Wednesday, June 28, 2017

WWU - Going With the Flow

I've been running for nearly 8 years now, give or take a year off for that ankle injury, and one thing I've come to realize is that there are times when you just have to go with the flow when it comes to getting a run in.  While I'm a regular runner, with a fairly set schedule (Tues/Thurs/Sat), there are times when it just doesn't always work out - and that's OK.  The world doesn't come to an end, I don't suddenly lose all of my running stamina...life goes on and I live to run another day.

Take Saturday's run, for example.  Thunderstorms were predicted to start around 10:00 am, so we thought we'd be fine with running at 6:00 am.  We got out of our cars to hot and steamy air, but within a couple of minutes while we stood there and figured out which route to take (bonus of not being in training - we get to wing it), a cool breeze kicked up and the air felt distinctly better - less heavy, less humid.  We set off - Jeff was going to run 6 miles for his birthday run, while Karen, Andi, Julia, and I were going to run 3 or 4 miles.

The run was great!  Julia and I ended up running together while Karen and Andi ran ahead of us.  We were moving right along when we started to feel raindrops.  And then the rain started to get heavier.  We were just over a mile into the run when Julia suggested taking a shortcut back to the clubhouse, but right then Jimmymeow pulled up in his truck and said that it was pouring just a couple of streets over, so we gladly got in the truck and I swear, just as we got in, it started POURING right there.  We drove to find Jeff and got him in the truck and then went off to find Karen and Andi, but by the time we caught up to them, they'd been through the worst of the downpour and were close enough to the clubhouse that they just ran on in.  There wasn't any lightening going on; otherwise, they'd have jumped in the truck as well, I'm sure.

So, mission aborted for that run.  No worries - luckily the weather doesn't affect us very often when it comes to getting our run on.  We were finished so early that we had to hang around for a while before heading over to Blue Baker, as they don't open until 7:00 am.  We had a nice breakfast, and our baker gave us a loaf of ciabatta bread, which I wasn't tempted to eat - guess I didn't build up much of an appetite by only running a mile, LOL!

On Monday, Jeff and I decided to run together before he left for work.  It had rained most of Sunday afternoon and evening and while the roads were pretty dry, the air was once again thick and steamy thanks to the soaking wet ground.  We ran 4 miles, because that's what Diane and I have been doing on our Tuesday runs for the past several months, so I figured, why not?  Well, we did those 4 miles, but it wasn't pretty...it's just rough running conditions right now.  And afterward, Jeff suggested that we cut back our weekday runs to 2 miles for the next month or so - again, why kill ourselves when the weather is not great for running?

So that's my plan.  Diane is gone for the next month, visiting family, and I'll be on my own for most of my weekday runs.  I think I'll set out for a 2 mile run and then do an additional mile of walking, which will help with the cool down - cool down, HA. It's not going all out, but it's enough for right now.

By the way, when the alarm goes off at 4:45 am on Saturdays?  Paco is not ready to get up.  He reluctantly leaves his crate, goes outside to potty, and then jumps on our bed to go back to sleep:
Just leab me be. 

The rest of the day, he's all up in my business, but that early?  I'm not the center of his universe...sleep wins over Mom.

18 comments:

  1. You've hit the nail on the head with the advantage of being an experienced runner: you learn that you don't lose it all if you miss a run or cut back mileage. Thing is, sometimes you even improve your running by doing that since you're giving your body a break.

    I was thinking about you this morning when I went out to run. It was 53 degrees and dry. I had to talk myself out of going back in the house to put on warmer clothes! Humidity is coming this way though so when I'm griping in a couple days I'm going to try to remember this morning's perfect run lol.

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    1. It has taken me a while to get here, but I'm glad to not stress over summer/off season running. And even though my body is feeling pretty good (KNOCK ON WOOD), you are right - it's time to let things heal and settle down.

      BTW it was 70 degrees with 100% humidity when I ran this morning. HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR DRY RUN, LADY. ;)

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  2. I like that you adjust and that you know it's not the end of the world if you miss a run or don't do scheduled mileage.

    I was just talking to someone else about this topic the other day about how some runners will loose their sh*t over not getting a run in and they become cranky and miserable until they run. Quite frankly if this is how someone reacts about missing a run then they need to practice more self control...lol

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    1. No kidding! It's just a run - and I'd hazard to guess that even profession athletes don't freak out over one missed run.

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  3. I am very lax about my miles the more experienced I get. I do whatever keels right depending on the weather, how I feel and what else is going on. I skip runs and I don't feel that guilty anymore.

    In a race sometimes I run great anyway and then sometimes I don't so I know there will be more races.

    Running has to be fun or why do it? And you and your friends definitely subscribe to that philosophy.

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    1. LOL, you are right about the running is fun philosophy!!

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  4. I'm learning all about this go with the flow thing. I'm not good at it at all. It was hard for me to even switch to run/walk intervals. And even though I'm ok with it, I still want to go back to just running. Sigh. It's not easy being me...

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    1. Wendyyyy...join us...it's much easier this way. ;)

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  5. I think cutting back during the hottest part of the summer is a great idea. You're still running, and getting in your exercise. You can step it up again in the fall.

    My dog stays within 5 feet of me all day! Follows me from room to room and acts like he's dying because I won't sit down and hold him. LOL

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    1. Your dog and Paco have a lot in common. Sometimes I just need for him to move over so I can open a drawer - he's that close, sigh.

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  6. I love it when the dogs are ready for bed before me, or they want to sleep longer than I do! So cute. I do tend to feel guilty if I miss exercise. But I'm learning to go with the flow too. I just think about my friend Shelley, and her good example :)

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    1. Paco always makes me feel bad when he's ready for bed and I'm still sitting on the couch, knitting. He'll get up and look at me, and then walk to his crate by himself, like "look what I have to do, put myself to bed, you bad mom" - LOL.

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  7. I think we have the same summer running strategy of not killing ourselves (which is why I'll probably never train for a big fall race). It's just not worth it! My neighborhood has a nice 2.5 mile loop that I like to do when the weather sucks and I don't really feel like running (but still feel like I should). It's a quick and easy enough distance that I feel silly trying to talk myself out of running, and it's certainly better than nothing!

    Awww Paco! Heidi does pretty much the same thing when I get up for Kim's class at 4am on Fridays. She'll follow me around as I'm getting ready for stuff pretty much any time except then.

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    1. Agree with you on the fall race, unless I move somewhere MUCH cooler.

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  8. Oh man! Good timing, Jimmymeow! I bet that was an exciting run, wondering if it was going to start lightening at any moment! I am happy y'all were safe (p.s. I had written out "you all," but changed it LOL).

    Your strategy sounds good for the next month! I am also laughing at the "cool down." Maybe if that walk ends in a pool?!

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    1. LOL on the y'all - when in Texas... ;)

      Yeah, Jimmymeow was great to drive out and pick us up, that's for sure! Oh, we are trying to talk someone into putting in a pool so we can have a true cool down after our Saturday runs. So far no one has done it, but maybe...???

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  9. Listening to and knowing your body - that's experience in a nutshell. Too often we just try to pound it out because we think we're supposed to.

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