Discomfort. That’s what creates growth. But too much discomfort can be a bad thing. In running, and in life, a sense of perspective when setting out on a quest is critical I find.
[We interrupt this blog to reflect on the use of the word quest. This is not Zelda. This is not World of Warcraft. This is not a TV channel broadcasting 24/7 that entertains its viewers with exhilarating adventure programming.]
Quest. Pah. If I didn’t both write and edit this blog – for what the editing is worth – I would sack the author and put the editor into a learning journey to at least understand syntax and the Oxford, comma.
Now, where was I?
Yes, discomfort. This week was about me stepping up the discomfort. The last few months have seen me reestablish a pretty strong base. That gives me a platform on which to push the training up a level.
With a trip to Dublin on Tuesday and Wednesday, I popped out for a quick session pre-flight Tuesday. There was 12 mins of high intensity effort. Then, on Wednesday I ran 16 miles in Dublin, just looping around 4k(ish) lap near the hotel. The challenge was to run them briskly but consistently. I was delighted to hit the marks and more. Thursday I had 40 mins of mid and then hi-tempo, split 2x 20 mins. Followed by a Tak climb later in the day. A few hours of discomfort. But enjoyable.
By Friday morning I was ready for the rest day. Recovery is the most underrated and arguably under-appreciated part of training. I was able to push Tue-Thu as I knew Friday would give me a chance to get fresh again.
The set-piece of the week however was the Glasgow Half Marathon – AKA the Great Scottish Run. I hadn’t done this for 12 years. And after my shambling DNF at the Cumbernauld 10k it was with a sense of personal perspective (that word again) with which I approached the race.
The perspective I had to bring in was:
a) I’d had a busy and full week of training
b) I am rebuilding fitness
c) This week is the 2nd biggest week of training this year, biggest since February
d) That I had ran 5 miles to the start and would run similar after the race
With this in mind I set myself a stretch target I’d be delighted with, and a number I’d be happy to bank at the end of this week of picking it up a level.
The stretch was to run 1:18:40 and the contented target was <1:20. The rationale is that I didn’t want to leave myself too knackered as next week is an important week of training. 1:18:40 is in effect 6 minute miles. Nowhere near a PB but a good number.
My plan was to go out at a steady pace and see how I felt. 3 miles in I was feeling it a wee bit. I backed off. Early in efforts like this trying to bank time is a one way ticket to late race fatigue and performance drop off.
This pace management worked. See, perspective. Instead of blindly ignoring the way I was feeling I regulated my effort. And through the south side parks and undulations I started to feel strong again.
I went through halfway in 39:22. Double that I would finish in 1:18:44.
Oh, that is interesting. In reality I had no idea that was the case at the time. In all honesty I was just happy to know that I would hit the goal of 1:20 at this point. I was running happy.
Then, a nice thing I happened. I started to find a spring in my step and the managed effort started to pay back in a strong and positive feeling.
Yadda yadda yadda. Long story short, I came back in 39 mins for 1:18:22. And finished with a smile in my face and a tonne of energy for the run back to the car a few miles away.
I didn’t intend this to be a blow by blow account my race, hence fast forwarding the second half. The big lesson for the week is two-fold for me, and I hope you dear reader (hi, mum!) take something from this:
1) Whatever level you think you are at, believe you can embrace the little extra discomfort that sits ahead of that level. You may surprise yourself
2) Own your perspective. It makes you the author of your story, your success and your own personal joy and achievement
James Stewart 