March 28, 2013

Just Fool Yourself

When the sun sets, colors fill the sky. Colors we don't usually see.  If you take a few minutes and stop - to really watch what happens - you will notice subtle changes in the horizon. Every few minutes colors changing hue.

Last night when I was driving to the start of a nine mile run, I started thinking about how tired I was. How I really didn't need to do this run. How I could really use a day off. I pulled into the parking lot, turned off the car, and fell asleep. When I woke 30 minutes later I knew this run wasn't going to happen. So I talked myself into just walking up the hill a ways. It was a relief, once I decided it was ok not to run, and that just getting out and walking would be fine for today.

I put my shoes and shorts on and started moving. I could feel the cold air on my skin. I moved for no other reason now than to stay warm. My gait gradually quickened to a slow jog. I felt the fatigue in my legs from all the miles I'd run the last several weeks. My body was tired, confirming these miles would have to be another day.

I made it to the top of the small hill, then turned down a bike trial with a gentle descent. I'll just go around the block and call it a day, I thought. Then I crossed the road and turned toward the drinking fountain another half mile away. Sure, I need some water I thought, so I'll just jog up to the fountain and then turn back. That would give me three miles. After taking a few micro sips I just continued up the trail, lost somewhere between a day off and a run with no known destination or distance. I just kept ambling along, noticing the sky changing colors as the sun began to set.

When I looked at my watch 90 minutes later it told me I had gone nine miles. I just shook my head. I started this knowing I wouldn't run at all, and I finished not knowing how I ran 9 miles. I guess, sometimes, you just have to fool yourself. 

7 comments:

it's all about pace said...

well written post Will.


that does sound familiar...


sometime I think that my legs work best when my brain is in neutral.

Julie said...

Loved this. I'm going to have to give this "fooling myself into running nine miles" thing a try!

Will Cooper said...

pace, yes, its best when the mind is in neutral. not so good when it's in reverse.

Jukka Kukkonen said...

Enjoyed this a lot. We can fool ourselves to keep going or to quit. This is why ultrarunning is more mental than physical. Let's keep going!

chris mcpeake said...

awesome post and way to just get out there. I find once out the door time and distance just happen.

EricG said...

Nice post Will. Peace E

Unknown said...

Sometimes it works best when you can just enjoy the scenery and lay back and run.