I rarely run alone, it's the best part of joining a training group there is usually always someone to run with. Even on days when I lose the group and am running by myself I don't think I am alone, just in a different area. I have complete admiration of all of you who are doing this solo, I know I couldn't I would have checked myself into the hospital long ago.
This morning I ran alone, D my Wednesday morning running buddy is ill, he thinks heat stroke or the flu, either way he has the chills and feels like crap. Actually our whole team for Chicago is falling apart. Should explain ... as there are 40,000 people running Chicago, our coach suggest that everyone sign up as a team as well. You can have a max of 5 people per team, we aren't doing it to compete and win something but to benefit from the corporate tent. You see for the low low price of $125 per team, you get, a special VIP Team area, with better food and drinks including beer. Massage, and the toilet lines are only 10 deep not 2000 worth the price just there. Plus, trying to find anyone before or after will be impossible, now we will all be in our luxury tent (they don't say luxury, but my head has upgraded). Anyway, our team ... D sick, K pulled groin muscle from soccer, P in Ireland and N awol ... and of course me.
This was going to be a short post ... hmmm
I head out .... alone ... to do 4 easy miles this morning. Since I am alone, and don't have any music, cause I normally run with people to entertain me along the way, I only have my head to fill the time. This is not good. After 45 seconds of admiring the lovely trees my mind wonders to all the different aches and pains I have. Ah, my ankles still feel them everytime I run but they don't scream it's more of a whisper. Shoulders tight, shake arms (also think this makes me look impressive to passerbys). Tight calves, they'll loosen up in a few minutes. Hmmm what's this a new twinge, back of my right knee on the outside. This is new .. don't like it. Spend the rest of the run obsessing about twinge, I think I imagined it got worse, then better, then worse again.
isn't that crazy when you start thinking you have a sprain or something? kind of like a car mechanical problem that goes away when you're having it checked.
God, we really are experts at driving ourselves insane, aren't we?? You just described every four-mile run I've ever had! (I don't wear headphones either--too afraid of becoming dependent on them) but I do my 2 4-milers alone each week. And that's a pretty good facsimile of the audio that pounds alone in my head, along with "I can't possibly do this." I've taken to trying to sing lyrics to musicals. Of course I can't remember any of the words, but it distracts me for a few seconds.
Soldier on! And glad your next run was great!
better get some music! i need music. i am fine w/no music in a race because there is so much going on around you and i love to hear all the sounds of other runners etc. but as i train alone, the music/radio is a necessity.