The Training Wall

Ever since the 9-miler in the rain on Sunday my 3 runs this week have been painful and dreadful, one after another. In fact, I didn't even make my full mileage on Wed and Thur, although I'm glad I even dragged myself outside.

...The 9-miler wasn't too intense, I don't think I pushed all that hard...
...I took care of myself after the rain so my immune system is all happy...
...I've been eating as I've been the week before, I've taken good care of hydrating myself for and after the runs, and gulping down the coconut water when I feel I may need it...
...My mileage didn't jump up drastically, in fact, I don't die at the end - I die at mile 2...

So what's the problem???

Ok, so excited to share this on the blog... but since we're on the topic.. it has been that wonderful time in a woman's life when she wants to rub her boyfriends face in his pee and eat a pickle. But that shouldn't have affected me on Thursday - I felt great in fact!
Maybe my body was weakened and too slow to recuperate from earlier runs this week.
Or maybe - the only other thing I can think of - I've been very sleep deprived. According to RunnersWorld this can have an enormous effect.

Running is as much physical as it is mental. Push yourself through too much pain - and you may kill the last bits of that excitement which got you into running to begin with. Rest too long - and you will lose the the training base that you've worked so hard to build up.

The key is knowing that you will be OK. Allow yourself to run slower, easier, shorter. Allow yourself to rest and taking care of your body rather than punishing it harder. And remember - what drives you is what will stop you. So allow yourself to enjoy running again, if you hit the training wall.

- Sleep more (!!!)
- Eat better
- Find a new route
- Bring a friend
- Do a race