I’m Not Sure…

… I’d made a decision to run 4+something miles when I initially went out on the trail this afternoon.

I was actually hoping to get out of the house early, but it was raining.  When I checked the local radar, I could see that it would pass in about an hour, so I figured I’d wait.  It’s not that I mind running in the rain, I don’t.  But the trail can get muddy and I don’t want to think about ruining $70 shoes before I get to race the 10k in them.

So yeah.

4.30 MILES.

I won’t kid you.  It’s still hard.  I find ways to push myself.  I walked two extra times during the last two 10 minutes intervals.  About 250 feet – just enough to get my legs relaxed and then I ran again.

Here’s what I learned today:

I look down when I run.  I have tried to correct this habit, but today, I realized I do it for a myriad of reasons.

• It takes the pressure off my lower back where I had surgery.
• I’m acutely aware of the uneven places of the trail/road. I don’t want to trip, fall and injury myself.
• If I look too far ahead, I defeat myself with negative internal talk.

Did you get that last one??

I rarely run on level, flat ground.  Usually there’s an incline on the trail, as gradual as it seems, when you look ahead, you can see how steep it really is.

However, if I focus 10-15 feet in front of me, I am less intimidated and am able to easily conquer a hill/incline.

FOCUS.

I haz it.

I’m keeping it.

Get your own.