21 replies to this topic

[lauraaa111]

I had an awful day of running today, I had intervals planned to get my speed up and my body was in peak condition yet my head kept on telling me to give up. Please tell me I'm not alone here and that others have experienced it from time to time. How do you handle it? And please remind me why I love to run because right now I can't seem to remember

[Ellie80]

you aren't alone just consider it further evidence that you are clearly a runner. We can't appreciate the good runs and the good sessions if we don't occasionally have bad sessions (that is my rationale anyway!)

[Didge]

Definitely not alone, and I agree with what Ellie said too. I find if I have a bad run or it's not going to plan, I do what I can - then tomorrow is another day.

[tetley]

Sorry to hear it didn't go to plan for you today Laura. I can't speak for everyone else but often during a tough session the mind starts to talk negatively, suggesting i should quit, telling me that it's not really enjoyable, coming up with a list of things i'd rather be doing etc. But i've never got back from a run and wished i hadn't done it. There's a sense of accomplishment that comes from achieving something that's not easy. From your past posts i see that you've done 10k in about 45 minutes....there wouldn't be that many ladies who can run 10k that quickly and i guess that's taken a lot of effort to get to that point.

For me it's the sense of accomplishment and the overall positive effect it has on both my physical and mental health. The real challenge here though is for you to answer your own question. Why we all think you should run is really kind of irrelevant.

Best of luck and i hope your next run is more fulfilling

[Colsy]

Everyone has them. Especially if you are training for something in particular. I tell myself "Oh..this is one of 'those' days", and keep plodding along. Perhaps I wont go that extra Km, and fight it the next day. I seem to have one a week at the moment as I creep towards two major events for me.

Probably something to do with the pressure we put on ourselves. It will be interesting to see if I have less bad days in Summer when there are not so many events on and I am not focussed on times etc.

For this reason I reckon I wont do events for very long.

[Gentle Runner]

Maybe you need to break up your running with something else--swim, cycle, play sport, do a gym class, etc. The same old same old gets monotonous.

If you want to run:

Forget the intervals and hills and tempo runs, etc. Don't take a watch, heart rate monitor, ipod or anything that you can time yourself with or measure by. Go out and walk if you feel like it, run when you feel like it, and enjoy the sun, the things you see, the thoughts you think, the emotions you feel. THAT's how to remember why you run....

[JustinS007]

lauraaa111, on Aug 20 2008, 05:53 PM, said:

I had an awful day of running today, I had intervals planned to get my speed up and my body was in peak condition yet my head kept on telling me to give up. Please tell me I'm not alone here and that others have experienced it from time to time. How do you handle it? And please remind me why I love to run because right now I can't seem to remember

My advice is a bit different and I guess what advice you choose depends on the type of person you are. If it were me:

1. Go back to the transformations thread and look at the old you. You shouldn't need more inspiration than that.
2. Have a weekly plan drawn up in advance. ie what days you will run and how far etc.. Tell yourself that anything can change elsewhere in your life, but you are sticking to this plan. No matter what. It doesn't matter where you are so long as you have your shoes you should be able to go for a run.
3. Have a target race or other running goal. Know that what your are doing is helping get you to achieve that goal.

I don't always enjoy my running. But I always do it. I refuse to allow my mind to weaken me. Fortunately, running is pleasurable about 95% of the time for me.

J.

[BOD]

Laura,
You certainly aren't alone. Even the elites have bad days. It is interesting to note that many of these elites suggest that is preferable to abandon a session when experiencing the "blahs", rather than pushing on and punishing yourself.

Quotes from two of them:

Priscilla Welch (winner of the New York Marathon just before her 43rd birthday): "If I'm feeling really tired during a speed workout, I'll chuck the workout entirely, cut it back, or do it at reduced speed."

Bill Rogers: (winner of four Boston and four New York Marathons): "If I have reached the stage where I can't run properly....then I don't try to complete the required session."

The chances are that you will will return refreshed and remotivated. If not, it might be worth having a look at your recent training. Have you been overdoing it? Is the sameness of your training weeks starting to get you down? Perhaps it is time to ease off or introduce variety or alternative cross-training for a while. Your training diary might provide the clues.

You are a good runner and the occasional setback is simply part of the dues that you will pay from time to time. Most of all, don't be too hard on yourself.

[lauraaa111]

JustinS007, on Aug 20 2008, 07:04 PM, said:

My advice is a bit different and I guess what advice you choose depends on the type of person you are. If it were me:

1. Go back to the transformations thread and look at the old you. You shouldn't need more inspiration than that.
2. Have a weekly plan drawn up in advance. ie what days you will run and how far etc.. Tell yourself that anything can change elsewhere in your life, but you are sticking to this plan. No matter what. It doesn't matter where you are so long as you have your shoes you should be able to go for a run.
3. Have a target race or other running goal. Know that what your are doing is helping get you to achieve that goal.

I don't always enjoy my running. But I always do it. I refuse to allow my mind to weaken me. Fortunately, running is pleasurable about 95% of the time for me.

J.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! That's EXACTLY what I needed to hear! I do have a plan of my running up until October and I will follow it no matter what happens. I love to run because I can do it no matter where I am, no matter who I'm with and it's become a big part of me. It shows me the strength I have and it tests me, I couldn't run for 2 minutes now I can run for over two hours.

