Saturday, January 12, 2008

What To Do When You Just Don't Feel Like Running

First, you read the paper cover to cover.

Then you decide to take down the Christmas tree (it's fake, don't worry).

Then you need to vacuum.

Oh, might as well reorganize the furniture.

By this time it was close to 1:00 p.m. I still had the headache that I'd been fighting all week and that sent me home from work early on Friday.

But it was still early on Saturday, and I knew I didn't want to spend the day lollygagging around the house since that would only make me feel fatter and then, depressed.

There was only one thing to do: call in the marines. So I did. I placed a long-distance call to my erstwhile coach and commenced with the whining.

After listening to a long list of complaints, Bex offered this simple, time-tested, yet wiley, advice: get your running kit on, get out the door, and just run ONE mile. See how you feel after ONE mile.

See, I need someone telling me what to do. I'm almost 51 (feb. 7, 1957, mark your calenders), and I STILL NEED SOMEONE to tell me what to do!

Off I went.

One mile down. I hate this. Just go slow, don't look at the damn watch. Bex said you can turn around after one mile! Eh, might as well run a second mile. Surely you can run two freakin' miles! My foot hurts. It's too hot. Too many damn people on the trail. OK, two miles in the can. You JUST ran a 5k PR on New Years...don't even think of telling me you're DONE at two miles! Get to three, there's a water fountain. Three miles in the can, now just make it to four and you can walk as a treat. Of course if you throw in some speedwork, you'll be done faster! It's getting dark out. I hate running. Coming up on four, you only have two to go. You can run two miles standing on your head. Pretend you are somewhere else. Oh, I know: listen to your book! Try to enjoy this time to read! Remember how much you LIKE READING? Right. One mile to go. You can slow way down if you want, as a reward.

Like that. For an hour or so. (Be glad I'm not into podcasting.)

The answer, as I already know, is to just get dressed, lie to yourself (you know you're not going to quit after one mile), and get moving.

As an added benefit: My headache disappeared.

18 comments:

21stCenturyMom said...

YES!

Nancy Toby said...

First step out the door is always the hardest!

It's probably because you're OLDER THAN ME!! BWAHAHAHAA! By 4 whole months! That's practically a whole AG!!

Neese said...

I need a Bex.

ItchyBits said...

This was soooo my Saturday too and it's looking like my Sunday ----uh-oh--- going to get dressed right now.

Unknown said...

Nice motivational post!

Runner Susan said...

this is me today . . . on my way out for my long run . . . oh the misery . . . the pain . . . why do i do this to myself?

David said...

Semper fi Bex!

Glad to hear you up and at 'em early this morning. Did you run today too?

Rainmaker said...

Very true. I think the same applies to swimming too. If you say you're just going to do a short workout, you just feel like an extra few hundred yards won't hurt...and then ya keep on tickin.

LBTEPA said...

your problem is you run far too far. And too fast

Dana said...

Sometimes all it takes is someone telling WHAT TO DO to get you out there. Glad to hear your headache is gone.

renae said...

Good for you. It is so true - this running crap is a big giant mind game.

Dori said...

Great labels. :-0

I never run less than 3 miles, but sometimes it takes all my willpower. Glad your headache went away.

Vickie said...

Works every time. If you ever want some other inspiration, try to find some of the books by the "pioneer" women runners. One in particular, and I think it was Gayle Barron, who said if after the first 10 minutes you aren't feeling good, turn back. To me that means 20 minutes, but I have kept this in mind for 20 years. The hardest part of the run is the first step out the door.

Rhea said...

Whoo-hooo! Way to knock down those miles. We should talk every week - we can motivate each other.

Rhea said...

Btw, the "marines" link gives you an error page. Just sayin'. :-)

jeanne said...

link fixed! thanks!

Anonymous said...

YEAH! Great job!

I always procrastinate until it is almost midnight and I finally get out and run.

I wish someone would tell me what to do!

Rich said...

That works for me too. It's more depressing to change out of running clothes w/o doing the running part, so th trick is to get dressed first!