I haven't talked about running in a while. In fact, I don't think I've mentioned it in the past 6 months. That's because this is the worst year of running ever. I got burnt out towards the end of last year, went into the winter dreading the elements, and got off to a slow start this year. I seemed to have breathing issues not related to pace, asthma, or allergies. This could be an iron deficiency symptom, but I don't know for sure. (Yes, I do take an iron supplement - I've always been on the low side when I have had blood work in the past.)
My other problem has been the heat and humidity. If the temperature is over 75° and the humidity is over 50%, I struggle on even a simple 2 miler. Most of my runs have ended in disgrace, having to stop and walk after 1 - 1.5 miles of slowly trudging along. It went alright when I got out early, like around 6 am, though I didn't keep that up.
So, for much of the year, for every week I ran I ended up taking an unintentional week off, which hasn't helped me at all any. I didn't have much focus since I decided not to train or enter any races, and was left to my own whims. This made it very easy to slack off. In retrospect, I should have made up some sort of running schedule, but I didn't see the point of it at the time. On the upside, I found a total of .25¢ this summer.
Now that the weather is cooling down and the humidity has tempered, I'm having a somewhat easier time getting back into a rhythm. Last week, I ran a measly 16 miles. I ran four 4 milers, though I added walking breaks after 2 miles. Each subsequent run, I would add another half mile of running and decrease one of the ralking portions. I kept my pace slow so as not to tire myself out. This week, I'm not going to increase the distance at all, though I'm going to try and run each run through without walking, keeping the pace slow. Hopefully it'll go alright and I won't meet with any major disaster.
I'll try and make a better attempt to blog about it, though it's not really going to be helpful or informative. I figure complaining about it on here is better than subjecting anyone to it in person, so feel free to ignore me.
Why in the hell don't you join a gym?
ReplyDeleteI think we all go through sucky phases with running. It's unavoidable. hope you manage to get back into it!
ReplyDeleteCompletely understand about wearing yourself out once winter comes. I have the same problem, instead of beating myself up this year for not running as much as I could/should in the awful cold I told myself I'm just not going to run from November-March/April. No pressure!!
ReplyDeleteI also found some workouts that I absolutely love, which have made my running better and more enjoyable so maybe once Spring hits I'll be raring to go!
I think it's common to have your ups and downs with running, and it's not like last winter/this summer were easy on us.
Avriel
I think it's normal to go through these sorts of phases, and it's completely ok!! Better to take the time off you need, and then when you come back you'll really be wanting it and approach it with new vigor :)
ReplyDeleteI have ebbs and flows with running. Sometimes I am totally into it and other times I won't run for weeks.
ReplyDeleteI hardly ran all summer long but now I'm getting back into it because the fall weather has been nice and I want an excuse to get outside (that doesn't involve yard work).
As long as I'm being active in one way or another I try not to stress too much about it.