Tomorrow I will be starting my 100 Days, 100 Runs challenge. I am doing this more to spur some kind of new spark in me. I’m not running super long distances now and I needed something to excite me. I usually try to stick to a schedule of 4 running days each week. I’m still going to do that, but on the days where I wouldn’t have normally run I’m just going to go out for an easy 1 mile. I may try to really push it and see what I can crank out for 1 mile or I may take it easy. Whatever…
I’m trying to make running more of a game right now. For a while I got too caught up in worrying if I was performing to the best of my abilities, worrying about pace, worrying about distance, worrying about fueling a long run, etc. I need to make it more playful for a while.
A few of you suggested the dreaded “overtraining” as what I’ve been feeling. I’ve read some pros say us “average” runners can’t get caught up in that “overtraining” syndrome, that only elites can because they’re logging sooooo many miles each week. But I think it’s all relative to the individual. I think anyone can end up “overtrained” and I was definitely exhibiting some signs of overtraining, especially considering I haven’t been a runner for very long and have gone from zero running to 3 marathons within a little more than a year.
I’ve also been feeling slightly off lately. I am on synthetic thyroid medication, because of hypothyroidism. The past couple months I haven’t felt right. A recent blood test revealed that my thyroid levels are not in the correct zone. So my dosage levels have been adjusted and in 6 weeks I’ll be re-checked to see if things are better. I tell all of you this because if something feels off to you, please check yourself and really try to understand if there is something wrong!
Another thing is that I’ve been super stressed lately. I tend to take on the weight of the world around me. I stress over my job, I stress over things at home, I stress over things in the world. But I also take on the stress of my loved ones; if they are experiencing something that is rough on them, for some reason I take it upon myself to feel burdened by that as well. So if family and friends are having a tough time, I feel that as well.
I’ve had two different doctors this week tell me that I should get a massage. I should have begged for a prescription, huh? Maybe then my insurance would cover the massage. HA!
But my primary-care physician also said that as soon as the fog in my brain clears, I should “absolutely keep doing yoga and keep running.” She said to use the workouts as a time just for me; to destress and not worry about performing to a certain level, just take my troubles out on the road.
I thought long and hard about trying to find another marathon to quickly jump into after the PF Chang’s DNF. And while I was probably physically conditioned for the distance, I definitely wasn’t mentally ready anymore.
And so my new goal is: run for sheer enjoyment. No goals for pace, distance, calories burned… just feeling and enjoying that freedom of running.
Jill Will Run 
“An easy one mile run.”
or
“PFFT! One mile? I can do that in my sleep!”
I NEVER EVER. EVER. THOUGHT I’D EVER SAY THAT.
15 months ago, I couldn’t even run 1/2 lap around a track.
Andrew and I were just talking over dinner about how to stay committed to running/biking *just for fun*, as I mentioned this blog post. It’s hard! I need the motivation of a race to keep me going…which I don’t have after Six Tunnels.
Especially now, because my girls are SO EXCITED that I am home in the mornings when they wake up. It’s almost heartbreaking. They check on me to make sure that I’m sleeping in bed, and not out running or biking (or swimming!) somewhere.
my mom has thyroid troubles too. i hope yours balance back out quickly!
i said the same thing to myself this morning as i cut my long run short – i don’t want to log miles just to log miles, i want to enjoy running. plus i’m not specifically training for anything yet, just taking it easy, and this is certainly not the time to cause myself some stupid injury.
i hope your 100/100 puts you back on running-track, and if all else fails well there’s always that massage 🙂
sounds like a great goal, run for enjoyment. best of luck and i hope things slowly and surely get better for you.
Sounds like your plan is a good one! The is probably one of the best times of the year to run purely for the enjoyment of it. Its not too hot and not too cold and the sun is staying out a little later in the evenings. I know your a morning runner, but try a scenic run during the hour of sunset. Those are my favorite. Just seems like the perfect way to wind down my day, and I don’t have to jolt myself out of bed before the crack of dawn either.
Glad to hear you are cutting yourself some slack. You deserve it!!!
I have hypothyroidism too. I had been on the same dosage for a couple years, switched doctors and found out I was totally screwed up! It’s taken us 4 months to get back on track and I’m finally almost stabilized. I have to check again in 6 weeks to make sure. I’m glad you got yourself checked out; for something so small that thyroid can really mess with you.
And I’m another who will tell you a massage can do wonders for your psyche. Of course I just got home from a 2 1/2 hour deep tissue which was amazing.
I’m also really liking your thought of running for enjoyment. I think I can do that and still train for my marathons. If I’m not enjoying it, I’m not going to enjoy the marathon and then why do it if I’m not going to enjoy it? Running shouldn’t be a chore. It should be fun. Good on you for that. 🙂
Good for you! I think running for run, without the pressure of a training plan or finish time will put the joy back in your running.
I think that is a fun challenge to do, and it will help you to go out and run with no other goal than going out and running. I think every now and then its best to take it easy for some time, to just run for the sake of running, make it fun and without pressure… Good luck!
Running had better be fun, or why would we do it?! Keep at girl, you’ll find your groove.
I am really glad for you about this, Jill. I’d seen your facebook updates and thought you sounded very stressed. I think I’ll need to remind myself of what you’re doing whenever I start to feel overtrained.
Oh, and IGNORE THOSE STUPID ELITIST COMMENTS that only “elites” are serious runners who can suffer from any of these problems. I’d love to see one of those snobs at one point and give them a good right hook, know what I mean?
🙂
LVGurl: I remember a time when I didn’t think I could knock out a 1 mile run as well. Crazy how quickly time can change that!
Lindsay: I am totally booking that massage this weekend! Even if I’m having fun running!
Alissa: I am loving the idea of a sunset run. The sun is no longer setting at 4:00 here (closer to 5:00) so it’s actually feasible and it sounds wonderful! I’m doing that soon.
~moe~: You’re right, it’s amazing how just a little change in that thyroid can knock you right out, huh? Hope your results come back good… I’m getting my blood retested in another 5 weeks from now, sounds like we’re on about the same schedule for this testing right now!
Terri: This comment totally rocked… it made me feel a lot better! Those elitist snobs are totally deserving of a KO when they think us “little peons” don’t train hard… everyone’s threshold is different!