Running is a choice; My Choice

I have made some interesting choices recently, and all have come with interesting outcomes.

What's especially interesting is how many of these choices all came together on an unsuspecting #nevermissaMonday run.


First, let me set the scene....

My Saturday started like most of my Saturdays, with a semi-long run. I'd met up with my friend, Barb, and we ran eight miles with a decent (probably too-fast) pace. We not only conquered several hills, but we also battled a nasty headwind out of the east. All was good.

Later, after a brief rain shower, I chose to (finally) tackle a major landscaping project I'd been putting off since last year. Several plants, in the front yard, needed to be dug up and divided. Also, a huge area of our backyard needed some beautifying. I spent over three hours digging up, dividing, squatting, lifting, and transplanting 16 total plants from one muddy yard to another.

Sunday arrived. Despite my back feeling a bit grumpy, I chose to head out for a short recovery run. As per usual, the run loosened everything up, and I returned home feeling like a new person.

Later in the afternoon, the hubby had make plans to go for a 15-mile bike ride with a friend, and asked if I wanted to come along. My initial response was, "Ha ha ha...I haven't been on my bike since last summer." A few seconds later, I had a change of heart and chose to tag along. The route was one I'd ridden several times before, so I knew how hilly it was (we're talking seven monstrous hills over the course of 15 miles), but I was eager to get some cross-training done.

                  

Sunday evening, the hubby and I took a leisurely 2-mile walk with Max (our dog) before bedtime. My quads were feeling a little weary, but the walk felt great.

So, Monday morning arrives, and I'm eager to get out for my ritual early morning #nevermissaMonday run. Tired of the routine 2-mile route I often run, I had the grandiose idea to slip in a little speedwork. I decided to head to the 2-city-block expanse of sidewalk, where I often run intervals back and forth. I could run five sets of intervals, which would net me two miles. With the half-mile warm-up run there (and then back home), I'd have three total miles for the morning. Picture perfect!

Only, within the first couple blocks of running, I could tell my grandiose idea of intervals on that particular morning was, indeed, far too grandiose. My body didn't necessarily "feel" tired, but my legs were like,"Umm, nope. Sorry, honey, this ain't happening." This was a mere 13 hours post-hilly bike ride. I don't think the DOMS were a factor (yet), but something was definitely amiss.

I decided to white flag the grandiose speedwork idea and just run the two miles, at a super easy pace. Like I said, nothing hurt, but things were not moving like usual. My legs felt heavy; my feet didn't want to lift higher than a shuffle. I guess the hilly run on Saturday, the heavy-duty garden work, AND the hilly bike ride on Sunday had taken a toll on my body.  Oh, and the humid, muggy morning air may have been a factor as well.

Although I made it through the run unscathed, I certainly didn't return home feeling like a #badass. Yet, I didn't feel defeated either.

This run was far from joyful, but I was ever grateful for the ability to persevere and finish it out, none the less. Not every run is going to feel victorious or grand, but every run IS a blessing. There was a time, two years ago, when I couldn't run...a time when I would have gladly traded places with the gal who chose to run easy (instead of doing speedwork) on that muggy Monday morning.

Even though I've had much better runs than that one on Monday morning, I'm choosing to appreciate and respect the short ride on the proverbial "struggle bus." I'm also choosing to shake off this less-than-grand run, and move on. There's going to be some great runs and some not-so-great ones. It's kind of a package deal, right? So, onward!

After all, running is a choice. I'm glad I get to choose to run. Not everyone is so fortunate.

How do you cope with tough runs? Do you struggle through them, or just take them for what they are... and then move on?  Do you treat every run as a gift?

I'm linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up

**I'm also linking this with Debbie and Marc  for the Running Coaches' Corner

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