August 2006 Archives

I've decided that for the next few weeks - injuries permitting - I'm going to run at a reduced pace over shorter distances, but more regularly. The idea is to hopefully run just as much, time-wise, but without putting as much strain on my injured shins. I'm kinda hoping that if they're not dealing with injury every second or third run, they might actually start getting used to the idea that my running habit is here to stay.

I've started out slowly this past week as I get back into the swing of it after last month's failure. My paces on my last three runs have probably been my slowest ever, and the distances have been shorter than usual, but it's all part of the plan. Maybe it'll work, maybe it won't. What do I have to lose besides a few weeks of longer distance training?

Well, that was a hypothetical question, but there is a valid answer. I've been sabotaging myself by not eating so well lately, and it's showing, so I need to get my act together and lose a few kg. If the training goes according to plan, that should just follow. If not, then you know I'm weak and that I've been eating just as poorly as before.

There are periods in life where it seems that life really is like a box of chocolates. And I'm referring to neither the Gumpesque "what you gonna get" nor the sweetness and joy of it all... I'm thinking more of the times when everybody wants a piece of you, and before you know it there's nothing left.

Now, that could be taken a number of ways, and while it would be nice to be desirable and popular, don't make the mistake of thinking that's what I mean. That's simply not how it works for me. What they want is my time, and these past weeks there has not been nearly enough to go around. Work has been brutal (though not the only culprit), and I've often come home with no energy or motivation to do anything other than rest and chill out.

My two weeks rest to heal my shins somehow stretched to four weeks, and was in danger of blowing out to five and beyond if I hadn't become so fed up with the situation and decided to put my foot down. I think my run earlier this week was enough though, and I'm back in training. For the next few months I'm going to put it first in my priorities, and work will just have to make do with forty hour weeks from me. It's not like they pay me extra for the additional expectations and time.

That said... OUCH! Starting up after four weeks break is painful.