Sunday, June 12, 2011
Multitasking 101 - Thinking While Running
Can I just say boo?!!! My final run of last week - my long slow distance - sucked! It's my own fault, I know. I had 20k written on my program so whenever anyone asked how far I was going I said 20k. Doesn't matter that I'd been pretty sick the week before. Doesn't matter that I didn't complete any of my sessions this week (on purpose because I was recovering from last week). Doesn't matter that on Thursday I'd decided to just run about 15k. And it doesn't matter that I only get about 4 hours sleep the night before (also my own fault for having coffee in the afternoon)
Saturday dawned and all my good intentions went out the window. I did every thing possible to make it a hard run for myself. I went out too hard and got into an interesting conversation with a much faster runner. I didn't turn around with that runner when she cut her run short. I proceeded to tag along with another group of much faster runners. I forgot to take my gel at 45 mins. I finally turned around at 9k because I couldn't face the hill that was between me and the 10k turnaround. Then I ran another couple of k before I remembered to take my gel. I got to run alone for a while and didn't back off the pace much. Then Coach Chris caught me up and I felt I had to keep up with him (as if I ever could!)
And then, like a gift from heaven, I was struck with stomach cramps. I had to find a toilet and this gave me the perfect opportunity to ditch Coach Chris. I still had about 5k to go and even though I finally backed off a little, the damage was done. Why, oh why do I do this to myself? I am a fairly intelligent woman. I did well at school. Got a good degree. Can run my own business and a family without killing any kids or swearing at customers. But when it comes to running sometimes I act like a total retard. (I'm sorry that I'm not very politically correct) Certainly my neurons don't spend a lot of my running time actually working.
So today, having learnt the lesson of Saturday, I went out for my 12k run. Still ran probably a little harder than I should have but it was much better than Saturday.
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Maybe you've learned a lesson from this run? Maybe next time you've been ill etc you'll cut a long run short? Maybe not! I know, I'm just as bad at this, and I've got a degree too...
ReplyDeleteOh dear...do you mean to tell me that we never learn! Yikes :)
ReplyDeleteYou know it's a bad run when stomach cramps are a "gift" - hehe. I've been there. Way to plug through - now put this one behind you!
ReplyDeleteWell, you want to do your best and your brain is programmed like mine thinking we're super-human. Now, most times we are - as you know :) - but every now and then our super-human cape has to be washed. Dangit!
ReplyDeleteI made the same mistake! Lesson learned!
ReplyDeleteBad runs happen. Sounds like you made up for it on Sunday, which is good!
ReplyDeleteIn the end these runs are good for you and prepares you for tough times during races. I do agree that we learn lessons the very hard way.
ReplyDeleteWell... if you put all your positive energy into your kids and customers, no wonder your runs suffer. :-)
ReplyDeleteSeems you need hugs so I am sending some your way.
You make many many good choices as a runner too. Don't beat yourself up.
ReplyDeleteYay for better than Saturday.
ReplyDeleteYay for the Queen. ;)
Yay for cupcakes.
Yay. You're going to email me the recipe. Right? Right? Right?
Pretty. Please. ;)
I have forgotten many a time to take a gel - even during races. So now I use mile markers as milestones when to take something.
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