A long run Sunday
Today has been an excellent day. Having seen my good friends the Wheelers, and the new addition to their family (and heir to their dynasty) Jack, I settle down now for the rest of this evening for some worthwhile work.
As part of this evening I need to turn my head to the week ahead. Having lodged and live in a single space for two years - a place where I would eat, sleep, work and play within the confines of a small room - I usually find myself eager to sleep and wake early, and do such work in the pressure of a school morning. Although this is was once admirable, my school has no control over their heating. Therefore, I used to be sitting in a large unheated room in an large unheated building working on a small monitor. Far better, then, to do such work in the evening.
So why say this? This morning I ran a 54 minute 10k in training. It has been a long time since I managed that. In doing so, I changed my focus on the advice of my running partner. In my running, like in many things in life, I focussed on the immediate ground ahead of me, and on the entirety of the run ahead. Instead, I focussed near the end of small, unplanned goals: to run to the next bench, for example. As I came to that goal, my mind picked another. In doing so I experienced the acknowledged success of achieving that goal yet I also appreciated its meaningless in the greater scheme of the run.
By that I think I mean that my training intensity has risen recently because I am training harder than I think that I can cope with over the entire course. Like with the great north run last year, I have set myself goals of running a fairly long distance as fast as I can. Where I have failed in the past is in the strength of my lower limbs; my muscles have failed me.
Where I think I am somewhat stronger now is in my insoles. I still do not know whether to get them remoulded. Perhaps not. I will, instead, run with them for the sequence of races ahead. I will, also, feel the balance of my running too. Feel the strength of my arms carry me, and appreciate how my stockiness belies the distance that each stride might take me.
As part of this evening I need to turn my head to the week ahead. Having lodged and live in a single space for two years - a place where I would eat, sleep, work and play within the confines of a small room - I usually find myself eager to sleep and wake early, and do such work in the pressure of a school morning. Although this is was once admirable, my school has no control over their heating. Therefore, I used to be sitting in a large unheated room in an large unheated building working on a small monitor. Far better, then, to do such work in the evening.
So why say this? This morning I ran a 54 minute 10k in training. It has been a long time since I managed that. In doing so, I changed my focus on the advice of my running partner. In my running, like in many things in life, I focussed on the immediate ground ahead of me, and on the entirety of the run ahead. Instead, I focussed near the end of small, unplanned goals: to run to the next bench, for example. As I came to that goal, my mind picked another. In doing so I experienced the acknowledged success of achieving that goal yet I also appreciated its meaningless in the greater scheme of the run.
By that I think I mean that my training intensity has risen recently because I am training harder than I think that I can cope with over the entire course. Like with the great north run last year, I have set myself goals of running a fairly long distance as fast as I can. Where I have failed in the past is in the strength of my lower limbs; my muscles have failed me.
Where I think I am somewhat stronger now is in my insoles. I still do not know whether to get them remoulded. Perhaps not. I will, instead, run with them for the sequence of races ahead. I will, also, feel the balance of my running too. Feel the strength of my arms carry me, and appreciate how my stockiness belies the distance that each stride might take me.
posted by A teacher at
11:20
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