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MLK Run/ Change of Plans

November 22, 2010 (Afternoon)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: 65 Cloudy

Comments:
Veale down MLK to 3-mile mark and back (with Grogan, Ethan Teare)-

This was a little quicker than I have been running lately and more of what I need to do moving forward. We discussed Cleveland, the medical mart, the casino, and bar scenes for much of the run. My knee was sore afterward and it. It seems like DECREASING mileage fast makes it hurt too.

For the last year I have been chasing some shadow of the past out of desperation, rushing to meet the deadline of this XC season. I haven't had the luxury of making actual choices about training, goals, etc. I felt like I've lost the fire and have one foot out the door on my exit from this place.

Later, I came to the following realization:
Everything I've done this year has just gone poorly and I have beaten my will into submission to some consistant, low-risk approach. That is part of the problem. In the past when I was improving, I was always willing to take chances and do crazy stuff no one else would try, like running 17 miles on Thursdays and cross-training, or doing all my training runs at 6:20 pace. Now other people have started doing those kinds of "crazy" stuff and gotten better, while I am suffocating in my own self-imposed bureaucray.

Realistically, I am a man of plans and strict adherance to guidelines. To be successful in running again, I have to USE a plan to force myself out of my comfort zone instead of using my plans to limit myself to where I am. This means flipping out and throwing stuff and probably screwing up a couple races here and there. I've mesmerized myself into thinking "step-by-step" and while it served me well for a long time and got me a long way, sometimes there is more to life than going through it with your head down and running is no exception. From now on, I am going to be more aggressive.