A hard habit to break, and an even harder habit to start

A couple of weeks ago I joined a running club through my local Running Room store. I had been thinking about it for a while as I still have not got back into the habit of running. I was unsure what to expect, but I was more than prepared to show up to a group of hard-core runners who would very quickly put me to shame, and thus make me retreat from running even more than I already have. What I discovered was the quite the opposite.

I showed up at 8:30 am at the store (oh, that’s another thing. I always though that morning runs were out of the question) and was soon joined by a diverse group of individuals who were from all walks of life and experience. Some were there to walk, some were there for their own weekly commitment, others were training for a specific race; but all were there to participate in fellowship and fun. The other thing I wasn’t sure about going into this club was running with other people. For the most part, I’ve been a solitary runner. I always thought that I was unable to run effectively with others; that I would either be slowing them down, or that I would have to sacrifice my own pace to stay with them. Also, I’m not very good with small talk, which would ultimately develop along the way. Again, what I discovered was quite the opposite. Within each distance group, there were subgroups that naturally developed as we set out. Some ran quicker than others, but as a whole we were working on the same route, toward the same goal. I soon found that by running with others, I found motivation to maintain my pace, but more than that, I also found motivation to enjoy myself as I found myself within a community that were out here early on a Sunday morning, not for self punishment or self degradation, which I will admit was the motivation of some of my running in the past, but to share the experience of running and to help each other along. Another important aspect to running with in this club is that they are well versed in pacing and interval training. Whenever I went for a run, I was aiming at doing a straight forward run; no stopping, no walking, no resting. I had worked it in my mind that if I wasn’t continuously running, really running, then it didn’t count and I was cheating myself. What I’ve come to discover is that not every run has to be a race, which was how I was treating it. I don’t always have to be working at capacity every single time. By pulling back a bit, I can allow myself to actually enjoy the run, which hasn’t happened in a long time. I even chatted with my fellow runners, if you can believe that! The main point is making the effort to get out on the road. I don’t have to exhaust myself every time to gain benefit. Train smarter, not harder; I was never good at that, but hopefully with the support of others, I can get better.

I’ve attended a couple of run clubs so far, and I intend to keep going. I hope to regain my endurance and stamina, but more than this; by running with a group, I hope to rediscover the desire to once again make running a part of my life and to look at my solo runs in a new light. When I had been running regularly, I found that it was a hard habit to break, but in the time since I stopped, I’ve found it to be an even harder habit to start. Hopefully, with the help of a few enablers in the form of a run club, I can once again get into the habit, and maybe this time it will be a habit built on health, and not just exercise.

Confessions of a recovering runner, Part 4. Lunch Special: Sweat

I haven’t written about running since last October!

I realise that this has probably caused many of you to question:

“Why does he not write of running any more?”

“Has he forsaken running for the lure of cross-stitch?”

“To whom will I turn for my dose of run related pissing and moaning”

“Wait a second? You run?”

Well, I’m back to running at lunch. That whole plan to run in the evenings didn’t work out.

You mean your brilliant idea of going for a run after you’ve come home from work, had supper, gone through the bedtime routine with the kids and wait til they’re asleep so you can get off the couch and go for a run didn’t work? Really?

I know. I’m surprised too!

That being said, there are those who may ask why I choose to run at lunch. I could reiterate the issues I have getting my ass of the couch at night or bring up the whole it-breaks-up-the-day thing, but when it comes down to it, it’s really a simple condition:

*IF A THEN NOT B OR C

Where A = Running, B = Eating, and C = Spending Money.

There. Simple.

Oh, alright. It also helps to break up the day.

*Note: I am not a programmer, mathematician, logician, philosopher, or someone who has any knowledge on how to properly construct logic statements. I am quite prepared to accept that this is a nonsensical statement. If you happen to know the proper form of this statement, please feel free to correct me.

Confessions of a recovering runner. Part 2, A different time, a different place

I’m starting to get used to my new routine; and when I say, routine, I’m using the term loosely.

I used to be a lunch-hour runner; almost exclusively, except for when I was training for a race. I used to have two or three different routes that I would choose from, with varying distances, depending on how much energy I felt I had. I would grab my kit, rush to the washroom, change, put my street clothes away, go out and determine which route I was going to do, run, come back in, grab my street clothes, run up to the showers on the fourth floor, shower, change, and then rush to eat my lunch. I usually made it a point to pack a minimal lunch on my run days just so I would have enough time to eat something. My runs would average 35 minutes, almost every time, except for my blah days, then I would pick the 25 minute route.

Anyway, it was a routine, and pretty solid one at that, with me running at least twice a week, sometimes three times if I had my act together that particular week. Here’s the thing, though; it was getting tiresome always having to rush in and out of my run. Even though it was a great break in my work day, it also meant that I had one more thing to rush to do. Even though I loved running through the River Valley, it also meant that I couldn’t take my time, or even extend my run if I wanted to. Even though I enjoyed the challenge of pushing myself within the time constraints, it also meant that I had no time to wind down afterwards.

Now that I’m back running, I’ve decided to change things up. I’m now running at night, usually around nine or ten o’clock, and instead of the River Valley, I’m running around a nearby lake; well, not so much a lake, even though it’s called a lake, but more a man-made water feature; still it’s a good 3km around. In any case, I’m finding it much easier to focus on the run itself. With this change, I am able to extend my run if I so desire; I am able to still enjoy the scenery, including many migratory birds who use the lake as a way station of sorts; I am able to push myself, yet have the opportunity to recover in the comfort of my home when I’m done. In addition, this new routine gives me the chance to ice my feet afterwards, which I have found crucial to recovering and being able to step out of bed the next day.

As I was saying at the start, I’m getting used to this new routine; sort of. The truth is I haven’t quite got a routine figured out, but I am on my way to developing a regular run; I just find it a little more difficult than before. See, when I ran at lunch I had to make a conscious effort to pack my kit in the morning, and then when I was at work I found myself to be of the mind that, I went through the bother to bring this stuff with me, I had better do something with it! It’s different at home, of course. When you’re sitting at home in the evening, after work, after supper, after the kids have been put to bed, after you’ve already been sitting on the couch with your feet up, it’s kind of tricky to then rouse yourself and head out the door. If I can work on the self-motivation part, I think I will enjoy my new routine. Not that I don’t enjoy it once I’m out the door, but rather those times when I certainly could have gone for a run, but then didn’t, and then end up facing the guilt of not going; that aspect is going to need a bit more work.

Hopefully, I will achieve what I had before, which was the ability to head out for a run regardless of the weather or my temperament. With some work, I will get there yet. With the continued support of my wife, as I abandon her on my nighttime excursions, I will have the chance to succeed.