It was still a bit humid but much cooler for this morning’s loop around Central Park. Although it was about 60% humidity, 71 degrees with the wind felt fantastic for a change. However, my body was not performing at the levels I thought it would and was doing. I did 6.26 miles in 46:41 (with a couple traffic delays stopping my run). That meant I was doing 7:27s, but I thought I was doing better than that pace.
I think my lower performance was because of the demands I put on my body over the last couple days. Recount that yesterday I banged out my second 8+-miler in less than 12 hours, and also hit the gym just before it. I had had 6 hours of sleep, and last night I think I had around 6.5 or 7 hours. As a result, I don’t think I had enough rest to recover from those demands, so while my performance today wasn’t horrible, it wasn’t fantastic either.
Yet, there is still something to be said about so-far-this-week. I ran three days in a row (8-8-6) in spite of a tough schedule that seriously drained my energy early in the week, and the summer humidity and temperatures. I got a bit more serious about my goals, and I’m trying to get even more serious.
Of note in this run, I realized the decision situation when, say, I’m climbing a hill. You are faced with a choice between roughly two options as you mount the hill: endure, or relent. Usually, I get to a point at which I am challenged to the point that I relent. Conditioning, though, entails enduring in these times, and to choose “endure” rather than “relent.” If I continually do it, in theory it will become automatic for me to endure, not relent.
It takes strength to endure. So what I’m doing when I endure over relent is that I give myself strength to endure. When I choose relent, I give up strength and relax.
So there you have it for today! On the plate for tomorrow is a 20-miler. I’m not sure yet whether I’m doing it tomorrow or Sunday–it depends if I’m on a night shoot tonight, which seems possible. If I am, I need to shift around my schedule.
Cheers!