12 Aug Medium Run 5 miles

The run today was full of pain.  So this is the first run of the week given my plan to now do the long runs on the weekend.  I almost didn’t go. In fact I was so tired from yesterday’s run that I ended up not going in the morning.  But at about 11 am, I headed out because I thought that if I didn’t discipline myself to do this, I’d just be making excuses.

I think one’s frame of mind is crucial.  This run, was by far, the most unpleasant thing that I’ve done in a while.  After the first mile, I felt like I was on a all weak in my legs, as if I was suffering from a sugar low or something.   I felt tight in my throat and stomach – sure signs of anxiety.  These feelings persisted into the second mile.  I don’t know why.  Even writing about this now, I feel woozy and lumpy in my throat.  Ook – maybe I’m falling ill or something for real.  But I think it’s more a psychological thing about hating running and having to do it.  I’d much rather curl up in bed with a big bowl of ice cream AND build stamina that way.

The third mile brought a new irritation – sweat in my eyes.  It really hurt my eyes after a while and I had to run with my eyes closed for stretches at a time.  All this is pretty ranty, I know, I was genuinely hating every moment of this run.  the sprinklers lining the pavement didn’t make things easier.  I ended up having to run on the road to avoid getting drenched, while avoiding on-coming traffic, while sweat poured into my stinging eyes.

The only good thing about today’s run is that I did it, even though it was really a slow painful slog.  I am looking forward to tomorrow’s short three-miles: hopefully it’ll be better and bury the memory of today’s run.