Friday, August 16, 2013

Running on Fire

This week I started (and finished) Scott Jurek's memoir Eat & Run. Although I took exception to some of it, I highlighted more than I expected. I think some of his mantras and keep-going attitude rubbed off on me this week.
Even if you're uninterested in running ultras, this is worth the read.
Yesterday I had one of those mid-week mini-long runs of 6 miles. I’m still having trouble fitting more than 4 miles in before I have to get back home for work, so I saved the run for after a full day of teaching.

My calves burned the entire time. I was going to cut it short but I decided to push through. I was really glad that I did the entire thing. I walked at the halfway point, just to have some water, but then continued and ran the whole time.

I think the burning calves were caused by the cross training that I did earlier in the week.

Here's a picture of all the people on the treadmills during rush hour at our gym. I'm glad this was on my cross training day, so I didn't have to claim one for myself!
It's hard to take a non-blurry picture while on the stair-stepper! Whodathunk?
I would still rather be sore during a longer midweek run than on my real long run on the weekends, so I think that I'm going to keep doing cross training early in the week (on Tuesday or Wednesday).

This might be TMI, but I also have another UTI…seriously the worst illness to have while running. I felt like I was going to wet myself for the first three miles of this run. I seem to be getting them more and more often. This might have something to do with how often I'm working out and how much I’m sweating.
Post-run collapse...But inside I was grinning.
Anyway, I was on my first dose of antibiotics when I went for my run last night, and that definitely didn’t help. I didn't feel very well or have a lot of energy, but I pushed through.

I was playing with the idea of only doing 4 miles. I bargained with myself, wondering how many miles I could add to a scheduled shorter run to make up for it. But in the end, I stuck with it; the run was tough, but that made it good.

The hard runs are what train us for greater distances; finishing this one will do more for my marathon training than hundreds of Good, easy runs ever would.

Needless to say, I'm really, really glad I finished.

Oh, also, I listened to Pandora on this run and "Come On Eileen" definitely gave me the boost I needed around mile 4.5.

(Look for a guest post from me in the near future on Alyssa’s blog, See This Girl Run, on building mental toughness!)



How do you find the silver lining of a tough run?

How do you fit in longer mid-week runs?
What's the best 80s song to run to?



ABK

12 comments:

  1. I seriously applaud you for running with a UTI! I cannot function when I have one. I have a horrible history of UTIs and get a full blown one at least once, if not twice a year and then a couple that try to turn into one, but I get the infection out with water and cranberry. They are THE WORST. This has been going on since I was a child to the point where my mom took me to UCSF to make sure I didn't have bladder cancer or something of that sort. So, I know your pain and the fact that you RAN THROUGH IT!!! You are seriously amazing.

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    1. Oh man, I can't imagine getting them that often! But I know once you get a couple, you become really susceptible, which is where I think I'm heading unfortunately. I am good at catching them early and getting to the doctor, but I'm not good at preventing them because I don't know what causes them for me! Do you take any cranberry tablets as prevention?

      I did kind of feel like a superhero, doing all 6 miles while feeling like crud!

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  2. Ugh! Tough runs feel awful, but you are right, they make you tougher. Stronger by Kelly Clarkson came on at the end of my 9 miler today :)

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    1. That's a good one to push you through to the end, for sure!!

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  3. I'm always looking for new running books, I'll have to check this one out!
    Way to hang in there when it was tough, you're right...it makes ya stronger!
    Karen @karenlovestorun

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    1. Also pick up "Once a Runner." It's the quintessential runners novel!

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  4. You rock! Running with an UTI? That is beast mode!
    I so agree with you...hard runs make you so much stronger as a runner! They really help define who we are!
    You are doing so awesome!!!!!!
    Keep it up!!!!! :) :)

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    1. I seriously find that the less I let myself make excuses, the more I prove to myself that I can do more than I ever imagined! It's a great snowball effect.

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  5. Ouch, I can't imagine running with a UTI! Hope you are feeling better. I love running to Whip it by Devo...lol

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    1. Oh my gosh, Devo! I think I'll definitely need to add them to the playlist!!

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  6. Hi! I'm sorry you have a UTI. I hope you feel better soon.

    I just read Scott Jurek's book this week (I got it out of the library). It was interesting, for sure. I have celiac disease, so I'm not that into veganism as eating for celiac is tough enough. Anyways, it was a book I thought might be interesting, although not interesting enough to buy!

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    1. I was a vegetarian for a couple years after my initial celiac diagnosis, but you're right, it was really difficult. I'm not sure I could go full vegan. I found it interesting how he chose to go vegan and some of the recipes looked pretty yummy. I know he's a big proponent of the vegan lifestyle, but that's not really what I wanted to take away from the book, so I focused more on the mental and physical aspects of running, competition, and overcoming adversity.

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