I was tired, I had a bad day and I gave up and I feel horrible for it now. Lessons I have now learnt, sleep is extremely important, the pain of intervals is nothing compared to the feeling of cheating myself and failing to do what I had planned. Today I learnt a very valuable lesson and I will enjoy my 15km run on Friday knowing that I can do it and how I feel when I finish! Tomorrow I will wake up early and have a relaxing swim to remind myself how good exercise makes me feel.

[sagara0510]

definitely not alone.

i've been really slacking off on my runs up until recently. in fact, June and July were both very lean months for me and i found it particularly hard to get myself off the couch and out the door. then all of a sudden this month i seem to have my motivation back. i've been running more and visiting CR forums more and am looking forward to the Perth C2S later this month!

just think of it as a form slump - you'll get over it if you keep persisting. remind yourself why you run and what you love so much about it and be patient and forgiving to yourself.

[cRJrun]

Agree with all that's been said.

Also I've found I will have a few "bad" runs when I'm improving but haven't realised I've upped my pace or lowered my time, etc. This was bought to my attention by a leader of a run group I was attending a few months ago. It was such a struggle to keep up with the group...but I was keeping up with the group whereas previously I was lagging behind the group and often they'd come back to get me.
So I was whinging and complaining about this F%*@/! running caper, when the group leader suggested that it may be because I was actually pushing myself out of the comfort zone(read- "rut") I had allowed myself to get into. She was correct and once I was also able to adjust my mind to come to terms with this, all was right with the world....the next time this happened I was prepared and accepted it readily as improvement not dismal failure and of course always keep in mind ..................................
RUN WHEN YOU CAN,
WALK WHEN YOU NEED TO,
CRAWL IF YOU HAVE TO,
BUT.....
NEVER EVER, GIVE UP All the best RJ

[trailpuddin]

On a slightly negative but strangely positive front...getting an injury is a great stimulous for remembering what it is you love about running. I was starting to have thoughts like you've mentioned and 2 weeks ago ended up with an injury and have had to be off my legs (getting better now yeah!) - but I tell you what it has really focused me on what I want to achieve with my running and how central its come to many things I do.

Please don't get an injury but maybe taking some time out and thinking about what you would miss if running was no longer in your life, might help bring things into focus.

[Loco66]

After following a training plan for 14 weeks my mind started to think hey whats going on here do i really want to do this...then i got sick 2 weeks before city to surf and only ran once in 2 weeks...ran to a plan in that race and did what i wanted to do....strangely when i got sick i realised that i missed running and couldnt wait to get back into it.
Now im back in 100% and have rather been snobbing my friends in preparation for the half marathon in 4 weeks time...have changed my training to 3 runs a week and 2 cycling sessions and are more confident i will get the 21.2 on the day then ever before!

I look at a lot of things and think to myself how lucky i am to be able to run and njoy it as i do!

[Isthisnametaken]

I tell myself that the bad run I had today was far better than the one I would have had if I had of stayed on the lounge.

I suffer from bad run days all the time. Just stop running for some reason, the bosy is going OK, the breathing is OK but when I think about it, I sometimes just start walking. Bugs me no end but I do take some confidence in the fact that I have my runners on, I am outdoors and I am doing it (kinda doing it anyways).

[Smiles]

I tend to finish what I started and then as with the others - the next day is a new day...also READ YOUR BODY...

[Andolate]

I just had one of those runs today too,

Normally I have been running prior to 6 am in the cooler temps . Today, I ran at 3.30pm and set out for an easy 30 min / 6klm. I started out alright but about 2 mins from returning home I just stopped, my mind definatley caved in today. after about 20 mins I really started feeling the heat ( 25 degrees here in sunny Echuca today) , would have loved a cold drink and my legs didnt want to go any further.

Very disappointing, but, relieving to read others comments. At least im not the only one!

[Paul Every]

We all have those days when running feels sluggish, heavy, uncomfortable or just plain .

I've had a couple this week.

When I have them in training, I think "Glad that one didn't fall on race day!"

[Pink Lady]

lauraaa111, on Aug 20 2008, 04:13 AM, said:

Today I learnt a very valuable lesson and I will enjoy my 15km run on Friday knowing that I can do it and how I feel when I finish! Tomorrow I will wake up early and have a relaxing swim to remind myself how good exercise makes me feel.

and if you need more motivation think about those of us who are sidelined with injury and are so frustrated.
for example I am waking at 4.00 a.m. with a serious urgue to get out there.

[TFive]

Paul Every, on Oct 2 2008, 05:28 PM, said:

We all have those days when running feels sluggish, heavy, uncomfortable or just plain .

I've had a couple this week.

When I have them in training, I think "Glad that one didn't fall on race day!"

Perhaps you need a new training partner

[Ron1]

I just go through the motions on off days. The on days always happen if you persist. Use the days when you are sick of it all to get the sookededness out of your system then you say: "Right" .

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=rTqTDteviT0&...feature=related

Edited by Ron1, 02 October 2008 - 06:48 PM.

[MissPinkyInSydney]

Paul Every, on Oct 2 2008, 05:28 PM, said:

We all have those days when running feels sluggish, heavy, uncomfortable or just plain .

I've had a couple this week.

When I have them in training, I think "Glad that one didn't fall on race day!"

That is exactly what I was just thinking!
I have many, many "bad" training days.....up until the half I did a few weeks ago, I have been lucky to always feel "good" on race days. Having a "bad" race day is just horrible!!!