About 2 months ago when I got into this training program I figured that the toughest part of this training program would be all the running we would be doing. Tonight I learned that that earlier assumption was wrong. Our workout scheduled for today was 1.5 mile repeats with a 60 second break in between and I knew that that might be tough on me considering I had strained my groin on my long run Sunday but it had been 2 days and it was feeling better. I took off on my 10 minute warm up run to loosen up and get ready for the speed work on the track. Upon returning I lined up on the track with my team and took off on the first off the repeats. The first 2 laps were not fun as my warm up had not really caused me to push it but I worked through it and was able to finish rather strong. After my minute rest period I took off on the second of the repeats and on the second lap I was pulled from the track as the muscle strain was really starting to act up. Guess during the rest period it started to tighten up and I just couldn't get it loose again like I did the first time. Coach Bob had me walk opposite laps around the track rather than to continue and possibly do more harm to myself.
It was during those laps around the track while encouraging my teammates and trying to keep things loose that I learned that the toughest part of this training program (at least for me) is not being able to run when you want to. In the past I would probably have kept going as I didn't know better. I used to think that not doing or finishing something was unacceptable even if it took me longer than it should have. Tonight though I listened to Bob and while it was tearing me up inside to not finish my workout I knew deep down inside it was the right thing. Besides teaching me to be a better runner and reach places I didn't think were possible, Bob and Ruthie have also taught me that you really need to listen to your body. Listening to my body has taught me to hear that beat inside of me that Ruthie swore was there but until recently I was unable to hear. It has also taught me to recognize when I needed to push the pace and realize I had it in me to do so. I guess now it has also taught me that sometimes you just need to dial it back and live to fight another day.
Because of my good fortune to be working with Bob and Ruthie I have learned to not just hear what I need to do but to listen to my body (and my coaches) and recognize what it is telling me as well.
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