Thursday, May 9, 2013

A Lesson in Focus


Today is Thursday, a week after my LSD run of eight miles.  I have jogged only one day since then, on Monday, in which I went four miles in a little over an hour.  You may wonder why I have not done much running this week.  It was certainly not lack of will and desire.  I wanted to get out there and keep running every day.  I wanted to do some sprint work.  I made the choice not to, because I have been dealing with “runner’s crud.”*  For those who are seasoned runners, you know what I am talking about.  For those who are not familiar with it, it simply means my immune system became taxed and I have had symptoms similar to allergies or to having a cold and cough with a lot of pressure in my ears.  From what my husband tells me (and he would know with his background in running), this is something all runners go through as their bodies make adjustments to the requirements being placed on it.  The good thing in this, though, is that my immune system will come out of this stronger than ever.

One of the things I have worked on this past week is reminding myself that I was not sick.  That was not an easy thing for me because a couple of my tendencies are to focus on the negative and to overanalyze things.  Instead of just allowing the experience to occur, I kept focusing on how badly I was feeling and I kept trying to figure out how to not have this happen again.  News flash!  This will happen again.  It’s part of running, especially when you run high mileage and my intent is to get to the point that I am running between 50 and 100 miles per week.  So, how do I change how I respond to things like runner’s crud?  Well, the short, easy answer is, I change my perspective on it.  I allow it to be okay.  I take the time my body needs to rest, but then I get back out there and keep running, listening to my body as I run.

The long, not-so-easy answer is, I change my perspective on it.  I allow it to be okay.  I take the time my body needs to rest, but then I get back out there and keep running, listening to my body as I run.  I worked very hard this week to stay positive, to not over-analyze why I ended up with runner’s crud.  I admit, I didn’t do as well on my own as I would have liked.  It took my husband telling me to stop analyzing it and just recognize that it is what it is to finally let it go.  Interestingly, once I let it go, I felt immensely better and I am ready to get back out there and put in a good run today.  Are my symptoms all gone?  No.  My nose is still stuffed up and I am still coughing.  But, my body feels great and I am ready to go.  I am itching to get back out there and I know, once I start running, everything will open up as adrenaline floods my body.  As I run, I will pay attention to what my body needs and run a pace and distance consistent with those needs.  However, I am not going to spend a lot of time analyzing my pace and distance.  I am just going to enjoy the feeling of the wind in my face and the sun warming my body.  I am going to enjoy moving my body.  I am going to enjoy being in the moment and seeing how far my feet take me today.

*A note to those of you who have been around me this week…it was easier to explain what I was experiencing as allergies than to try and explain runner’s crud.  The main thing I wanted to convey to everyone was that I was not sick and I had nothing contagious.  This was the best way I felt I could explain it quickly.

7 comments:

  1. I don't believe in such a thing as "runner's crud" anymore. When I was a less skilled runner, and my overexertion taxed my body too much, I think I was prone to occasional bouts of something like this. Last July, I started looking into natural and barefoot running methods, and started incorporating these ideas into my running. Since then, I have run 5 5k races, 3 half marathons and one marathon. Marathon #2 is coming up in a few days. Oh...and I haven't been sick. Not once. I'm able to run so far now with no ill effects because it simply isn't as hard as it used to be. If you haven't already, I think it might be a good idea to check out the teachings of Ken Bob Saxton, RunBare, and Chi running. Many of our assumptions about running, and what our limits are, may not be reality. Things you may have been told may not be accurate either.

    Buy a metronome. And just because your cadence is quicker, your stride length does not have to be the same. Little steps.

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    1. And you mentioned in another post something about looking around, up at the sky and such to distract yourself when running. In my experience, that doesn't help. In fact, looking up and out and around too much prevents you from engaging your core. I'm going to post a link to a video which shows you how to run. Some may disagree with the way this guy runs. Your husband, who you say knows so much may disagree. The guy in this video is 46, and stills runs 2:30 marathons without injury, so anyone who doesn't like the way he runs doesn't know what they're talking about. Notice this guy, whose name is Mark Cucuzella, isn't looking around at the scenery and pretty clouds. He's focused, and tuned into his body.

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  2. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpnhKcvbsMM

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    2. Or type "barefoot running style" into the Youtube search.

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  3. Also search for C Tolle Chi running on YouTube. Skip to 8:30 and you'll see how to run for miles and miles. Seem to easy? Good. It should be. Keep doing it this way and you'll gradually get faster.

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    1. Thanks for the info, Bob. We put a lot of research into everything we do and I am familiar with what you shared. Since this is about my journey into the world of running, and it is very early into that journey, I have not implemented all that I will eventually implement. Some of that comes from necessity, some has to do with being but a mere babe in this sport. I am still learning and I know that I will always be learning and evolving. That is just part of who I am. As far as the "runner's crud" goes, that is a generic term I used to describe what happens to everyone when they start something new and their body is still adjusting to the new demands. I know now I went out too hard and too far on that long run and I paid the price. I know that there will be other times it will happen because I demand too much of my body. That is also just a part of who I am. I work hard to rein that part of me in, but sometimes it just gets out. And I am okay with that.

      One of the things I do not go into on my blog is exactly how I train, what gear I use, what I eat, or anything of that nature because that is not why I am writing. I am sharing my story to help encourage others to get out there and start doing. If I, who has never been an athlete can do it, so can anyone else. It is, however, up to them to find their way by doing their own research. The gear and food that works for me will not necessarily work for them and vice versa. My training may not work for others, either. What is important to me, though, is sharing my journey so others know they are not alone in their struggles; nor are they alone in their triumphs.

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