One reality of any sport is that you can’t be 100% perfect, 100% of the time. Some days are a struggle – physically, mentally, or some combination of the two. And running is no exception. Luckily, a bad run doesn’t have to be the end – unless you let it.
As you may have guessed, I recently had a ‘bad run’, and it got me thinking about why we classify our runs as ‘bad’, and what we can do about it. After all, having the ability and desire to run (no matter the pace), is not something that we should take for granted. And when the desire is lacking, our capacity alone often has to take the spotlight.
Which is hard. We’re fed an expectation that exercise is easy and anyone can do it and get results. Spend 10 minutes scrolling #fitness on Instagram and you’ll be dizzy at the end with exercises, skinny teas, and maybe just a little bit of anxiety because you don’t look like the people on your screen.
Going back to my recent ‘bad run’ (I’m getting away from even calling it that). It was a little hot, a little sunny, heavy car traffic, and I had just gotten off a relatively stressful day at the office. I struggled to start running and then immediately felt like a paper bag that someone had forced all the air out of. Cue 15 mins of 11:15 per mile pace and me panting.
Did it have to be that bad? Probably not. But at the first moment of cramping, in conjunction with a less-than-stellar mood (we had a bit of a rough sleep the night before) meant that every step felt like a challenge. I finished my assigned run, but felt totally wiped out – more mentally than in any other way. Unfortunately this mood carried over into when I picked up Chara, so my ‘bad run’ was starting to look like a bad mood, or even a bad evening.
And he said to me something to the effect of ‘it’s just a run’. And he’s right. There will be more runs tomorrow and really, was it THAT bad? So I had some cramping and a slow mile time, I still ran. As we continued to drive home, I realized that my only solution that day would be a do-over. So I pushed the thought of my recent run out of my mind and took some time to enjoy the clear San Diego evening.
When we reached home, in under 5 minutes I was back out the door again, taking my first step for the second time that day. And you know what?
The difference was incredible. Keeping in mind that it’s ‘just a run’ and that this one isn’t going to make or break marathon training was essential. As was simply remembering how lucky we are to have the ability TO run and that this capacity alone shouldn’t be ignored.
So next time you’re having a ‘bad run’, pause. Take a step back. Stop comparing yourself. Forget about your goals and find your rhythm. And when you really can’t do it, don’t force it. Find another way – be it a 20 minute break or a long walk instead, release the pressure and find what matters: the internal peace that running brings so many of us.
And if you need to, don’t be afraid to take a day off.