run

Free Run, Day 7

Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 

POST-RUN MORTUM

Time Running: 25 minutes

Distance Achieved: 1.84 miles

Tunage: Stevie Nicks 

…With The Sound Of Panting. 

Cool, so earlier in this process where I was like, “my stamina has really improved!” Yeah, that was before hills entered the chat. 

ZOINKS SCOOB, WHAT A WAKE-UP CALL. 

Today, if you haven’t already guessed, I introduced hills into the running program. All in all, it didn’t go too badly, but wow do I feel different and new muscle groups getting activated. Like **activated**. It’s also chilly today, for sure the coolest day I’ve run in yet, which I am not mad at, but it’s that kind of cold that already makes your lungs hurt a little bit. Introduce anything aerobic along with it, and suddenly my trachea and bronchial tubes are burning. 

But it’s a good burn. 

And honestly, I’m kind of impressed by how far I made it, considering I ran for 25 minutes. I’m also really proud of myself for not doing a full 40-60 minute run with these hills, which feels like a huge step in the right direction in terms of healing past behaviors. I wanted to ease into this. Truthfully? I walked a decent portion of this. I’d say my run-to-walk ratio was maybe 40/60, which I am NOT MAD AT. I know the point of introducing these different styles into the routine is to shock the body and to work different muscle groups and eventually become a stronger and more well-rounded runner/human/athlete/person just trying to get by, but I think the way to do that is to go gradually. Little By Tiny, as I always say. I even have a tattoo of Little By Tiny on my arm to help me remember, but I’m so good at trying to just be the best at something on the first try. This process has been an amazing lesson in not only easing into something but that I am not going to be perfect at everything on the first try. And that is ok. 

Ok, well, some days it’s ok. Some days it annoys the hell out of me and I don’t want it to be so. But I think that goes back to my work ethic and the need, again, for approval. The amazing thing with this whole running situation, though, is that the only approval I really need is from my own body. And again, I’m really good at ignoring that. So today, to ease in, to honor when I felt tired to the point of injury if I kept going at the pace I was going, that feels like a fucking win, my ducks. Also, the fact that I did this on a Wednesday because yesterday was insane and I legitimately didn’t have time to do it. Like, I’m a little bothered that my last two runs were not on their correct days, but also who the fuck cares?! I got the run in. There was a moment though where I was like, nervous that because I got off schedule that I worried it might make me feel like I have permission to flake out on the runs. I don’t think it was a fully rooted thought or one that I would follow, but it is good to have the three runs a week, and to honor them. They may not always be on the days I want them to be on, but I will try my damndest to get them in.

So, yeah, hills babyyyyyyy. I think the new routine will be hills on Tuesday, the long endurance run on Thursday, sprints on Saturday; schedule subject to change at the whim of the runner, the runner makes no promises or guarantees, the runner is allowed to change her mind at any time. Don’t you love faux legalese?