After you've been running for a time, you're destined for the inevitable bad run; whether it's because of the weather, your own physical ailments, or just a random fluke, they happen without any regard for our preferences or agenda. I've had enough of these over the last five years to know that when they happen you just have to "embrace the suck."
Thus far in my marathon training things have been going along just fine and dandy. Sure, I've had some hellacious days fighting the wind and cold, but nothing that truly tested my resolve, until this weekend. Friday night before heading to bed I did my usual weather forecast check: the hourly showed snow, snow, and more snow for good measure, starting at about 4 am. Usually I'm more concerned about the temps and wind but I knew all that snow was definitely going to put a damper in our plans to head over to our beloved Kensington. (One loop around the lake is about 8.5 M)
I went to bed hoping for the best and woke up to a winter wonderland of snow flurries. Spike and I agreed that we could fight through it, so we suited up for the run. The 13* feels like 6* it claimed to be didn't really seem too bad once we got going, but the snow build-up made us slip with every step we took, just a little. We were moving along well enough, but the snow never let up and by mile seven we both agreed we felt as if we'd already run ten miles. By the time we looped back to the car we were both exhausted.
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| Don't let it's prettiness fool you! |
In an effort to mix up the remaining miles we had decided to do an out and back instead of the entire second loop. It helped, but by the time we reached our turn around point I was over it. We had been slowing with each mile and my ITB's were screaming. I went through all my mantra's: "A strong spring is made in the winter!" "Embrace the suck!" "Fight, fight, fight!" "This is a character building run!" but nothing was working and by the time we made it to mile 15.5, I raised the white flag and Spike stopped the watch. We were done, on so many levels.
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| I shared my true feelings about the run when naming it on Dailymile |
While I fell short of the full 16 miles I set out to conquer I still consider it a success because we fought our way through some tough conditions on an already challenging course. It was a bad run that weighed heavily on my mind, but later that night I reminded myself that they can't all be great. There will be other runs that suck just as bad, or worse, but I know that bad runs keep me honest, remind me that I have no control over race day conditions, and that I have to do my best to always "embrace the suck."
How do you embrace the suck of a bad run?
20 comments:
Bad runs always suck, but I always think of how I woke up and got out there....I did (insert #) more miles than the average person, so that's a step! You did more miles than I've run ever!...yet ;) but I feel you sister!
I getting accustom to bad runs. Love the mantras.
Some days are just like that. I do a lot of long runs alone because I like to sleep in, I kinda like running by myself and I am too lazy to make plans but a few weeks ago I made plans to meet one of my friends. I was excited but I just couldn't run that day. I felt terrible. I actually ended up stopping the run at mile 5 and doing the 16 the next day. Was it the right thing to do? I am not totally sure, but more power to you for pushing through!! PS I did not really enjoy winter running when I was in MI..it will definitely make you mentally stronger at least!!!
Good lord, woman. I would have thrown in the towel at 10! Some days just getting out there for part of a run is all you can do, and that's always better than nothing. Hope you get some better running weather soon!
Good lord, woman. I would have thrown in the towel at 10! Some days just getting out there for part of a run is all you can do, and that's always better than nothing. Hope you get some better running weather soon!
Bad runs only make you a better runner in the long run :)
Go get yourself some Yaktraks or something. Makes your footing easier. I equate running in the snow as similar to being in sand. Hard earned 15.5 miles!
Bad runs are so discouraging... I always end up driving myself crazy analyzing what I ate/didn't eat, my sleep schedule, any cross training I did. Why is it so hard to just accept some days are bad runs? Always reassuring to hear others suffer from the Bad Run Syndrome. And.. WOW for braving the snow. I am an Alabama girl and probably would not have even thought about running in the snow... plus I don't know that I have ever experienced 13 degrees.
Way to push on. Gotta hate the ITB trouble... be careful!
I hope you're feeling good today. I'm pretty sore in weird spots from Saturday because of the slipping & I wore yaktrax.
I lie to myself. Say how great of a running day it is. How much I love 0° weather. Eventually I start to believe my own lies. I even enjoyed my ice-beard yesterday.
My mantra this morning: don't be a wussy, keep going. It was tough going this morning - nursing DOMS from a tough leg workout yesterday.
I throw tantrums. That's not much of an embrace, I know.
Way to hang in there! I've never been that cold on a run, but here we have heat. In July, I whine in the shade of telephone poles and picture myself bursting into flames True Blood style.
15.5 miles in that weather has to translate to at least 18 miles in optimal weather. :)
I suck at embracing the suck. This is one of those things I have to work the hardest at! Way to get out there in that winter wonderland. This FL girl would have hit snooze!
wow, with all of that going on, I would have simply done the whole run on the treadmill, or just ran half the distance outside or something. Seems like trying to train for a marathon in winter for you guys is more trouble than it's worth.
I tell myself, "If I finish this, I will reward myself with a trip to the brewery." :)
figured that you might enjoy these travel photos of Paris that I saw on CNN today
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/10/travel/paris-travel-snapshots/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
I always think of bad runs as precursors to marked improvement. The old "one step back, two steps forward" adage. Cheers!
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