Gafoo's Blog

I should call this post I am a lazy hurt bastard but Evolution has a better ring to it, doncha think?

I still would classify myself a Lazy Runner (see item #2) . I feel I should quantify that for this post…
I am now running a pretty solid 7 minute mile. If I were to rank how that feels on a scale of 1-10 (difficulty) I would say it ranks as a 5. I have, since the beginning of taking running seriously, been running “5″ runs about 95% of the time. That is to say, I have been running rather lazily. I would argue that most runners (hell any field/subject really…artists, programmers, chefs, data entry, any random talent/gift/skill) are their own worst critic and I think that is where the battle lies: I believe/know (is there a difference between belief and knowledge in your mind and self worth?) that I am a lazy runner. I don’t try too hard and at the same time, I am terrified of slipping too far back to where I was.
I have said for the longest time that my increase in ability has to do with my weight loss. I still believe this. I can literally count on 1 hand the amount of runs I have had where I made my heart jump out of my chest and really pushed myself to my limit. Again, we are our own worst critic but lately I feel like the limiting factor in my progress is my own laziness. I run by feel and the feeling I am always shooting for is comfortable…a “5″, not so easy that I fall back in my progress and not so hard that I really have to work. It’s where I have stood for literally hundreds of miles.
So therin lies the rub: it’s time for an evolution. And damn if I am not hurting these past 2 weeks. But I think the word du jour is Patience.
I have some technical things to continue to work out. For 1, I think I have taken the Chi Running concept a bit far and am running too far forward on my feet. I am dead certain that my foot strike is causing me a lot of problems with my calve muscles (the hurt bastard part from above-shin splints are an absolute BITCH to run on!). But more importantly, I think I need to get over my fear of losing the “5″ runs: That is to say, I should try for a “7″ or “8″ or *gasp* a “9″ run on of these days (interval workout maybe). At the same time I should actually do a “2″ or “3″ run as well and feel good about it. Sometimes your legs need that slow shakeout. I need to evolve as a runner if I am gonna achieve the lofty goals I have set for myself.
I guess the problem is that it’s hard to hide from yourself. You can keep it up for a time but sooner or later you will emerge and do what you do. It’s those moments that you need that evolution/revolution. Or put more simply: it’s time for a swift kick in the ass.
As always, thanks for putting up with my indulgences…