On I went, out of the wood, passing the man leading without knowing I was going to do so. Flip-flap, flip-flap, jog-trot, jog-trot, curnchslap-crunchslap, across the middle of a broad field again, rhythmically running in my greyhound effortless fashion, knowing I had won the race though it wasn't half over, won it if I wanted it, could go on for ten or fifteen or twenty miles if I had to and drop dead at the finish of it, which would be the same, in the end, as living an honest life like the governor wanted me to. -Alan Sillitoe, "Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner"

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Doldrums

Yes, this is me. No, I still can't skate backwards well.
First off, thank you for all your comments on puking after a run yesterday! Sounds like I'm in good company for not having ever run so hard that I puked. Of course, unlike the Sweaty Kid, I've also never fainted. Aside from drinking so much that I passed out (which I would never do, of course), I've only fainted once and it had nothing to do with running. I was learning how to ice skate backwards - evidently a crucial skill when you're playing ice hockey - and I fell on my coccyx. There was... pain... and then there was me laying on my back with people staring down at me while I wondered how I got there and why my bottom hurt so badly.

I was fine. Nothing broken.

But, anyway, on a scale of 1-10, exactly how cliche is it to take to your own running blog and complain about lethargically not really feeling like running? Wait: don't answer that.

I mean, I did just survive a revolution. Sorry, I forgot that I promised I wouldn't use that excuse anymore. And - let's face it - I'm back in the swing of things and that's not really valid anymore. I may have come home from Egypt with a week's worth of unanswered emails and a cold that turned into a flu that turned into a sinus infection, but I'm fine now.

I got gchatted up by a running friend yesterday morning (I won't mention his/her name to protect this person lest they wish to remain anonymous). It opened with, "I lost my running mojo." Yeah. I feel it, too. I know it's common when it's cold and you're coming off of a busy running fall and there are no major races on your calendar for the next few months. Where does the motivation come from when it's not external? Oh, wait: don't answer that either.

So what to do? I've asked my sister (AHEM, MANDY, I KNOW YOU READ THIS) to create a training schedule for me, and I'm looking forward to nicer weather and maybe running a spring halfathon or two to lift my spirits. Beyond that... I guess it's just going through the motions until I hit inspiration.
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8 comments:

  1. A. MusacchioThu Feb 17, 08:42:00 AM EST

    You are WAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY too predictable; I knew you would use your blog to try to get me to give you your schedule. It just might work.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownThu Feb 17, 12:52:00 PM EST

    Oooh oooh! Can I follow your training schedule too??

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownThu Feb 17, 12:53:00 PM EST

    PS You ran 5 miles yesterday? That isn't a slump!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousThu Feb 17, 01:34:00 PM EST

    For the record, I don't recommend fainting after a workout (or laud myself for doing so). It likely means there's some underlying issue that merits addressing.

    You play ice hockey?!! You just got even cooler. Skating backwards sounds... hard.

    February is the worst month of the year; I like to blame it for any and all losses of mojo, running-related and otherwise.

    ReplyDelete
  5. TThu Feb 17, 02:50:00 PM EST

    Oh, no, I didn't mean to suggest that fainting was good! And I agree, what's causing it should be considered.

    I played ice hockey for two short seasons. I'm terrible at it, but I absolutely love it.

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  6. Megan (The Runner's Kitchen)Thu Feb 17, 03:40:00 PM EST

    I'm pretty sure that if you don't lose your running mojo during Jan/Feb - there's something wrong. I think a training plan will help quite a bit - thanks for the reminder that I need to get back on one!

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  7. AnonymousFri Feb 18, 07:59:00 AM EST

    I'm famous now! :) But keeping my anonymous status in case the mojo comes back.

    ReplyDelete
  8. TFri Feb 18, 08:00:00 AM EST

    The mojo will come back! Right? It can't stay gone forever!

    ReplyDelete

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