Thinking about running too much?

[Kristen]

Is this something that happens to "newer" runners or is this just me? It's driving me nuts. I think about running ALL the time, and I don't want to. I seriously don't. I do have other areas of interest! I have a life. Or at least I did. And while there is nothing wrong with wanting an active lifestyle and wanting extra-curricular activities to reflect this, I wonder why it is that I couldn't focus on my novel last night. My thoughts kept going back to yesterday's "failed" run. And I suppose it wasn't even a failure. I mean I ran 25K instead of 30K. Big deal, right? But it was the first 30 LSD planned for the past month or so that I didn't nail. And it was my first planned 30K progression. And since it was this week's key run, I feel like I messed up the whole week of training. But of course I didn't. And the worst part is that I'd really like to get that 30K done today and done right. But I've been wisely advised that I shouldn't. And I won't. And that too is going to drive me nuts, and I'll be thinking about that during the run (if I ever get to it) and for the rest of the day.

I'd really like to hear from those of you who have been running for a few years and maybe have been through this. I really would like to hear from you. Were you ever like this in your second year? Or at any time in your running career? And how did you get past it? I'm going to try really hard to stop writing about it (ha! look at me now) and thinking about it, and just running. And I'd like to try to reflect on running "during" the runs instead of, for example, a morning weekend ritual of getting ready for LSDs that seems to be taking longer and longer...

Thanks for listening, and any pointers. Oh.. and, yes, I am generally like this. But that doesn't make it right, either.

[jgore]

Let it go, Kristen, let it go.

So you didn't manage 30K, you ONLY did 25. No, it does not mean you ruined your week. You ran 25K: the extra 5K is just "time on your feet", not a measure of your worth as a runner. Cutting your run a little short doesn't make you a bad person or bad runner. It simply means it wasn't your day for running, at least not to your expectations. Everyone has an off day. Just continue on with your training and do NOT try to make up the distance. The time to worry about it would be if it was part of a pattern, but it sounds like this is an anomaly. Concentrate on whatever you had planned for today and forget about yesterday.

A book I've mentioned several times on this board that I find very helpful is "In Pursuit Of Excellence" by Terry Orlick. He has helped athletes all over the world. His book is about the psychology of sport and offers lots of strategies for handling many of the situations faced by all athletes. It's not an expensive book and you may find it useful.

[Jwolf]

There's more to life than running. Running is an important part of my life, but it's not that important in the grand scheme of things.

I used to think too much and overanalyze-- it's not good for my brain or the world.

[Pat Menzies]

I was actually going to say just that on some of your other threads or posts but thought you might be offended.
Since you asked, yes you are thinking about it WAY too much.
Running even at a high level doesn't occupy a huge amount of time so I would strongly suggest getting some other hobbies that you place equal importance on.
I have been (still am) just as excited about running as you seem to be but always tried to find a way to distance myself from it when I wasn't actually out there.
If you put that all or nothing emphasis on it then it will eventually turn into nothing.

[Jo-Jo]

One of the best things my friend Mike (who's an Elite Ironman guy) said to me when I was training for my first Marathon in 2006 (he was coaching me at the time) during a phone call when I was almost hysterical and spinning out of control due to a miserable speed workout...

"Joanne...I hate to be the one to break this news to you. We're not getting you to the next Olympics. It's just running".

When I reminded Mike of this last year during his vist home to Kingston he thought that was a mean thing for him to say. I said..."nope..perfect...and it's helped me keep perspective during the past few years"

So...at the risk of sounding mean....
"Kristen...we're not getting you to the next Olympics...it's just running"

[ultra monk]

I think about running alot; but this doesn't drive me crazy. There is a difference. Running doesn't generate my emotions, my sense of self, my feeling of self worth. I love running and it gives me much pleasure and peace. When I think about running, it is remembering the peace, remembering the feeling of speed, or looking forward to the next joyfilled space of time where i am out in the air and enjoying my body. Every run is just a run, no definitions of what I am supposed to accomplish. Every run pushes my performance envelope for that day. None of my run meets a schedule or anyones expectations.

