Negativity

Well, it was bound to turn up at some point... today a huge bout of negativity has landed at my door.
Yesterday I did 30 minutes on the bike, which was sincerely the most boring 30 minutes of my life. I can't believe how 4 lots of 2 minute intervals make the session so much more interesting. I was glad when it was over and vowed the next time I have to do that I will be like a "Gym Prima Donna" and take a book to read during it... or maybe even Hello magazine!

Today I was itching to get out for a run and was really looking forward to it. Within half a mile I realised I actually wasn't in the mood at all (this always happens to me during a taper... for some reason I lose all motivation). Mile 2 and 3 of todays run (a route that I normally do in the XL vest) was finally run without a walk break (yay for SOMETHING today!) however I just didn't feel good at all during any of it. I wish I had a good excuse or reason, but I don't at all. Could it be just one of those bad days? I hope so!

So, I tried to do a 10.40mm today and found it virtually impossible. On the hills I wanted to run 10.45, the flat parts were done at 10.16 and the downhills I had to literally force myself to run slower than 9.50mm. I was just all over the place!
Well... you know what they say... a last bad long run means a good race day! ;-)

I got home, and after having a bath I dragged out my training logs for the past 2 years to see how I felt during a taper before each race. I KNOW that I lack motivation on each taper (it's as if my brain just decides to shut down on me), but do I feel this tired doing my last few runs?
Reading them was a revelation really. Quite often, I was so unmotivated I just wouldn't even bother running at all... often having 3 or 4 days after each other doing not a thing... when I did, I was tired, lethargic and the most interesting thing?? .... I was always feeling injured in some way. I would complain each day of lack of sleep, aching bursa on my ankles, tight ITB or achy hamstrings.
One of the more shocking things was how I felt after a race. A half marathon would leave me in agony with minor injuries that made running difficult for days. I have to say that I can't imagine that happening after a half marathon now. I now run a faster pace over 11 miles with my XL vest on... then I get up on a Sunday morning after doing that run and do an intense circuit session and heavy deadlifts.

I'm so glad I keep all of my training logs... can you believe I even have them from 1998 when I was training for the fire brigade. My fastest run at that time was 10.06mm over 6 miles. And here's me thinking that was when I was at my fittest!

Well, maybe this will all kick my negativity into touch, and tomorrow is another day and another run!