R4R L3, Part 1

It was definitely a case of the Mondays today. Everything from my run, to my chaotic commute, to my stress-filled work day just seemed to be harder than normal. It was my first day with an alarm clock in 10 days. I also received my influenza vaccine over the weekend, so maybe I just needed to slow down today in all facets of life.

The run today was incredibly boring, very moist but cooler temps, and just wasn’t fulfilling in any regard other than pain-free. The run was 5min WU, (3min run/1min walk) x 10, 5min CD. I definitely underestimated the increase from 2min to 3min with less recovery time. My heart rate was beating faster with less recovery. I was overdressed for the humidity and found myself ripping off layers after the second interval. Long sleeves and long pants were not going to cut it for today!

As the intervals dragged on, I couldn’t wait to be done. When I tried to remember how lucky I was to be able to run, that feeling only lasted for a few seconds. I knew I had a time crunch to get this done before my work shift and just needed to get on with my day.

Some runs are just nothing but boring and monotonous. This was one of them. After having a wonderful week recently, today was far from that. As my favorite author writes: “Just keep showing up, you’ll be able to move forward, even if it feels impossible now.” I’ll be back in two days for a redemption at the boringness and struggle bus of Level 3.

R4R L3, Part 2

After a 12hr work day where I was distracted in all sorts of ways by my low BMD report for the third year in a row, I couldn’t wait to zone out during my workout. I was like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. I even ate a pre-workout energy bar and started my Tailwind in the last hour of my shift.

I love the concrete life, but my bones need a little more variety. One of my risk-reduction strategies is to alter my running terrain at least once per week. I had been visualizing my run on the track for a few days. And it jolted my expectations towards the sky.

Back in my younger years, I was a track star who thrived for the team relays. The last event of the night, 4x400m, under the lights was my jam. There’s just a nostalgia that lingers at the track for me. And I loved every minute of it tonight.

My run wasn’t splashy or speedy, but it was pain-free and completely fun! I didn’t want it to end. The weather was perfect, the venue was great, the lights were spectacular (because I didn’t expect them), and my mindset was on-point. The run was a repeat of Level 3 and it really just connected on all cylinders. In fact, my last interval finished up on the home stretch and I could just envision myself back in my track years tearing it up with the baton.

Tonight, I chose Lane 7 for my 7th marathon that I will run in 354 days. It’s going to be a special one. It seems so far away but I know every minute I spend chipping away carefully gets me closer to that goal-post in the distant end zone. Tonight I lost count of the loops around the oval. That didn’t matter. The two things that mattered were delivered: pain-free AND fun. Level 3, done.