I woke up this morning super excited for a long run. I’d been looking forward to it for a few days after taking it pretty easy this week to recover from Gasparilla.
I switched up my pre-run breakfast and had oatmeal with walnuts, banana, and cinnamon.
Then set out for a 4 hour run (somewhere in the 20-mile range) on this very overcast morning in St. Pete.
About mile 5 my knees started to bother me. Not pain but discomfort. This occasionally happens to me until I give them some time to stretch out. Unfortunately, that relief never came this morning.
Even though I really wanted to get the miles in, the more logical side of my brain suggested I look at the big picture and stop before making it any worse. I made the decision to cut my run in half this morning and head home. Even though I know it’s best for me it’s always hard to push aside the feeling of defeat.
It’s a bit ironic that my knees start bothering me just 3-days after posting that I’d been feeling pretty good. After some ice and rest this afternoon they are feeling a lot better. It’s just one of those things that comes with the training.
Have you ever cut a run short? How do you deal with feeling defeated by it?
Good for you! I powered through my 6 miles today, until I rolled my ankle and fell at mile 4. I wish I had turned around when I considered it.
Oh no, Katie! Hope you’re feeling better!
I had to cut a run short once the weekend before my first half marathon (the Wine and Dine). I was supposed to run 8, but I was sick and felt terrible and ended up doing 5. Because it was my first race I was so worried that it was going to have a huge impact on me being able to finish the race and it made me so nervous. In the end it didn’t have a difference and it made me realize that cutting some miles off of a run or two here or there doesn’t matter as long as you’re putting in the work as you go along. And I’m sure you know that. You’re putting in so much time and energy into this training for you 50k that you know you’re going to do great. It’s probably so much better that you listened to your legs and stopped after half. You’ve got the base, and you’re going to be able to do this in April. I’m sure it was a bit defeating for the day, but just go put on the Michelob Ultra Challenge medal and jacket and walk around for a few minutes and remember that you just did that last weekend and it should make you feel a little better.
Thanks Meghan! That made me smile!