I really love running now. And I also hate it. I think most runners would agree. With running you never know how your body will respond. The way I would describe it is when you feel great YOU control the run. When you don’t the run controls you.
Case in point: the last week. I did my second 6 miler on this past Sunday. The magic that was there for the first 6 miler was nowhere to be found last Sunday. I just didn’t feel I had the control and power that I had a week prior. I ran close to the same time: 73 minutes. But it felt like a HARD 73 minutes–the run controlled me. I took Monday off and ran 3 on Tuesday. Same feelings. Bad run, struggle to really gain control of it. I kept thinking there was something wrong with me. I had gotten a good 8 hours sleep the night before but I didn’t have “it.” Wednesday morning came and I had to do 4. The magic was back. I felt good, no pain to be found, I had spring in my stride. And this morning, I ran 3 at 5K pace. I felt wonderful. I could have run even faster, I think, but I didn’t want to overdo it. My 3 mile time was very close to my PR in the 5k.
What was different? I have no clue, except that for the past two nights I got only 5 hours sleep.
Who knows. I have another 3 tomorrow then take Saturday off before running a 7 miler on Sunday morning.
This Running Life 