Kristen, you are moody and running is feeding your moods instead of smoothing them out. Think about why you do that. Only you can change yourself.

[purdy65]

This is why I kind of restrict my running to the early morning hours. Once it's done I take what I do from it and move on with my day!

I love Jo-Jo's "this is not the Olympics" comment - sooooo very true! It's just running! A hobby among others I have - plus my job and family.

Right now - I'm about to shut RM down, walk my dog, do the groceries, have Swiss Chalet for dinner and watch the Super Bowl with DH - He's taking the Colts, I'm taking the Saints . My morning run is long forgotten!

Lisa

[bnn]

Workout/run is done - then leave it behind.

[alexk]

Be kind to yourself, Kristen. It's hard not to think about something that you're passionate about. You've obviously fallen hard for running and that's not a bad thing. Maybe you just need to take a little break from all the hard training you're doing. You run A LOT. Even at the peak of my marathon training. I don't log the miles you do in your base-building. I don't think you need to break-up with running, but I do think you run the risk of burning out if you keep up the pace you do. But that's just my two-cents worth. Running means something different to everyone. You're just doing so well. I'd hate to see you lose your passion from doing too much.

[QuickChick]

I felt that way when I first started racing, as opposed to just running. That was in about 2005. I knocked 18 minutes off my marathon time that year and was like "whoa, look what can happen if I just put some effort into the fast stuff". I woke up in the night a few times, no word of a lie, thinking about pacing, km to mile conversions, splits, scheduling, you name it. I've chilled out dramatically since then, and the three biggest things that chilled me out, honestly, were reading ChiRunning, getting rid of the Garmin and starting to train with Pat. ChiRunning has helped my form, and has given me lots of visualization methods for relaxation while running and form tips. Re the garmin- I run way better when I don't have a device reminding me of my stats all the time. Similarly to when I'm on the treadmill, I have a psychological block related to pace, as in "this should feel hard". I run a lot better when I don't think about the pace as much- I often will finish a run and think "whoa, I didn't think I could run that pace for that long". Pat has been a great help that way as well- he has helped me realize that I could do stuff I didn't think I could.

My best races last spring were races where I wasn't checking my splits ever km or overanalyzing- I was just running at the highest level of exertion I felt I could keep up for the race distance. Really, it's just running. You're putting one foot in front of the other, as fast as you can, for as long as you can. It doesn't have to be so scientific!

[bruyere]

If you read my Seattle marathon report... well... "Just shut up and run."
(I mean that in the nicest way possible... read the report and you'll see. )

[Jo-Jo]

If you read my Seattle marathon report... well... "Just shut up and run."
(I mean that in the nicest way possible... read the report and you'll see. )

Heather...as you know I know who said that to you. And I love it. It's actually something I remind myself of on some runs...and it's scarey but I can hear Rune's voice

[bruyere]

If you read my Seattle marathon report... well... "Just shut up and run."
(I mean that in the nicest way possible... read the report and you'll see. )

Heather...as you know I know who said that to you. And I love it. It's actually something I remind myself of on some runs...and it's scarey but I can hear Rune's voice

I get scared when I hear Rune's voice, too. It usually means he's nearby.

[DougG]

Hmm you're disappointed because you "only" ran 25k today? You ran more than a half marathon. How many other people can do that? Not me. 2 years ago could you have done that? How about 1 year ago. Think about how far you have come in less than 2 years.
Jo Jo is right, you aren't going to the Olympics without a ticket.

Why not congratulate yourself for your progress rather than beat yourself up?

