Beginner Blues

This next post has been challenging for me to write. I have successfully completed each run this week without walking and even had  a cross-training day. And yet, I feel completely discouraged. After each run I have been calculating my pace just like I did in my previous post. To my surprise, the next two runs both came in at least 30 seconds worse than the first run. Why am I not improving? I don’t feel like I struggled any more and my mind has even managed to turn off Babble. In fact, for the second run I was required to do 4 sets of “strides” (see here for the training key with explanation http://cdn.womensrunning.competitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Training-Plan-Key.pdf), which means that I was required to add short bursts of sprinting to the run, which in turn should ultimately increase my overall pace. Instead, it did the opposite. So, this week I have been forced to accept my body’s athletic level. 

Accepting my body’s limitations is not a new concept for me (probably not for anyone). I was probably born the least flexible person on the planet. Only within the last 6 months have I been able to touch my toes or when bending at the waist have my finger tips reach the ground. I have made these small improvement with some Yoga practice but through my running I can tell I still have a long way to go. My leg span while running is small. It feels unnatural for me to push harder off my heal to force my leg span to widen. My hip joints feel open, tender and exhausted after a run. I have to accept that these things will only improve over time. It is inevitable that they will improve so long as I continue doing what I am doing. In reality, I am doing everything right because I am not injured. I am just anxious for my time and distance results to match the effort that I am putting in.

Yesterday I did sets of leg raise exercises about and hour or so before I went running. I think that this may have been part of the reason I came in slower. My hip muscles tightened back up after exertion and I wanted them to keep pushing. So today I have not done any leg raises to see if it makes any difference in my performance. Later this evening I will be doing my first 22 minute run and I want to finish proud of my pace time. At this rate, I will be happy with just remaining in the 8-9 minute range. If I slip any further…I hate to even think of it. 

So, this week the lesson is not about patience and waiting for results to come around - it is about acceptance. I am a beginner. My body is learning how to adjust to these new demands I am putting on it. It is telling me that it needs time. It is asking me to be happy with the level we are at and to keep going. I am not injured. I am not dehydrated or dealing with fatigue. In fact, while writing this it has become clear; I am exactly where I need to be in order to succeed. I can definitely accept that!