February 2007 Archives

I received this message from my legs this morning :

Congratulations! You've Been Quadripwned!

That's right! You are now qualified to receive a full weekend of sit the f**k down and STFU!

If muscles had the ability to grimace and laugh maniacally, that's exactly what you would see us doing. Let it be known to you that as we sit here twisting you into knots, we are officially on strike.

Signed,

L and R Quadriceps

I don't know about you, but to me this message seems to relay quite a hostile tone.

Well, since the brick workouts are here to stay they're just going to have to suck it up. As for my reaction to this morning's message? I'll just make them run 5km next time instead of Thursday's mere 3.5.

I've said it before, and as much as I'd like to wish otherwise, even after all these months as a runner it is still the truth. I'm a wuss. My mind beats me up all the time, and I continue to let it have its way.

But sometimes it takes a special event or activity to highlight and reveal the true degree of wussiness. An event such as, hmm... let's say, last night's brick workout.

It's a funny thing. I've trained brick (or block) workouts before, but never high intensity, and it's been a long time since my last.

Clambering from the bike yesterday evening, I thought I could run an easy 4km as practice for my April triathlon. They say it's the thought that counts, but if that were true I'd also be early-retired, wealthy, and travelling the world with the woman of my dreams. Instead of easy, my calves immediately began to cramp and I had to take a minute to stretch and relax them, and from the first step it felt like I was running in concrete overshoes.

It gave perspective to my regular weekly runs, and just how easy they are in comparison. Perhaps with a few more brick sessions I can tame my mind after all. If anything, I could always threaten myself with a brick workout any time my mind tells me to give up during a run...