Zeros Lead to Appreciation

I've had 4 zero run days. I anticipate a few more.  I've been sick with some kind of chest cold. Anyway, the cold has me crippled for running. I'm tired and unmotivated. I barely make it to work. In the end, this will be a good thing for me and my running.  I already appreciate being healthy and fit. When it's taken away, you appreciate what you had before! I'll be more cognizant of pushing too hard in the future. I'm pretty sure I ran three hard days in a row and that got my immune system down. Enter virus and illness. Thursday night tempo run, Friday morning hill repeats, and a Saturday long run did me in. Too much. Hopefully this short time away from running will bring renewed optimism and motivation. If nothing else, I'll be appreciative of my health going forward. Dang that little virus!

Tale of Two Runs

How quickly your running can change. One day the run feels unending and fruitless, another day is smooth and effortless. This past Sunday was one of my worst runs in several months. I was slow, weak, and tired. I didn't even break 10 minute pace.  I intended to go for about 11-13 miles, but I stopped at 2.69 miles. I was defeated. It was simply terrible.

Then, a couple days later, I had one of my best runs in the last few weeks. It was a superb short run. I ran under 8 minute pace and it felt effortless. I was holding back but still gliding along at a low heart rate and fast pace. I stopped at 3.17 miles. I could have gone longer...and faster. I'm inspired and ready to return to more running.

So, if your running is in the doldrums, stay the course, it'll improve. Keep at it. Things don't always get worse. They often get better. After Sunday's run I felt like giving up on running and finding a new hobby. After today's run I felt like signing up for any upcoming race to kick some ass!  Three days. Big difference. Lesson learned. All runs won't be perfect. Some will suck. Some will turn you into a demi-god. Take what you can...and run with it.

Subtle Pressure is Dragging Me Down

I'm slowly being dragged down by subtle pressure I put on myself. Crazy, right?  I'm tired. Running should be fun and stress free. I've been putting subtle, maybe even subconscious, pressure on myself to perform well. Run faster. Set personal records. Measure and improve. Read and apply new techniques and strategies. Change, measure, evaluate. Revise and plan again. It never ends.

No more. I'm going to run how I want. I'm going to listen to my body. No heart rate or pace alarms. I'll still measure and record my runs, but I won't be driven or pressured into following a set plan each day. Just run. It's simple. One foot in front of the other. Repeat. Sometimes fast, other times slow. Sometimes up a hill, sometimes down a hill, or over a creek and through the mud. Sounds good.

It's time to enjoy my running. Yes, I'd like to improve too, but most important is to remain injury-free and happy with my running. Let's see how this "new" approach works. I'm getting too old to pressure myself into running goals that create extra stress. Time to keep it simple. Just run.

14th Howl at the Moon 8-Hour Ultra

I have 94 days until the Howl at the Moon 8-Hour race. Over 300 runners circling a 3.29 mile loop course for 8 hours under the summer sun in central Illinois. What's not to love?  It's always my favorite race of the year! This will be my 14th Howl. Here are my current statistics based on the last 13 years...

Total race mileage: 551.31
Average mileage: 42.41
Lowest mileage: 33.9 (2010)
Highest mileage: 47.06 (2006, 2008)
Best placing: 12th (2005)
Worst placing: 99th (2010)

Last year did not go well. You can read about that experience here. With three months to go, I can train correctly for this year's race. It still won't be easy (it never is), but it could be a great race year if I get in the long runs between now and race day on August 8. I am trying for a new PR (47.06+ miles). For now I'll shoot for 48 miles, but I dream of 50 miles. No matter what happens, this will be my 100th ultra/marathon. That's a huge milestone for me.