I thought I was Back when it came to running. During today’s run, it seemed, not so much. However, if I don’t do a Monday Running Commentary, I got nuthin’. So here goes.
All day, I thought about how good it would feel to run. My longest run, on Sunday, was 35 minutes, and I went up the hill to Herkimer College the front way. For the uninitiated, that is a pretty good hill. How I felt after that run is unimportant. The point was, I did it. I figured a run on level ground would be no problem. I wouldn’t have to go a full 35 minutes. Of course, it would be nice to. Maybe I could. This was going to be great.
After work, I nearly talked myself out of it. I felt tired. I felt down. I thought about just sitting on the couch and chilling, as I often do on a Monday. My plan, when I was so sure I was going to run, had been to drink a glass of iced tea (I made a pitcher for the party on Saturday, but nobody drank any) first. A little caffeine before a work-out can help you burn more calories, or so I have read (in a magazine, not on the internet, so it might be true). I drank the iced tea and checked my email. Nothing exciting, as usual.
Then I got ready, threw a load of laundry in the washer, and went running. “I couldn’t talk myself out of it,” I told Steven. I still had high hopes it would be great.
Let’s just say, it was not. My legs felt leaden. My lungs did not want to breathe properly. I felt like a big, stupid lump. Of course I kept going. Once I wrestle myself into two sports bras (PLEASE do NOT say, “TMI”), I run for at least a little while. I did not think I would make 35 minutes, or even 32, which was the previous longest time. Well, at least I could keep going for 20 minutes. Maybe 25. Then with my cool-down walk, I would be moving for 35 minutes. That is the length of time I’ve read you should exercise daily to combat tension headaches. Also, I need to burn calories.
I can’t give you a blow by blow of “I turned here, I looked at my watch, I said hello to the guy on the porch,” etc. For one reason, I’m getting a headache. So much for that 35 minutes of exercise theory! Yes, I did run for 25 minutes, plus a 10 minute cool-down walk. I felt grimly satisfied that I ran at all. I feel similarly about this blog post. It ain’t such a much, but I’m going to hit Publish. I hope to see you all on Tired Tuesday, or whatever kind of Tuesday it turns out to be.
Mohawk Valley Girl 