So today I was pretty exhausted -- I had 3 classes and had to get up at 8am after having stayed up until about 3am playing geography quizzes on www.sporcle.com (whose fault is that, right, but oh well). I was in class until 4pm, lazed about, and eventually fell asleep. Upon waking I ate a huge quantity of food and retreated back into bed to digest, assuming I'd blown it and wouldn't run today.
Not so! I found the motivation at 11:15ish pm (after waiting the recommended 1 1/2 hours after eating) to go down to the gym and run. I put the incline on 1% so it would feel like running outside, which was tiring too because in the past I always ran without even thinking of tinkering with the incline. I ran 2 miles at a 9:40 pace, got SO tired, took a short walking break, then ran the final mile, which was unpleasant because I was so out of breath. Then the gym closed so I had to leave, but my work was done.
I'm happy I've become more mature about knowing my limits as a runner and working with them to develop myself into a better one. In the past I would never, ever allow myself to take even a minute break to walk if I felt tired. Further, on a day like today where I was physically tired unrelated to running -- so it was possible if I went down to the treadmill I wouldn't be able to get the whole run under my belt with easy -- I'd opt not to run and pursue a different form of exercise. Anxiety about an impending imperfection would actually preclude me from even trying!
In short, I was tired, but ran anyway.
An additional note: It has been called to my attention that I sound crazy in the first entry. Allow me to clarify: it's likely my physical condition is acceptable, and more than likely that someone who wasn't me wouldn't think I was overweight. The result of some recent, stubborn weight gain and childhood struggles with weight and general largeness, I probably have body image problems, of which I regret indulging publicly via this blog. But anyway -- I ran today!
An additional additional note: I read today (http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/jan/18/running-brain-memory-cell-growth) that running causes neurogenesis in runners' brains -- good deal!
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I remember being 9 and running a mile in 9 minutes. This was a great feat for me, so great, in fact, that it was not to be matched again for nearly a decade, until 2007 when I was 19. In 2009, I moved to Ireland for 6 months and, deterred by rain and gypsies I surrendered my burgeoning athletic prowess to the lures of foreign baked goods and laziness. I am on a mission to recapture it. I will run again! And you will read about it.
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