I'm not sure if anyone has this problem, but I really have have a difficult time slowing down for easy runs. I usually can start my run off at nice and relaxed, but after about a half mile "it's go time" and I gradually speed up to race pace and stay there for the remainder of the run. Even when I run with someone, soon after we start, I'm off to the races and whomever I'm with has to reel me back.
I'm not sure whether I have always had this problem, but I have really noticed it this spring when I started to conscientiously record my runs with their respective pace and after stepping off the treadmill and back onto the road in March. I have thought over for awhile now and I have determined that it is either one or all of the following:
If I'm not going fast that I'm wasting my time and not getting anything out of my run.
Need to consistently prove to myself that I can run fast, especially since my BQ pace is 7:15
The continuation of the competitive nature from years of organized cross country and track.
Or, I just want to complete my run as fast as possible to get it over with.
Now some of you might read this and think - "Jeez, what is this guy's problem? What is he complaining about? I would love to always run fast and struggle to go slow." - and, I would agree with you. But, slow days are just as important as fast days and without slow days you increase your risk for injury. I can definitely speak from experience on this as I strained my left calf about a week ago after running two days in a row with 6:30 first miles.
After about 3 or 4 days of rest, ice, and "the stick", I'm back on the roads gradually regaining strength in my calf. My first run on Monday was perfect, nice and slow at 8:00 pace. Today was another story as I set out to run 8:00 pace, but I finished at 7:37 pace. I felt fine for all of the run, but my fear is that my constant need to go fast could reinjure my calf or worse start up a string of overuse injuries that would be difficult to recover from.
So, I would like to propose to the running community - what do you do to help yourself stick to a certain pace and not let yourself get out of control? I know that many of you use a Garmin and I will be joining that crowd in the coming weeks, but a Garmin can't slow you down. Any suggestions would be great!
How's my training going? My training is non-existant. Between spring cleaning the apartment, wedding planning, and disgusting weather (39° and sleeting last week), I have not gone for a single run in two weeks. I know. I'm horrible. I'm a bad runner. I've probably lost most of my fitness. And even after my motivation has started to come back after volunteering at the Boston Marathon (post to come soon), I still find myself sitting here on the couch, at 8:30 on a beautiful spring morning writing about how I haven't run in awhile instead of getting out there to actually run.
But the thing is, I'm bored of running around our neighborhood.
Let me explain. We live in an apartment complex just off a main route in town. Anywhere to the left of the apartment is commercial area: main roads, shopping centers, restaurants, etc. Not exactly runner friendly. To the right is residential area -great! - but there are only two ways you can go down this way. And on every run, I run those same roads. I am so bored of them. The thought of having to run past that same doctor's office and that same wooded area and that same condo complex bores me to pieces. The variety in the run doesn't come until later - if I'm going longer than 4 miles. I just can't get myself out the door with the thought of that same start to my run.
Does this even make sense? I don't think it does, and yet I can't get past it. I'm wasting away this lovely morning that I could be outside running by sitting inside my apartment. I even bought a super cute new running skirt at the expo this weekend, and even that won't get me out the door. I need a new route, only I can't get to one from here unless I drive somewhere. But driving to a neighborhood to go running? Isn't that a little backwards?
I have no idea how to get past this. But the longer I sit and think about it, the warmer it will become outside and the less comfortable the run will be. So I'm going to eat breakfast now and put on my running skirt and see where that gets me.
Hopefully it's got me running past that doctor's office.
I was hesitant about going for a run today. The weather is perfect, and I really had nothing better to do, except I still found myself on the couch reading my new Runner's World, of all things. However, I always find myself feeling inspired to run when I read RW, so before I knew it, my shoes were on and I was out the door.
But I forgot to pee.
I could feel it from the start. My bladder felt like it was bouncing around with every step. Run, run, run. Bounce, bounce, bounce. Down hills, over the river, past the flooded soccer fields, up one last (long) hill, and a sprint home. Relief! Despite the discomfort, I guess having to pee works for me: I ran my fastest (adulthood) 5K time thus far!
I'm home now, chewing on a Clif Bar, sitting next to my fan trying to cool down before I hop in the shower. I feel much better having run this morning than had I kept laying on the couch watching The Martha Stewart Show. I'm looking forward to another pre-work run tomorrow morning with Jon... and I promise myself I won't forget to pee first.
