When her latest article showed up in my reader, I read it with some dismay. "Are you a lazy endurance athlete?" the title read.
As I read her wise words, I could feel something in me reacting.
Yes, I am lazy.
I have been very lazy in the past few months. Sure, I've run some long stuff, but I haven't really been challenging myself.
I've grown very comfortable with where I am at.
At first, I found myself a bit angry.
Who cares if I am lazy? I thought bitterly. It's my running life. It's my performance. I get to decide how fast and how hard I run. If I want to walk every hill this side of the Rockies, that's my prerogative. I'll be lazy if I want to.
But as I let the idea sit, I realized that perhaps my anger is coming from a different place.
Perhaps it is not that I want to continue being lazy, but rather that I am finally ready to kick up the training a notch. Perhaps I am reacting in anger because I am frustrated that I have not taken things to the next level, and I am finally ready to do so.
Sometimes what we feel is not what it appears to be at first. I am taking my cue from my reaction to her piece, and I am going to start picking up my training again. I've rested and relaxed long enough. It's time for a spell of hard work.
If you want to be inspired, educated and informed in all things endurance, I highly recommend Ann's blog. She might make you mad enough to change up your training too!
Teri, you are so sweet. Thanks so much for the kind words. I think all of us struggle with the lazy endurance problem. We are obviously not lazy considering the miles we put in but it is so easy to fall into the comfort trap. I have so been there. Breaking out of the trap myself right now.
ReplyDeleteThanks - I'm going to go check her out!
ReplyDeleteI think since running is quite a bit mental is challenges us two fold. It's hard to get the physical and mental in sync and keep it that way!
ReplyDeleteI have the hardest time making myself run fast (and honestly my fast is still pretty slow). I wait until my body and my brain are done with my pace and then I pick it up in training.
ReplyDeleteWhat really matters is that you are running, lazy running is still running.
awesome link (and post!!) just what I needed to hear right now!!
ReplyDeleteOpino que no se puede estar siempre super motivado y que retos como a ti te gustan, necesitan de tiempo entre ellos para recuperar ese apetito por mas y alcanzar otro nivel.
ReplyDeleteSo, I think that to be lazy is good for a while, because after that period you will feel the hunger again.