[QuickChick]

I can understand where she's coming from, though. I've been there. When you want to run x distance, well, if you don't than it feels like a failed run. It's not, of course, but I understand the feeling. Kristen, I think you may need to just really focus on cognitively changing your emphasis on schedules and regimented training. I am, I think, less Type A than you are, but I think I have a LOT of Type A tendencies (insert Dave's joke about understatements here- lol). I really had to actually change the way I thought about running, from a "this is the most important thing I'm doing" to "this is ONE fun thing I do, and it's for fun".

[Jwolf]

But if you get caught up on each training run you lose the big picture.

Training runs are just that... and sometime they go badly. Kristen- you've had a lot of good training lately; when you do a lot, you're bound to have a bad run here or there. Leave it behind, and go on-- or maybe try to learn something if there seemed to be a real reason for it. In this case it did seem like a bit too much to try to tackle, AND you were facing some dizziness/health issues. Perhaps this is your body telling you it's time to back off a bit-- you can't keep increasing each week or even maintaining the high intensity/volume you've been doing each week without SOMETHING giving at some point. Doug is right-- look at the big picture. You've been able to do way more than most people have in such a short time. If it were me, I'd be rejoicing.

I like Mick's quote: "It matters not if the glass is half full or half empty, it's what's in the bottle that counts."

Or for another cliche: Don't lose the forest for the trees.

[Habs4ever]

I've been married for 26.5 years

You first meet your future husband and you're not sure if you even like this guy. You go out on a few dates and think, yup something could come of this relationship. You go out on more dates and suddenly realize you can't live without this man, he's your life. You think about him all the time, you hope he calls to set up more and more dates. You get married, spend all your time together for the first year or two. Then you have kids, life gets in the way and your mind isn't consumed just with him anymore. Sometimes you can go for 8 or 9 hours without thinking of him-your work gets busy, you kids need attention.... When you do have time to think about him and spend time with him, you appreciate him more and more, because you've been through the good, the bad, the ugly together.

I've been running for 25.5 years

You first are introduced to running and you're not sure if you even like to run. You go out on a few runs and think, yup something could come of this relationship. You go out running more and more and realize you don't want to live without running-it part of your life. You think about running all the time, you hope you can set a time for more and more running. You commit to marathon training-it consumes you, you do this for the first year or two. Then something happens and you find work is busier, your friends call for the movies, you don't centre your life around running anymore, you fit your running around life. When you do have time to think about running and spend time running you appreciate running more and more, because it's carried you through the good, the bad, the ugly.

Kristen, I think you're still in the dating/engaged stage.... (just my .02 cents)

[ultra monk]

Several people talk about having a balanced life, more than just running. Anyone who reads my journal might realize I do spend a lot of time running and working out. Seemingly, I don't have much of a life. I don't have family or spend time socializing.

My ethos is that of an athlete: doing everything you can to be the best you can be at "whatever." I start and end my day with a spiritual workout. I'll never be the Dali Lama or the Pope and I am a failed nun; this doesn't stop me from devoting significant amounts of time to spiritual study and contemplation. I'll never be in the Olympics or even the world master's championships; this doesn't stop me from devoting significant amount of time to working out and eating to lose weight. I work to earn money; but I was deemed by others to be the best at what I do in the north american region of our company.

I throw my heart and soul into being an athlete. I encourage anyone to be passionate. But passionate is not obcessed.

My passion is not for winning but for being the best. I can be; and ignoring the riff raff who dis me.

[La]

It has nothing to do with running. You are a self-admitted Type-A personality. If it wasn't running, it would be something else you'd obsess about. You have equated running 5K short of your goal as "failure" and you are allowing that to mean that YOU ARE A FAILURE, which we know isn't true.

However you decide to approach your running, "own it." Whether you want to be obsessive about it or not, that's your choice. Every approach has its positives and negatives. Second-guessing or defending your choice doesn't accomplish anything. Expend that energy on your run instead of on your thinking. Thinking (and certainly not obsessing) about running won't make you any faster or fitter.

And, to draw parallels with training: it's not just the training itself that makes you stronger, it's the rest between training sessions that allows your body to adapt (and ultimately become stronger). The same applies to your thinking: you need to "rest" your mind, too! Think about running while you're running, and think about other things when you're not.

