When I first began running, I pushed myself. Hard.
If I felt tired, sick or just plain worn out I would still run the number of miles I had expected to run.
Through this I learned a few things about running. First, if you push yourself you get hurt. Secondly, if you push yourself too hard you don’t enjoy the run, and then the next run is harder.
Marathon training has really taught me to listen to my body. I call it conscious exercising. You have to be able to listen to your body. How are you feeling, both mentally and physically? Any aches and pains? How is your breath as you are running? How is your head? Are you enjoying the run or wishing you had stayed in bed? Do you really feel up to the allotted number of miles you had planned to do?
This morning I woke after a great night’s sleep. I felt refreshed and ready to go, but for some reason, once I slipped out the door I just knew that today was not going to be one of those fantastic runs like last Saturday’s had been.
Last Saturday I ran 11 miles. I didn’t put on my music headphones. I had a great time and felt strong the entire way.
Today, not so much. My legs felt like lead and I just didn’t have my head totally into the run. I enjoyed it. That is, I loved the way the fog cloaked everything in white. I loved the fact that it was cold and that I was covered in wetness by the time I got to the beach. I enjoyed seeing the same people I always see, particularly the two older guys that ride their bikes each Saturday morning.
Yet I still wasn’t ‘there.’ I had planned to do 13. The reality, I knew soon, was that I would be lucky to finish 10.
I finished 10, and I was glad that was all I decided to do.
At one time, I would not have stopped before the 13. I would have pushed myself though I would have known deep down I didn’t feel that I could do it. I would have ached after, both mentally and physically. The next run would have been harder.
Today, I listened. And I didn’t get angry with myself that I cut my run short. I can do a longer run next weekend if I am up to it. Those 13 miles will wait. Tonight, I feel great that I did 10. I took a long nap today and I am tired already and it is not yet eight, so I think my body just needed some extra rest today.
If you are training for a marathon or another event, or you are just beginning an exercise program, it’s important to work on listening to your body and then following that feeling.
It is easy to get overly excited about your routine and do too much, which will ultimately either fatigue your body, fatigue your muscles or, worse yet, cause an injury.
Rather, start slowly and build. Then, as you are building, make sure that you really pay attention to how you are feeling during your workout routines. How are your knees feeling as you do your squats? Any tension in your lower back? If so, stop and stretch it out. If you are running longer than normal, how are your feet, heels, knees, and legs feeling? What about your shoulders? I notice a lot of tension in my shoulders when I run, especially during distances over 6 miles. I try to stretch my arms out and do neck side-to-side stretches to lessen that tension.
Happy Running!