Turning a Negative Training Day into a Positive

So today I tried to go for a run and I just didn't have anything.  Maybe it was 7 hours of tense, white-knuckle driving from the day before due to 7 straight hours of downpouring rain the entire way.  Maybe I woke up too early today.  Maybe it was just an off day.  Regardless, I didn't even make it half a mile before I was feeling like trash.  I know this happens to everyone at some point so what can be done when it does happen?

Option 1: Push through it.  

I don't recommend doing this.  In my experience, you will know if you just need to push through because you just don't feel like running today or if it's more than that.  Rather than risk injury, take the day off.  If you know you're OK, and you're just being a wimp that day, then pick an object in the distance and tell yourself to at least run to that.  Another method I use it to start counting steps.  It's rather hypnotic and often times, when I feel like throwing in the towel, buy the time I get to 50 steps with the left foot...I feel OK and end up running the whole way.

Option 2: Take it as a sign that you need a rest day.  

Have you been running more or harder lately?  You could be over training.  If so, just walk back and enjoy the rest of your day.  But whatever you do, don't get discouraged.  Tomorrow is a new day.

Option 3: Change it up and do something different.

This is my usual choice.  For example, today, when I wasn't feeling like a longer run, I just changed it to an interval session.  You don't need a track to do intervals.  I simply turned my workout to running hard for 1 minute and walking 1 minute for recovery.  I repeated this for 1.5 miles today.

Long story short, listen to your body but also be willing to adapt and change things up.

Happy trails!

Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games 2019

200m Dash and yes...I was hurting.

This past Saturday, I competed in the 2019 Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games for Track and Field. Let me just say that it was a blast!  I had so much fun.  Family and friends kind of gave me a hard time about competing.  They said that 50 wasn't "senior" status.  While I agree that I don't feel old, I wasn't about to pass up a chance to compete in Track events.  I can find 5Ks and 10Ks every month to run in, but when do you see Track events?  NEVER!!!

I was not familiar with the Senior Games but let just say again that they are extremely fun.  Age groups begin at 50 and go up in 5 year increments.  Everyone was so nice and so helpful.  It reminded me of being on a track team again.  I was the only one in my age group so I easily won the Gold in the 50m, 100m and 200m sprints.  I even tried my hand at the Shot Put.  I'm not positive if any 50 year olds competed in that, so I can't be sure until results are posted if I won a medal in that event or not.

I don't know their last names, but Todd, James, Randall and David...You guys rock!  It was an honor to race with you guys.  Todd was in the next age group up and that man ran like he had on roller skates.  We were pretty even in the 50m but he easily beat me in the 100m and the 200m.  I felt much better about it after finding out that he actually travels around and competes in these games all the time.  It keeps him motivated and in shape.  Randall was a beast.  He participated in every event he could and had a 10K he was running later that day.  James was a long time runner and he and David are inspiration for any runner to stick with it.

As soon as they post results, I'll be sure to update this post and add the link.

Happy Trails!