Today, I did not want to run. I felt blah. I put it off and focused on some work stuff that I needed to do. I was procrastinating going for my run with the undesirables on my to-do list, so yeah… it was bad.
There are plenty of valid reasons to skips a run, but I didn’t really have one. This was a case of “I don’t feel like it.” I wasn’t overly stressed or exhausted. My mileage right now is relatively low, and the day before was a rest day.
It was actually unseasonably warm (just above 50!) and sunny, and so with the last hour of light, I decided it was time to peel myself out of the seat and into my run. And I bargained with myself the whole way:
Just get started and see how it goes.
You don’t have to do the whole planned run (5 miles with 8x 100 meter strides).
At least get to 3 miles. That’s all you have to do.
Okay, see… a half mile in, you already feel better. Keep going.
It would be the turn-around for 3, but you can do 4.
Well now that we’re here, might as well do the full five miles, but you absolutely can skip the strides.
You’re at five and almost home. May as well do a few of the strides to bring it home…
You might as well just finish the strides because this is how you become a better runner.
It ended up being a pretty average run, and that is totally okay. As is often the case, I felt so much better after the run than I did before I began.
Bargaining can be a powerful tool whether on a regular run or in a race. There are bound to be those days plagued by “I don’t feel like it.” Just get started and see how it goes.