Learning to Slow Down

I spent the last year recovering - after a year or more of training hard and pushing myself too much. I ended up getting injured and having to start over, all the way back to just being able to get out and walk for a mile. Frustration from that made me push too hard because I was angry that I had to basically start all over. Pushing too hard is not a good idea - all it does is add to your current misery.

I recently met a guy whose business is training athletes using their heart rate. Although I am only in the beginning stages of learning how to pay attention and figure out what to do based on mine, it has made all the difference with my running! For the first time in a year I got out and ran four days in a row - and WANTED to! That was the incredible part - I actually wanted to get out. I didn't need to, didn't have to, it wasn't in my training plan....I just felt like it. I had even upped my heart rate ranges for the last two days.

Taking care of, and listening to your body, can be so very hard to do. But, the rewards of it are well worth it. I had a feeling that four days might be too much, but I was feeling so good and I wanted to get my dog out and let her burn some energy. So, I went anyway. I should have listened. Because, for the first time in weeks, I was tired after my run and needed a nap and then this morning I woke up feeling drained. Four days was too much and my body needed to rest. So, I rested today and will hope to get some good sleep, and then in the morning I'll try getting out to run again and lower my heart rate ranges back to where they were when I was feeling so great.

I haven't liked this sluggish feeling today. It is too similar to how I'd felt the last year, before I started paying attention to my heart rate. I like the energetic, happy feeling I've had since I slowed down and stopped pushing myself constantly. Sometimes it can be embarrasing to admit that my normal runs are ridiculously slow, but for the incredible energy and good feelings I gain from slowing down I guess it is worth a little "embarassment".

So, take it from me, it isn't always about pushing yourself to do more and get faster...sometimes you need to slow down so you can ENJOY the run! Maybe that same concept can apply to your life too....slow down so you can enjoy your life!!??!