I felt like this but I was on the road…

Sometimes a run just sucks. Sometimes life just sucks. But we all have to move on right? Yesterday after work, I had a no good, very bad, awful run.

I was still very congested from my cold, I hadn’t been sleeping and I had eaten a large late lunch.

I  tried to get myself in the mood to go for a run but that was just not happening.  I just wanted to go home and crawl into bed with a book.

But I had missed 2 runs while being sick so I just wasn’t going to let it happen again.  On my way to the neighborhood where I have been running lately,  I decided that I was going to run at least 3 miles (if it killed me) but I really wanted to run 4 or 5.

Once I actually got on the road though, I realized this run was going to be tough, mentally and physically.

My legs felt like lead.  My chest hurt.  My stomach was too full.  I wanted to quit after 2 miles.  I dragged myself to 3 miles and then I willed myself to do 4.

Yeah, I walked some but got it done.

Usually I get down on myself and question my running ability.  I wonder how I am ever going to 13.1 miles if I can’t run 3.  My pace is 12-13 min/mile.  How embarrassing is that?  I’m not fast but I could run 9-10 min/miles. Maybe I should give it up. Wah wah wah…

Instead, the type A me analyzed the situation:

• You’ve had 2 injuries.  The 2nd one before you totally recovered from the first.
• You’ve been sick.  It’s hard to run when you can’t breathe.
• Running on a full stomach — stupid!
• You always run better in the morning.  Gotta do an AM run soon.
• Even when you raced well, you had BAD training runs.  You need to run a race!
• What about music…gotta charge that iPod and listen to some tunes!
• 4 crappy miles are better than zero miles
• Get over it… bad runs happen!

Thanks Ryan. I don’t mind if you do!

So today is a rest day (and it is raining/sleeting)!

I haven’t decided about the weekend.  I signed up for a virtual 5K tomorrow with friends and a 10K on Sunday.

I will either do the 5k & add 3 miles afterwards or the race but not both.

I know both will be fine — running with others is always motivating.

Happy Running!  How do you deal with bad runs?