If you have to walk in the middle of a run, just walk.
I’ve been running 4+ years and still have to walk sometimes! 😯
When you start up again, go slower. Like, pretend you’re running with a small child. Comically slow. No one is watching, so who cares? No one.
Then, start to realize you can probably keep running at that slower pace for a long time. Stay there, and enjoy it. Running is supposed to be fun!
That tiny bit of walking, and the slower pace… that’s recovery. Just like sleeping nine hours, or taking two days off from running is recovery. It all adds up.
✅ The slower you run, the longer you’re outside!
Running - even when it doesn’t look HARDCORE and extreme - means you’re not doom-scrolling, or checking your emails. Or working, or anything else.
Suggested activities when going slow:
SMELL - like, really take it in. Apologies if there’s a dead skunk nearby
SING - try and sing one of your favorite songs. Can't? SLOW DOWN.
PHOTOS - capture where you’re at, to remind yourself that your legs got you there!
LISTEN - hear the birds, the creeks, the traffic, the horns, whatever.
LABEL - to stay present, I’ll look at a tree and go TREE, TREE, TREE, etc.
Just stay in the moment. No one knows what lies head. No one knows what’s gonna happen *this week in America* ahhhhhh.
Okay, back to running (but also, AHHHHHHH)
From Runners World:
Easy runs also train the cardio, respiratory, and muscular systems to work more efficiently. “They allow the body to better integrate its various systems,” says Ghazarians. “In turn, this will allow you to run with less effort on your faster running days.” Slower runs also train your slow twitch (type I) muscle fibers, “the ones that allow you to work aerobically to sustain your pace on long distances,” he says.
One of the most important parts in running is staying healthy. Too much, too soon, and you hurt a knee, or your back, or your foot.
So focus on staying healthy this week, friends, so you can keep running (slow)!
(AHHHHHHHH)
Seth