Spirit Training

46 Replies

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Sad to say, I’ve been a bit lacking in my positive thinking this past week.  With 6 days until Salt Lake City, I just can’t afford the negativity… but hey, it happens to all of us every now and again. I started doubting myself and what I was actually capable of accomplishing, and that took me down a very dark path.

It all began with the knee injury at Lake Sammamish.  I rested a solid two weeks in hopes that my knee pain would subside, and it did, especially once we figured out what was causing it.  But that left me only 3 weeks to come up to par for SLC.  Now mind you… I’ve been training steady since last July, so I didn’t think a 2-week break would do any harm.  That is, until I actually went on my first run after that little break…

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Still, I wasn’t thinking much about it because I was actually running “gentle,” trying to baby my knee and work it in slowly.  I didn’t know how my knee was going to react until that first long-run Sunday when I gave it a good stretch.  It held up fine… my legs, however, were not so fine. They were feeling a touch fatigued.  Okay, more than a touch… they were resisting everything in regards to running after the first mile.  And I had the most horrible leg pain at night… twitching, aching… all kinds of stuff going on.  One Sunday night, after laying there for 3 to 4 hours twitching and aching, I finally got up at 1 a.m. to take some ibuprofen and magnesium which I had forgotten to take earlier.  My compression sleeves weren’t even helping me.

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And every run thereafter was more of the same.  My legs were tired and I felt as if I had never run a mile in my life.  It didn’t stop me from plowing on, but it was causing me some great concern.  So much so that I was even contemplating dropping back in SLC to run the 5K as opposed to the half.  Jamesy and I discussed some of my concerns, and he felt for my last longish run, I should go out, slow it down just a bit, and then maybe make the decision based on how that run went.

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I ran loops around the fields today. This was my friend who cheered me on every time I passed him.

Well, I completed that run today (6 miles).  The best news is I didn’t feel an ounce of fatigue in my legs, they felt normal, and they weren’t achy.  Score!  That brought the spirits up tremendously!  And based on that fact, I came home and announced that I would, indeed, be running the half.  I’ve never been concerned about my pace or being too slow in the past, and I ain’t gonna start today!

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I would also like to thank Jackie from A Cooking Pot and Twisted Tales for composing the most perfect positive motivation saying which came when I needed to hear it most.  You can read it here.  “Don’t let your dreams die…”  Nope.  I won’t.

With my little personal crisis being over, onward I go.  Five more days until my normal freak-out post.  In the meantime, please enjoy this little ditty for Jamesy’s Motivational Music Monday. This is Song 2 by Blur, otherwise known as the “Woo Hoo Song.”  And just for future reference, when I comment with a “Woo Hoo,” this is exactly how I mean it!!

Have a great week!!  See you in Salt Lake City!!  Woo Hoo!!

46 thoughts on “Spirit Training”

  3. Mike Hawtree

    I’ve never met a runner yet who says that they are ready for a race. There’s always something – a small niggle here or there, a missed training session at a vital time, even their kit can be ‘wrong’ – but somehow they always pull through… 🙂 I’m sure you will do the same, especially with all those Woo hoos to keep you going. I’m already looking forward to hearing how well it went. Enjoy !

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. artisticsharon

    I can relate to feeling sluggish after a ‘pause’ in running – so happy you pushed through and are feeling stronger. Pace is a very personal thing – remember, you’re always faster than the person who never started!!!

    Can’t wait for the race recap – Woohoo!!! 😀

    Liked by 2 people

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  7. Janet Wilson

    Hi Paula, best have that jittery week before and get it over with. Just take it steady and run your own race, you’ll be fine and will be with you thought as always. Go girl!!!!🏃Jx

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. wanderwolf

    Woo hoo! I’d say the bum knee was a bit of a letdown, and it can be hard to get remotivated after something like that derailing your training. Buuut, things are looking good again! And you have a great race in SLC to look forward too! Hope their week goes smoothly and looking forward to reading you peerace freak out 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    2. neveradullbling Post author

      Haha, thanks Dorothea! Yeah, it was definitely hard going there for awhile and it was mostly mental, but hopefully I’m past that now and I’ll just go out and do my thang! 😀 Pre-race freakout coming up soon, lol!!

      Liked by 1 person

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      4. neveradullbling Post author

        I hear ya! That mental thing is way worse than an owie! I’m thankful I was able to kick it’s ass! I would’ve never been satisfied with the 5K when I know the half was where I needed to be. I’m kind of pleased that my heart was stronger than my brain!! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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