was my first run that felt awesome to me) I went 2.62 miles in 42 minutes. That being in 5 minute:1 minute running/walking intervals.

Today I went 2.79 miles in 42 minutes - same intervals. I picked up the pace a very little but felt even stronger during it! I know for most people this sounds incredibly slow but this week has felt great to me - I am definitely encouraged. Next week I plan to increase to 7:1 intervals. At the end of June there is 5 mile fun run that suddenly is looking like it might be do-able!!