The Voices in My Head
I forgot my iPod before my run the other day, so I was forced (shudder) to be alone with my own thoughts. My internal dialogue led to some conclusions which may or my not be helpful in my future training: namely, that maybe running isn’t necessarily supposed to be fun and easy all of the time, and that maybe I have a tendency to be too easy on myself. I don’t know if these conclusions are actually true, since they were based an ongoing argument between two competing voices in my head:
Whiney Me: “You know, it seems like running should be easier by now. After all, I started up again way back at the end of June.”
Tough Me: “Well, you HAVE been pretty easy on yourself, with all the super-slow run-walking you’ve been doing. Maybe if you stepped it up a little, you’d be making more progress.”
Whiney Me: “Well, I didn’t want to aggravate my injury or anything. Besides, Jeff Galloway said it’s okay to run-walk…Preferable, in fact.”
Tough Me: “I don’t think Jeff Galloway was picturing a 12-minute-mile running pace when he came up with his run/walk method. If you can walk faster than you’re running, maybe you don’t deserve a walk break.”
Whiney Me: “Or maybe I should just turn into a race-walker instead.”
Tough Me: “Yeah, and make me listen to you complain about how much your hips hurt everyday? Forget it. Keep running.”
Whiney Me: “Fine. But is it time for a walk break yet?”
Tough Me: “You’re only running 3 miles…You haven’t EARNED a walk break today. Keep going.”
Whiney Me: “You’re kind of a mean inner coach, you know that?”
Tough Me: “Well, you’re almost done with your run, and you haven’t taken a walk break yet, so it must be working, right?”
Whiney Me. “I guess…But next time remind me to grab my iPod before I leave home, okay?”
In the interest of pushing myself a little, and in the name of tradition, I ran the Blue Lake 5K again this year. It was the first race I did when I started my triathlon journey over two years ago, and last year it was a fun way to cap off my tri season. This year, it was really a test of where I was in my injury rehabilitation program. I ran the whole thing at a pretty steady, hard effort…and finished over two minutes slower than last year. Oh, well…I already knew my fitness took hit with my 4-month layoff. Still, this time I was almost a minute faster than the first time I ran this race, so at least I’m not back to square one!
One way to take home an age-group award? Pick a race with a really small field!
This guy ran a good race, too. 5 minutes for the half-mile kids’ run!
I had an absolutely lovely 4.4-mile run last week, so I’m thinking of setting my sights on a Thanksgiving Day 10K. That should give me a little motivation to keep working on those longer runs…And maybe it will silence my inner critic, too!
Mommy Wants a Timeout 
I have similar thoughts when I run although mine are more like: this isn’t very enjoyable, you could just stop, i really don’t want to do this right now, maybe you could walk for a bit… at which point i try to get out of my head and enjoy the scenery around me and keep going. I’ve noticed music, especially music that makes me want to move, helps drown it out. Definitely don’t leave home without it.
Thanksgiving 10k, huh? I may be up for that! I guess it depends on where it’s at. Hmm! I definitely need a new race to set my mind on.
Turkeython at Beaverton Town Square…You should do it with me! It starts at 9:35, which is why I’m choosing it over the Turkey Trot at the zoo…7 am is too early to get up on a day I have to host dinner for my family!
My inner runner is very critical…you are too fat to be doing this, and too old… and you take walk breaks…BUT the fact is I am doing it…and when I do get out there and run, even with walk breaks and feeling like this should get easier…I feel better! So I keep at it and my inner lazy runner can go sit on the couch…
Your inner critic oughta be giving you a big high-five! You are awesome! All of us should be proud we’re out exercising instead of sitting home on the couch! And I’m no critic of walk breaks…But sometimes I AM a little too easy on myself!