Lousy Run

Physiological and psychological factors combined today to produce the worst run that I’ve had to date. I’m not even sure I can call it a run. I did run, but not too far (about a mile-and-a-half), and then the worst happened: I received an excuse to give up.

First, some context: I didn’t sleep well last night. When I finally got up, I ate a bagel and drank my coffee. Problem is, I took forever to drink my coffee, and I wasn’t planning to run until I finished it. So, when I finally got to run, it was 1:00 in the afternoon.

Today I went with my son down to Northwestern Avenue. I had planned to run four miles. My son, Elliot, meanwhile, was going to ride his new bike.

The run got off to a good start. Although it was a warm, slightly humid day, it wasn’t unbearable. Further, the trees along Forbidden Drive and the angle of the sun at this time of the day work to keep the path noticeably cooler than in the sun.

I suppose the first warning sign for me came at the first half mile: I had run it in six-and-a-half minutes, slow even for me. This was not encouraging. Still, I was able to run the next half mile in about five minutes. After I passed the mile-and-a-half point, I began to feel that four miles was going to seem long today. In fact, three miles began to seem long.

Then I passed another runner who asked if I had a son named “Kelly.” I said, “No,” but I began to wonder if something had happened to Elliot. Then I passed another runner who asked me if I had a son named “Elliot.” She explained that he’d wiped out on his bicycle, his elbow was cut and bleeding, but otherwise he was okay. At this point, though, I knew that I had my excuse to get out of what was turning into a bad run.

I decided to stop running and walk a little bit to recharge. Yet when I began to run again, I found I was working harder. I finally got to Elliot. He was up and riding again, and I followed him back on foot. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to be working right as I tried to run. Either I was working too hard or my legs felt like lead. I attempted to alternate between walking and running, but the running just seemed too difficult.

In the last analysis, I think that the combination of the lack of sleep and the time—midday when the heat and humidity were a bit higher—probably contributed to my discouragement today. Perhaps, too, I need to hold off a week or two before I attempt to get a four-mile run in.