When I run I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. It helps me put my problems into perspective,
realize what’s important and feel good about myself. Despite all that, there are times when I just
don’t want to go. It’s cold out. My legs are tired. My knee hurts. I need a break. Wah, wah, wahhhhh. Suck it the fuck up, and get your ass out
there. You are a runner. It’s what you do. It keeps you sane. Do you deserve a night off once in a while
? Absolutely. Should you take tonight off ? Sometimes the answer is yes. Most of the time, the answer is no. There is a part of you that wants you to
fail. There is a part of you that wants
you to sit on the couch, have a bowl of ice cream, and neglect all that you
know is right. DO NOT LISTEN TO THAT
VOICE. How do you know the difference
between a night when you deserve a break, and when you are slacking ? Because you know yourself. You have been working at this running thing
for a while now. You know what’s
involved. You know you are your own
worst enemy. That voice that says to
take it easy, have a snack, get some rest, is NOT YOUR FRIEND. If you aren’t sure if you should run,
RUN. If you think it might be a good
idea to rest, RUN. If you think that you have done enough for this week,
RUN. When you have to choose between running
more or less, choose more, every time.
When rest is what’s best, there won’t be any question. You will know, without hesitation, that you
should rest. When there is doubt.
RUN. It is always better, to err on the side
of running more instead of less. If you
are injured, or overtraining, or genuinely fatigued, you won’t have any doubts
about what to do. You will know, without
a doubt, that you need a break. If you
aren’t sure, RUN. If you run and it
hurts, walk, but do the miles. It will
keep you sane. It will keep you healthy. It will keep you on the path to being a
better runner. Anytime you aren’t sure
what to do, the best answer is to Run more, run often or run faster. Do you
want to be known as a runner or a rester ?
Do you want to achieve your goals by doing something or nothing ? Do you want to wait for success to come to
you or do you want to go after it ?
Run. The answer is always to RUN. If there is doubt, RUN. When you don’t know what to do, RUN. It doesn’t have to be far, or fast, but it is
vitally important for your psyche to run when you don’t know what to do.
Because if you do, the next time you aren’t sure, you will find it easier to
run. If you take the easy path, this
time, you will probably take the easy path next time. The easy path doesn’t get you a Personal
Best. The easy path doesn’t make you a
better person. The easy path doesn’t
develop your character. If you run to
enhance your life, when you don’t know what to do, your only option is to
run. Run more, run faster, run
longer. You will never regret running
more, but you may regret running less.
Hey! This is your best post yet!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the blog! I saw it posted on runners world and was really entertaining not running today... now... I am off for a run.
ReplyDelete~Half marathon finisher/ future marathon finisher
Quoted you in my own blog post today! I'm going to try to keep this in mind EVERY DAY!! :D
ReplyDeleteThat's about the highest praise I could get. Thanks !!
ReplyDelete