[Irongirl]

There's a good quote on TriRudy today that I thought was appropriate for this thread:

There's plenty of advice on how to become a better runner, but, try to focus on what's manageable.
Remember: You started running to feel better, not to become stressed.

----Runner's World Training tip.

[Kristen]

Thank you, everyone. There is much wisdom and support here, and I appreciate hearing from each of you.

I'd like to share that I've got a few new goals for this week in terms of balance, and I've already made some progress. I'm happy to report that last evening I watched a movie (Whip It, which was suprisingly good) and read a little from a silly novel (which was by no means Moby-Dick or even Ahab's Wife... I highly recommend Ahab's Wife, btw).

I'll share that when I think of other activities, I first think of windsurfing (and kite surfing, which I will take up this coming summer), hiking, kayaking, climbing, camping, and swimming. Given my current focus on running (this will not change this year) and my current mileage goals, I'm not sure how able I will be to fit some of this stuff in, but I will explore this. But the good news is that if "other" activities aren't optimally super active ones, I've got plenty of ideas for getting back in touch with my creative side...

Cheers!
Kristen

PS Now back to work, which I happen to be passionate about. The "other" part of me is a teacher and educator. And I've been at that for about 15 years, far longer than this relationship with running and I'm still terribly enamoured by it...

[HCmD]

A book I've mentioned several times on this board that I find very helpful is "In Pursuit Of Excellence" by Terry Orlick. He has helped athletes all over the world. His book is about the psychology of sport and offers lots of strategies for handling many of the situations faced by all athletes. It's not an expensive book and you may find it useful.

And, the audio CD is even better ... There are about 5-6 tracks on it, for various purposes ... Use to listen to it regularly, in particularly the days preceding a race and/or as required for focus, injury/recovery and race preparation ...

I've learned that the only one who my running / racing matters to is "Me" and, it is a hobby / lifestyle that I have chosen and will continue to for the long run .... I use to stress out about missing a run / workout, etc., and have since learned, as others have mentioned, that rest/recovery is as much important to improving than the actual training run itself ... Once missed run/workout is not the end of all things ... as, there is always tomorrow .... as with the SMART Goals principle, we need to be flexible ...

[ROW]

The time I am on the internet, it is talking to my friends who run on high school running forums, doing research for running, looking up how my running heroes are doing at races, coming on runningmania, recording my runs. The only other thing I do is go on Facebook. My life is mostly running, though I definatley still have a social life. I get mad when I have a bad workout, and i'm joyful when I nail a workout. I think about whats possible for me, what my dreams are for running. I pretty much never stop thinking about running. If i'm just sitting in class, I may just zone out and start thinking about the previous cross country season, and what i'm going to do next cross country season. All my money goes towards running, i'm spending 170$ on 3 pairs of shoes in a couple days. But I wasn't always like this, since track last year when I pulled off my 4:53 1500, I started training seriously. This is when I became obsessed with running, the moment when you want something so bad, it gets stuck on your mind all the time.

[QuickChick]

Stephan, I think it's so great that you're so focused on running. I wish I'd had such an interest in high school (I was a music geek in high school). While you're living at home without a mortgage, job, wife or kids to worry about, GO for it! I mean as long as you're still doing well in school of course, but I'm sure you are. You seem like a great kid, and I bet you have really nice friends too if most of your friends are runners. Man I sound like a freakin' grown-up. I mean it though!

[Darth Tater]

Stephan, I think it's so great that you're so focused on running. I wish I'd had such an interest in high school (I was a music geek in high school). While you're living at home without a mortgage, job, wife or kids to worry about, GO for it! I mean as long as you're still doing well in school of course, but I'm sure you are. You seem like a great kid, and I bet you have really nice friends too if most of your friends are runners. Man I sound like a freakin' grown-up. I mean it though!