The Mentally Challenging Week

For once its not been my legs letting me down too much this week, but instead mentally its just felt a bit of an uphill challenge. 

MONDAY: even without running I suffered the post London Marathon comedown today - watching my friend run and being part of the whole day was such a memorable experience; all I wanted to do was keep replaying the events and telling everyone about it all! I got my focus together for Spin and Body Pump in the evening, and for the first time since starting to regularly go spinning, I felt like I had mastered what resistance I needed on the bike to maximize the workout. 

TUESDAY: Body Attack class - I really went for it this week and made myself feel a little sick!

WEDNESDAY: with a half marathon looming over me in a few weeks time, I told myself this week I needed to get back into running a bit more post Manchester Marathon. I laced up my trainers with determination, but found myself struggling around a slow 5k, when I had intended to go a lot further. I was pushing really hard, or so it felt, but just not getting anywhere for it. I was disappointed in myself and a bit down. Body Pump class after. 

THURSDAY: yesterday's run was hanging over me and I could not shake a mixture of worry about the half marathon I had coming up and a slight sense that maybe my inability to truly, truly rest after the Manchester Marathon was actually biting me back. It was pouring with rain and I just did not have the motivation to get wet and potentially miserable on a run. Cross training in the gym beckoned - and I also felt I could not fail at this, which might lift my mood a little.

FRIDAY: another 5k and another run which felt pretty rubbish. My time was roughly the same as Wednesday; slow, and it also felt stupidly hard. The only slight difference was that there was a brief spell of enjoyment in this run, which made it feel a tiny bit better.

SATURDAY: today should have been a rest day strictly speaking, but if I am honest, I did not really feel like my week so far had warranted one. I resisted running and cross trained in the gym again; an hour, mixing intervals with incremental climbs. I also volunteered at my local parkrun for the first time today and absolutely loved it - full blog to follow. 

SUNDAY: I nervously planned a ten miler for today in an attempt to feel a little more in control for my forthcoming half marathon. The first 5 miles seemed to reflect my slight anxiety about the run; I struggled to catch my breath and my breathing felt unnatural and my body not relaxed. The second 5 miles I calmed down a little, as if realising I could in fact still run. I was not super fast, averaging 9 minute mile pace, and my legs still felt a little jaded (either the marathon effects still lingering or my lack of rest this week showing); but I did it. I was also shamefully knackered afterwards (see image) which led me to slightly question how I ever train for marathons! I think my body's collapse at Manchester Marathon has mentally affected me a little more than I had thought, and trying to increase my running this week has shown this. However successfully running ten miles definitely gave me a bit of a confidence boost going into next week. ​