Everybody likes to get better at whatever they're into. Whether it's your ability to play the tuba or to water ski, improvement in your skills generally leads to a happier, more satisfied you. So how do you cope when you have to purposely let your skills, knowledge or fitness slide?
That's the question I'm dealing with, as I've dramatically cut back on my running within the last three weeks. I've gone from training for a marathon (about 35-40 miles a week, including a 17-to-20-mile long run on Sundays) down to less than 15 miles of running a week, and at a much lower intensity. I've also reduced my cycling.
No, I'm not injured. I'm just trying to get my hormone levels back to a more normal place. But enough of that... the gist is that I'm doing very short runs at a more leisurely pace (lower heart rate). What's the big deal?
Well, the funny thing about training is that the less you do it, the slower you get -- and the harder it is to accomplish, physically. Today, I ran six miles about a minute per mile slower than I ordinarily would, and I felt tired. And emotionally, it just stinks to see some guy run right past you, looking very fit indeed while you feel like a snail.
In fact, that's a big part of the challenge. Not only are you getting slower as you get detrained, but you face a visceral sort of angst. It's almost grief.
"I used to be fast. Now I just waddle. I'm one of those people who waddle! Oh no!"
"I could be faster if I were training to be faster. But I'm choosing to be slow right now."
"It's ok, really. Running is not my priority right now. Other things are more important. Really. They are."
It's all about affirmations. Yes, it is.
