July Runfessions!
It’s the last Friday of the month, which means it’s time for Marcia’s runfessions! This time I don’t have any fun stories about mishaps on the run, or complaints about injuries… I just have one big runfession. I’ve heard talk of this thing called a “running slump” but I never really understood it. As a matter of fact I would get slightly annoyed when people talked about not being motivated to run- how can that be??? If you’re healthy and not injured, why would you NOT want to be out there running? I also couldn’t really grasp why people complained about running in the heat. It’s SUMMER. Did you not know it was going to be hot? Wear a tank top! Run early in the morning! What’s the big deal? Well. This summer I’ve been experiencing an odd situation. I’m really not excited about running. I don’t want to NOT run, but I’m not enjoying it. I’m just not motivated to seek out fun routes, so I keep running the same boring loop. The heat is also intense. The moment I walk out the door at 7 am, it feels like the sun is trying to kill me. Now, wait a minute! (you might be thinking.) If it’s so hot, why are you running at 7:00??? You could be running at 6, or even 5:30! Well, yes- that would help. But I can’t get up that early, because I go to bed too late. Here’s the problem: at the beginning of summer, I decided my priority would be strength, and one day a week of speed work. Other than that, I would run shorter distances 3-4 times a week, until September when I’ll start to ramp up training for my race. Strength and speed work (which I do on the treadmill) occur in the GYM, where it’s nice and cool. I don’t need to go at 5:30 am. With both kids home, I’ve been going to bed later in order to spend more time with them. Ergo, on the days I run, I’m really feeling the heat. I also don’t have the time to seek out an interesting route- I have to just run straight from my house, which means the same loop almost every time. So, what’s the solution? There is none- other than just waiting it out. Next week my son goes back to school (sob!) and on August 10th my daughter starts high school (with a 7:30 am start time) so we’ll be forced into an earlier schedule. And then, before you know it, it’ll be September and I’ll be able to shift my focus back to running. I guess this is one of those situations where you can’t have it all. I can’t stay up late with my kids, prioritize going to the gym, AND have amazing runs. I just have to embrace the running I’m doing (and be thankful for podcasts, which are keeping me sane and at least somewhat happy to get out the door) and know that everything will change again soon. Do you have any summer runfessions? Are you enjoying the heat, or taking your workouts indoors?