I’ve got a mere 11km to run this morning. I’ll take an easy, flat route by the estuary.
This is the last run of an easy week in which my legs are recovering a little from previous weeks & getting ready for bigger, faster, harder weeks ahead. So why do the easy weeks feel so hard sometimes?
My heels are sore, my right gluteus maximus keeps kicking out, all the muscles in my lower legs are sore, my soleus muscles really need a deep sports massage and one of my tendons us showing signs of the strain. But I don’t think any of that makes it feel hard. I think it’s mental.
An ‘easy’ week sounds as though it should be pleasant. I can run easy and enjoy the view. Really though I think the big weeks keep your mind strong. You think about the big mileage total you’re racking up, you look forward to the challenging fast run in the middle of the week and you can’t stop wondering how you’ll fare in the really long run on Saturday. You feel like you’re making progress towards your goal (although, of course, you’re really getting fitter when you’re resting & repairing).
In contrast the easy weeks are a bit of a plod. My technique falters a bit when I run at an easy pace and there’s no focal point to the week. I’m probably guilty of not resting enough outside training during easy weeks too. Really sore legs make you sit down.
So an easy, flat run by the estuary this morning for me. Then I can start wondering about that 32km (20 mile) run next week.
Posted with LifeCast