Hiking with my daughter is so much fun. She’s old enough to enjoy being outside and the freedom of adventure on the trail. But it’s also stressful. She’s almost 5, a mix of confident and not always respectful of danger. So, while on the trails with her, my jobs are guardrail and occasional pack mule.
For the past few hikes, we’ve focused on our focus. Specifically watching our feet and where we are stepping. Roots and rocks like nothing better than reaching out and tripping 4-year-olds. And 38-year-olds.
With most of my effort funneling into making sure we survive each hike without needing an emergency room trip, I end up spending much less of my time enjoying the views. My eyes stay downward. Not on the valleys, mountains, and all of the rolling hills between.
I’m looking forward to the day when I can regain my perspective balance. Take in the views but still focus in on my immediate footing.
My marathon training feels the same at times.
I can spend way too much time looking at the larger picture. Obsessing about my overall mileage falling short of goals. Thinking about all the things that could go wrong on race day when it is still almost eight weeks away. Telling myself that everything is permanently off track and I’ll never train well consistently again (when I should simply go for a run and do what I can today).
On the other side, I can zero in on today and my immediate training footing in an unhealthy way. My brain loves sending hurtful messaging. “I haven’t run enough miles today,” when it was a rest day and running more could sabotage my next workout. “You can do that workout tomorrow,” when I know I should run now. “You can stop drinking so much Red Bull and eating unhealthy food … starting tomorrow,” when I know the message will be the same the next day as well.
Like attention on the trail, training requires a delicate balance. See the overall picture and know the goal, but also listen to body signals with an objective thought process and follow through.
The cliché goes “knowledge is half the battle.” But I think it should be changed. Knowledge allows you to start the battle. I feel like I have a lot of knowledge (on how to train for my body and the habits I need to set), but I’ve been losing in battle.
But the summer is far from over. I just need to keep my eyes up … and down, and push forward.
Weekly log
Monday: 6 miles recovery pace just south of Sacramento before driving back to Oregon (it was my halfway point from San Diego).
Tuesday: 7 hot miles in the morning after not enough sleep; 8-mile mini progression workout on the treadmill.
Wednesday: 2 miles easy for a needed recovery day.
Thursday: 9-mile track workout with 12 X 400m + 1 200m on 200m recoveries; 6 miles with the HOTV Thursday night crew.
Friday: 2 miles easy again to allow my legs to get ready for a long run.
Saturday: 23-mile long run that I struggled on but finally woke up to start early (it was much cooler than my previous long runs in the past month).
Sunday: 6 miles easy around Corvallis.
Total miles: 70.
Boston Beard 2024 week 4 highlights: picking my mom up at the airport for a two-week visit and then going hiking with her and my daughter, executing a solid track workout with paces that felt better, and sticking to my stretching and strengthening routine each day of the week.
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