Strange Motivation

Something strange is going on with me this week. On Sunday, I decided to bail on my long run (my piriformis was feeling a little tweaked from the run to work on Friday, it was hot, even at 6:30 in the morning, and I just didn’t feel like it). Instead, I decided to play around with the Wii Outdoor Challenge game.

Outdoor Challenge uses a power pad on the floor and the Wii-mote to simulate all kinds of activities – hurdle jumping, jumping rope, skateboarding, kayaking, etc. I figured why not get in a little fun, burn a few calories and get back to running the next day, refreshed and raring to go.

The Outdoor Challenge was indeed fun and I worked up quite a sweat during my 45 minutes of playing the game so I was very satisfied with my choice.

That is, until I woke up on Monday.

Both of my calves were on fire. They have never been this sore! I couldn’t even walk without pain and going up or down stairs was near unbearable. I skipped my morning runs Monday and Tuesday; however, both days I felt compelled to run over my lunch break. My legs were less sore, still hurt while walking but just less so and when I jumped on the treadmill I was surprised to find out that running didn’t hurt.

For the past two days, I’ve made the choice to skip a morning run in favor of a run on the treadmill in the middle of the day. What?! Even as I am making the decision, it strikes me as out of character.

Once again, I made the same decision this morning. As I packed my gym clothes for work, I thought, I should finally do some strength training at the gym but the idea of skipping the mid-day treadmill run had me feeling disappointed. Could it be that I would actually miss jumping on the treadmill for a run? Me, the adamant morning, outdoor runner for the past year. Really?

Yes, it’s true. This week, or at least for three days in a row so far, the mid-day treadmill run has been my motivation. It gets me excited. I don’t know how to explain it. Maybe it is because it is something new and the soreness in my calves has forced me to change a routine I didn’t realize was getting stale? I use to do almost all of my running on the treadmill and maybe my passion for running will go through cycles. Could it be that I’m on my second round of treadmill-running cycle?

Even as I type that, I’m torn. On the one hand, I am telling myself, “of course not, don’t be silly, you’re going to be right back out on the roads tomorrow morning.” Yet, I can’t contain my excitement for today’s treadmill run. I am really looking forward to it. Can the two co-exist?

No matter what is motivating me to run – the secret of a pre-dawn run, the whirl of a treadmill that breaks up the workday, or an afternoon sweat-fest with a friend – running is running and I’ll take it anyway I can get it.

Daily Dozen
3.5 miles easy, treadmill @ lunch hour

Sore Muscles

Sore Muscles. I’ve been thinking about them quite a bit lately. Mostly because my quads have been sore over the last few days as a result of my 18 miler on Sunday and every time I stood up or attempted stairs or bent over to tie my shoe I was reminded, “oh yeah, sore muscles.”

Here’s the catch, though. I actually like sore muscles.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like sore muscles in the same way I like cupcakes or a good book. I don’t enjoy sore muscles but I do like them.

I like sore muscles because every time I did any of those things mentioned above, I was reminded of the achievement of good long run. Granted, the excessive soreness of two days is a sign that my legs may not have been ready for 18 miles that day but I also take it as a sign that I need to recovery because my legs worked really hard and I should be proud.

My legs carried me through a really strong 18 miles and didn’t complain. They just want to remind me how hard they worked and that they may deserve a little break. My quads are not so subtly raising their voice, saying, “We’re a little broken, busted and torn but give us some time to rejuvenate and we’ll be back and better than ever.”

Sore muscles are all those microscopic tears in my muscles repairing themselves to make me stronger the next time I run 18 miles.

Counter-intuitively, sore muscles make me feel strong and powerful. I’m carrying around a reminder of all the hard work I’ve done that will pay off for me at the finish line of my next marathon and that reminder makes me feel good.

On the other hand, sore muscles also serve as a reminder that I should have taken it a little slower during the run, stretched better after the run and taken the time to jump in an ice bath once I got home. Oops!

Today’s Daily Dozen:
5 mile morning run – first one since Sunday’s long run, felt good
Strength Training (BROCCL) @ lunch