Just spent a long day at work, hamstrings, glutes and lower back muscles are tight and sore from the omelet workout, I ate terrible, didn't hydrate at all, and so I'm not in the mood for a workout.

I decide I have to run since this it's been 3 days since my last. I take a nice 5 minute walk/jog warmup, and then decide I'll only do 2 miles at a 8 to 9 min/mile pace. I get started and feel pretty good, since this is my hard/fast/eval type run I decide to push it instead. I go 3 miles in 19:30, one of my better runs of late...

I don't get it... when I feel good, I go 3 miles in 22-24 minutes... when I feel like crap, I make some good runs

Maybe I'm just mental <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> Or I just finished reading "Bravo Two Zero", and realized what a wuss I was being

<small>[ October 18, 2003, 16:05: Message edited by: Atombomb ]</small>

Everyone say hydrate, and I hydrate almost all the time, but some of the times when I don't drink much 24 hours prior to a long run I run my best. I feel bad, and Im thirsty, and the sweat is so salty it's grainy all over my face, but I can just run and am not feeling bad at all in the end.

Don't underestimate 1) Willpower and 2) Sleep.

I've noticed that those two things really effect running. Hydration is important, drink before you get real thirsty but don't bloat your stomach. But, I want to offer my experience on the two concepts above.

When I was little I used to get chased by stray dogs all the time. It was standard to any kid living in my neighborhood. Running meant survival. I learned quick that just cause you can't run anymore doesn't mean the dog can't, I've still got the tooth dimple in my *** ...
I don't mean the willpower to overcome pain in running. I mean the willpower to over come being winded, or overcoming what I call noodle legs, or stiff legs.. Anger has always been my button. Willpower is all about finding your button and quit being a lazy bullsh*ter. Just don't hurt yourself. The healing process takes a lot of time.

2) Sleep. This is real basic. I've heard runners talk all the time about sleep. I didn't really see the connection until after it happened to me. Just get your sleep, reinstate your naptime if you want, just don't tell your buddies. I used to go by the old saying,"I'll get all the sleep I need when I'm dead"
Not anymore.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">When I was little I used to get chased by stray dogs all the time. It was standard to any kid living in my neighborhood. Running meant survival. I learned quick that just cause you can't run anymore doesn't mean the dog can't, I've still got the tooth dimple in my *** ... </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Those must have been some slow, gimpy dogs if you could outrun them.

RD

Yeah, but it sounds like he didn't.

I didn't have to run faster than the dog. I just had to run faster than my friends.

Also, you could do things like grab the ladder of a fire escape or run across a road and hope the dog gets hit. I developed several tactics against the dogs in my old neighborhood.

But, anyway, I've also noticed that on resting days if you keep your activity level up, you can have better runs.