This week was emotionally draining. International Holocaust Remembrance Day was Tuesday, and as I'm currently in the middle of Night and the Holocaust unit with my students, I've been thinking a lot about it and things have been kind of heavy.
On top of that, I had my blood drawn on Thursday. Because they're running about a million different panels, the doctor took more vials than I'm used to, and I ended up almost passing out. (That's never happened before, but it was kind of nice to be given doctor-sanctioned candy.) Friday I felt sluggish all day.
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| Archie helped nurse me back to health after my long, weary week. |
I spent most of Saturday reading Elie Wiesel's autobiography All Rivers Run to the Sea, so by the time I was ready to run, I was feeling pretty melancholy. Because of the blood draw, I hadn't run in a few days, and the longer I take off, the harder it is to motivate myself to go.
I decided to go to the park and run the loop there. I wanted to be able to just zone out without thinking about my route or my mileage.
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| I ended up doing a 5k; I loved not having a set mileage in mind. |
I put on the music I wanted to listen to, as opposed to the music that usually pumps me up for a run. I ran the loop over and over, switching directions every two laps to avoid any issues with my IT band. (I think the slightly warmer weather helped too.)
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| Some of the songs I listened to during my run. |
It was a strange run. At first, I was ruminating on what I'd been reading. I felt almost disconnected from my body, but in a good way. By thinking about something totally unrelated to the run, a barrier I hadn't even known I was battling faded away. When I finished, I felt refreshed and energized in a way I haven't felt in weeks.
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| Post-run, feeling good. |
Because of all my upcoming races, I've been in a place of I need to run X miles, and the stress of that hasn't been very motivating, especially when I've had to take time off. Being able to just run because my head needed it was liberating. Sometimes I get freaked out by the pressure I put on myself and I have to remind myself that I love running. And especially while feeling under the weather, I need to come back to basics. I run because I love it. The end.
I'm really glad that this was my last run of January; it was a good one to end on.
How has your week in running been?
How do you balance training runs and for-the-joy-of-it runs?
Do you ever run with non-traditional music?
ABK
While races are a great way to motivate us to a goal...they often involve training that leaves me wondering why I started running. I remember one of my best runs during the summer being one that I didn't care about pace or anything...I just ran to enjoy the music and the path! Great job Ali!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's such a catch 22. Races motivate me to run, but the training can make me hate running...but then if I don't train for a race, I may love running again, but fail to do it consistently! So annoying lol!
DeleteI run to music I enjoy instead of 'pump you up' music often. This week my song has been Lana Del Ray's "Ride." I love it. :) P.S. I pass out often from getting blood drawn. They always tell me it's because I hold my breath, lol.
ReplyDeleteI am usually SO GOOD about blood draws but there were some extenuating circumstances during this one. I'm not looking forward to the repeat.
DeleteSometimes you just need a good therapy run and it sounds like you got it. Thanks for sharing with us :)
ReplyDeleteThere was a time when I would devote one run a week to listening to a new album for the first time. It meant for a lot of nontraditional running music, but I really liked it. All of a sudden when I was running my first marathon - right about where I "hit the wall" - I just couldn't stand having music in my ears while I was running. I took out my headphones and finished the race without music, and I've only run with music once since then. It was very strange.
I do like running without music once in awhile, especially when I'm running long. I'll dedicate a couple miles at least to no-music. But sometimes it's nice to have relaxing, mellow music in my ears!
DeleteYou look relaxed after your run, but still not energized--hope you find out what is making you tired.
ReplyDeleteOn a very sad note, I didn't recognize a single tune to which you referred :(
That's okay, it's never on the radio. I doubt I'd have heard of it if not for the luck of finding the station on Songza.
DeleteIf show tunes count as nontraditional, then yes! On the rare occasions I listen to music on a run, I have been known to finish with a sprint to "I am a Later Day Saint!" from The Book of Mormon hehe. Oh, I also finished my marathon PR to the Indiana Jones theme. I know that is so cheesy but it was really motivating!
ReplyDeleteOMG I always forget to run to showtunes. I need to add Les Mis and Phantom and Secret Garden back into my rotation.
DeleteNothing beats a good ol' stomp-your-emotions out run! I always run with unconventional music when I need one of those runs - when I'm feeling a bit down and am just not in the mood for something upbeat! But thankfully, the great thing about running is that you always finish in a better mood than what you went out in :)
ReplyDeletewww.nessruns.com
It's so true; no matter what, my mood is always better after!
DeleteMy runs have been very disconnected lately. It's like I go somewhere in my mind and all of a sudden, I've run several miles without even realizing it. I'm glad you had a good run!
ReplyDeleteThat's such a nice kind of run. I'm always afraid of getting lost though, which is why I'm glad I have the park to run in lol.
DeleteI'm so glad that your run went well! It stinks that you have been so under the weather, though :( Archie looks like he was being very helpful ;)
ReplyDeleteI have been so non-motivated to run; I don't know what is happening! At this point I decided that one long run + one any distance run per week is what I'm going to do.
Also, I have been trying to get my blog to work with Bloglovin but I can't. If you have any suggestions, please let me know! I know it is super annoying!
Sometimes cutting down on frequency is what you need when you're getting burned out. You've been doing so well with your training! Your 5-miler was solid.
DeleteHave you tried joining Bloglovin? They should really have a trouble-shooter!