Making a Comeback and the Reality

After two years of injury, attempting to run marathons injured, then healing and running a marathon on easy runs alone I finally feel ready to train again. I think this may have come sooner but a few weeks of less than ideal eating, more wine than I needed and a week of migraines pushed running in the wrong direction.
I have pretty good nutrition but a month of cookies, wine, guacamole, pie and more cheese than I've eaten all year messed with me. My running suffered, I was tired, I didn't sleep well...I drank afternoon coffee and the cycle repeated! 
Add to that cold weather, snow and minimal daylight and now I'm physically and emotionally exhausted. 
I'd attempt speedwork, I'd get no where near my goal pace and I'd quit. Instead running slower than marathon pace. Don't get me wrong I'm thrilled to be running pain free but I wanted more. I wanted to continue my forward momentum where I was running PRs and improving with nearly every race. I knew it had to come to an end but I didn't want such an abrupt painful end. Enough of the negative regressing!

The past week I got my nutrition back in line, slept better (frequently in bed by 9pm) and started feeling slightly better, although the lack of daylight and warmth is still not great and headaches continue. Despite these my running has felt much better.

It all started last Friday with an 18 mile long run I almost didn't run, instead I finished feeling great and faster than any previous long run in the past year! 2 days later I tried intervals and actually managed so at sub 7's! I am thrilled!

My whole point in this is to remind myself and others that running takes more than legs, it is everything! I lost my nutrition and sleep and suffered. I forgot that I was just coming back and couldn't jump back to where I was. Guess what Jen, you are not Superwoman! You need to allow yourself time to comeback and focus. Sometimes it takes a rough patch and reality to smack you in the face and remind yourself what you've been through and all you've done. Today I am officially feeling ready to say I am coming back stronger than before! My strength training and nutrition are on track and running will follow!

How do you get yourself through rough running patches?

 Linking up with Jill for Fitness Friday

Comments

  1. Deborah BrooksJanuary 15, 2016 at 7:33 AM

    I think we all go through phases of falling off of our schedule especially over the holidays. Running does indeed take much more than legs. Sounds like you are back on the right track Confessions of a Mother Runner

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJanuary 15, 2016 at 1:35 PM

    It does take a lot more than just legs, running is a total package adventure! Sounds like you are on the right track!

    ReplyDelete
  3. jillconyersJanuary 17, 2016 at 4:07 AM

    So often injury and recovery has a domino effect. Maybe always. When one domino is out of place everything gets messed up.

    ReplyDelete

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