Often times, people who don't run think that people like myself who are avid runners do not struggle at all. They wonder how running is so easy for us, however; this is NOT true at all! We struggle all the time, we have bad runs, we have days where we do not want to lace up the sneakers, we have days that our lungs want to explode and our legs feel like they have 20 pound bricks on them. Sure, we have days where we feel like we're floating on clouds and could run all day, but trust me, a lot, if not most, of our runs consist of some time of mental block that make us want to stop!
Today was definitely one of those days for me! I started the run and just knew it wasn't going to be pretty. So, I settled into a nice slow, smooth pace and tried to relax myself. My heart rate got so elevated about half way into the run so I stopped and took a breather and let my heart rate go back down. I wasn't running hard at all, and my heart was pounding. I knew I needed to stop and settle down because when this happens, I do not like to push it because you can really hurt yourself. After stopping and calming myself, I felt a lot better and finished the run nice and slowly.
This run was only 8 miles because I already ran 3 12 milers, a 13 miler, and a few 10 milers, and my half marathon is next week, so I don't want to injure or fatigue myself too much before next week! I need to be fresh!
So, the question is, what do you do when you have a bad run?
Well, this can be tough with only 1 week out from your race, but this is what I do when I have a less than stellar run:
-Don't beat myself up. Seriously, I've put the work in, and 1 bad run is not the end of the world. I had 3 great runs earlier this week, so it's not like I am not prepared.
-Think positively. Yes, I had a bad run, but if there weren't any bad runs, there wouldn't be any good runs either!
-At least I got out there and got it done. It wasn't perfect or fun, but it was done and I got some time on my feet!
-Practice mental strength. During these runs, it's important to condition your mind mentally. Some races are bad like this, and you need to be prepared for the worst! I have experienced this during a race and it is not fun :/
-Recover appropriately. Maybe the reason you had a bad run is because you weren't fueled properly, hydrated enough, didn't stretch or foam roll enough, didn't sleep well enough, and so on and so forth. So, after the run, eat something good, drink lots of water and hydration drinks, ice anything that's sore, foam roll, and stretch your muscles. It's amazing what this can do!
This run was only 8 miles because I already ran 3 12 milers, a 13 miler, and a few 10 milers, and my half marathon is next week, so I don't want to injure or fatigue myself too much before next week! I need to be fresh!
So, the question is, what do you do when you have a bad run?
Well, this can be tough with only 1 week out from your race, but this is what I do when I have a less than stellar run:
-Don't beat myself up. Seriously, I've put the work in, and 1 bad run is not the end of the world. I had 3 great runs earlier this week, so it's not like I am not prepared.
-Think positively. Yes, I had a bad run, but if there weren't any bad runs, there wouldn't be any good runs either!
-At least I got out there and got it done. It wasn't perfect or fun, but it was done and I got some time on my feet!
-Practice mental strength. During these runs, it's important to condition your mind mentally. Some races are bad like this, and you need to be prepared for the worst! I have experienced this during a race and it is not fun :/
-Recover appropriately. Maybe the reason you had a bad run is because you weren't fueled properly, hydrated enough, didn't stretch or foam roll enough, didn't sleep well enough, and so on and so forth. So, after the run, eat something good, drink lots of water and hydration drinks, ice anything that's sore, foam roll, and stretch your muscles. It's amazing what this can do!
So, when all is said and done, a bad run is just another run. It's not the end of the world, and it will get better. I put all the miles in for my half marathon, and I'm not going to let a few bad runs during the training cycle get me down. Whatever happens on race day is meant to happen, and I cannot change that. After some injuries, I lost a lot of my speed, but I am working really hard to improve myself and get back to where I was. I am hoping for a good race next week, but whatever happens I will be happy with, I am just happy to race again! :)
Have a phenomenal Saturday and enjoy the beautiful weather (if you're in New England!)