Listening to my Body

I had every intention of doing a 14-mile run today.

But as you can probably figure out from that statement, it didn’t happen.


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Usually, I do my long runs on Saturday, but I won’t be able to do it tomorrow, so I switched it to today. However, I have been in a funk lately. My long run last week (14 miles) was a struggle. Plus, there have been a couple other runs this week that I wasn’t feeling up to par.

I’m not sure what’s going on. I don’t feel fatigued, so maybe my body needs a mental break from running. πŸ˜•

When I plan my running schedule for the week, I do everything in my power to make sure I stick to the mileage I had originally planned on doing each day. Rarely do I change things up.

I like to think I do this because I am a tenacious person, but maybe it means I’m too stubborn. Either way, I rarely listen to my body and “hear” what it wants to do. Instead, I tell it what it has to do even, if it isn’t feeling up to it.

Now normally when writing these things, one would assume I would now proceed to write about how I am going to make it my goal to change my ways and instead listen to my body, but honestly that is not the case. I like my little running routine. I think forcing myself out even when I’m not feeling it makes me a strong runner mentally.

Now of course, eventually I will probably get too fatigued (like now) and have to take a break, which is hard for me to do, but I know it is just a couple days of missed running out of several years of running! πŸ™‚

Workout

Here was my revised workout today. I was itching to go to the gym and lift weights, so that’s what I did.

Ran 2.5 miles to the gym

Lifted weights for 30 minutes (mostly upper body and abs)

Ran 2.5 miles back home

I liked this combination of cardio and weight lifting. I love the burning sensation after lifting weights! πŸ™‚

~~~~~~~

Question

Do you plan out your workouts in advance or fly by the seat of your pants each day?

Hi, I'm Michelle

I love running around the lakes of Minnesota, running after my two boys, and racing anything from the 5K to the marathon. I have been blogging here since 2010 when I ran my first marathon. I finally secured my sub-3 hour marathon after trying for 8 years.

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10 Comments

  1. 8.5.11
    lifttorun said:

    I hear that after a marathon, you could totally be in a running funk.

  2. 8.5.11
    lifttorun said:

    I hear that after a marathon, you could totally be in a running funk.

  3. 8.5.11

    I normally plan mine by the week but that went by the wayside when I got injured. Now I just play it by ear. I have been away from running for about 3 weeks now and I already feel like I miss it. I think a mental break+cross training might be great! πŸ™‚

  4. 8.5.11

    I normally plan mine by the week but that went by the wayside when I got injured. Now I just play it by ear. I have been away from running for about 3 weeks now and I already feel like I miss it. I think a mental break+cross training might be great! πŸ™‚

  5. 8.6.11
    Liz said:

    I plan my workouts in advance usually if I’m training for something….but I definitely give myself the flexibility to switch things up. Last weekend I didn’t do my LR but I know I’ll be fine without it.

  6. 8.6.11
    Liz said:

    I plan my workouts in advance usually if I’m training for something….but I definitely give myself the flexibility to switch things up. Last weekend I didn’t do my LR but I know I’ll be fine without it.

  7. 8.6.11
    TCHusker said:

    I plan–though much less than I used to. I listen to my body but usually it’s saying something really lazy so I have to ignore it.

  8. 8.6.11
    TCHusker said:

    I plan–though much less than I used to. I listen to my body but usually it’s saying something really lazy so I have to ignore it.

  9. 8.6.11
    Rosie said:

    The past few months (and probably for a while) I just do what I feel that day. It has been so hot here that running outside isn’t really an option. Plus with planning the wedding, it was turning into something I HAD to do, just another chore each day. I would feel bad about missing a day or two (or more) and I didn’t like that, so I decided to just do what worked each day. If I don’t run, oh well. I also started to do more classes at the gym to spice things up. Maybe you could try that – something other than weights, yoga, and running?

  10. 8.6.11
    Rosie said:

    The past few months (and probably for a while) I just do what I feel that day. It has been so hot here that running outside isn’t really an option. Plus with planning the wedding, it was turning into something I HAD to do, just another chore each day. I would feel bad about missing a day or two (or more) and I didn’t like that, so I decided to just do what worked each day. If I don’t run, oh well. I also started to do more classes at the gym to spice things up. Maybe you could try that – something other than weights, yoga, and running?