Friday, July 5, 2013

The will is there, but the spirit needs some help

Getting out of the ordinary
Today's run (street): 3.3 miles

I have definitely reached a point where my running routine has become just that -- routine. I was hoping that last Sunday's race would reset my focus, but I seem to be caught up in a cycle of three to four mile neighborhood runs done with mediocre pacing. I could blame the hot, sticky weather and my seemingly endless bout of coughing and chest congestion to explain my current state of stagnation. I think I need some sort of change to reignite my running excitement.

This morning's effort was done more of habit than to help reach a specific training goal. While running for the sake of running doesn't generate a lot of progress, it does have its benefits. Having the will to run, even in the absence of adventure, novelty, stimulation or objective, reinforces overall commitment.   Like so many other runners, I've reached the point where lacing up my shoes and going outside is no longer a choice, but a necessity.

So what's the thing that projects my running beyond the routine? Is it a return to Central Park, a destination race or a new trail location? I don't know if any one thing will get me there. It could come down to something as simple as a new pair of running shoes. Yesterday I noticed that the combined mileage of my Kinvara 3's and Pure Drifts (my two main trainers) now totals over a thousand. I'll admit that my level of excitement was raised when I looked into pricing deals on a new pair of Virratas.

2 comments:

  1. Wow! 1000 miles! I'd be excited about new shoes. Do you shop where you're able to test drive them for a week before keeping them for good?

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  2. Believe it or not, I haven't bought running shoes for years. When I was dedicated to my product blog, Runner's Tech Review, I would get free shoes for review. In the case of the Pure Drifts, Brooks sent me pre-production shoes for market testing.

    Before that, I would buy my running shoes at Jackrabbit in Union Square. They had a 30 day policy for returning shoes if you were dissatisfied. I'll probably get my next pair from a local store that offers similar protection.

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