The Houston Fit schedule called for 11 miles this weekend. I decided last night that if I could just run 3 loops around the park, I would be satisfied.
I headed to the park a little later than planned and arrived a little after 6 am. This was the first time in several months that I have been to the park this early on a Sunday and I was not surprised to see a ton of runners and walkers already making their loops. I decided that I would start at the mile 0 marker and run all the way around the loop, pass it and run to the mile 3 marker. Then, I would turn around and run the other way, around the loop until I got back to the mile 0 marker and then turn around and repeat the 1st loop to the mile 3 marker again. That way, I would run a complete 3 miles (since a loop is actually only 2.9 miles). I hope I didn't make that sound too confusing.
I began with my usual stretching and started my 1st loop. It was warm and humid, but overall, not too terrible. As I made my way around the park, I began to get bored and irritable. It felt as if the 1st loop was taking forever! I began to question myself - Why am I doing this? Do I really enjoy this? Blah, blah, yadda, yadda...You get the idea.
Maybe it was those three boring treadmill runs last week. Maybe it was just because I hate running a LR alone. Maybe I was just tired from being in class all day on Saturday. Maybe my lack of hydrating the day before because I was in class and I didn't want to have to run out of class every 10 minutes. Maybe it was a combination of all those things, but I am usually not this negative. I usually go through all that crap in my head for a few minutes on every run and then get over it and keep going. Eventually, I get into my running groove and start thinking about more pleasant things, like what I'm going to eat when I'm finished. But not Sunday. I finished my 1st loop and stopped at my car for some gatorade and water. I actually considered hopping in and going home, but knew that I would beat myself up about it later if I did that. So, I made a 2nd loop. It was was just as bad, if not worse. I don't know what my problem was, but I just did not want to be there. I finished my 2nd loop and decided to call it a day.
Honestly, I think I am feeling some running burnout. So, I am going to vary my routine this week. I'm going to get in my training runs, but maybe take the hubby's bike for a spin on my off days (if I can locate my helmet). Maybe I'll stop in at the dance studio where I used to take lessons and be a walk-in for a class. Yoga? Pilates? Something, anything to make me feel like running again.
So that's my report, sorry for being a debbie downer!
Running Stats:
Conditions: 81/70% humidity
Total Run Time: 1:10
Distance: 6 miles
Pace: 11:40 (pretty good considering I did some walking!)
Run long & Livestrong!
2 comments:
I think a lot of people are going through the same thing you are. I know I was. Don't dwell on it or let it get you down. I understand the burnout. What's funny is take running away from us and we'd go crazy, right?
Oh, that's exactly how I do multiple loops at the Park. 2.9 just doesn't do it for me. :)
I do not see how you do loops at the park - they drive me NUTS!!
You know what would be cool - one of those virtual rooms like in Star Trek. That way you could run in all sorts of different places and never get bored going round and round and round.
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