Taking Things Down a Notch

Motivation hasn’t exactly returned yet but I’ve been hitting most of my workout goals. And you may not believe it, but I actually added an extra run the past two weeks. The weather has been so nice it’s hard to imagine working out indoors so I substituted my Monday spinning class for a run outside. The result is I’m a little ahead in my training plan and feeling okay with my progress.

But let me tell you, that first run back after a week off – ouch! It was hot, I felt heavy, and it was not a fun experience. However, every run after that has felt easier. It’s nice to start small and build because even small gains feel like encouragement. Encouragement eventually means motivation to keep trying. I mean I’m not insane and we know the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. So I always look to see progress and if i’m not getting any I switch it up.

Phil did that with his running and strength training. As a guy, he was having some problems with too much muscle gain. I know, insert a little eye roll in there. But what can you do about guys? They lose weight more easily and put muscles on more easily. Although, he has also learned he can’t do five consecutive days of running anymore, just too hard on the legs.

For me, it’s finding a balance between what I eat and how hard I push myself in my running. Taking things down a notch and starting from an easier place in running has really boosted my confidence.I realize May, June, and July mean progressively longer runs until Chicago but I realized how I get to those progressively longer runs is up to me.

So I went back to the principles of the Couch to 5K program to build up my mileage and base. Immediately I felt more happy to go for a run when I knew I could complete the runs and not beat myself up for not going further. I just complete my running segments and slowly add time. We’ll see, I’m still out searching for motivation and whatever else I may find as I run, run, and run some more.

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