Soleful Saturday-Listen to yourself and your body!

It’s been a while since I have written a Soleful Saturday post- I need to do better at that.  I can’t consistently write post for other blogs and not focus on my own.  Silly amateur blogger-lol!

Today’s Theme: Listen to yourself and your body!

On May 30th, I ran the Zooma Annapolis Half.  I didn’t write a recap for it because there was not much to recap. It was hot, hilly, scenic and hot, hilly! Part of the reason I didn’t do a recap was that I was really pissed about it.  The race itself was fine but what pisses me off was the pacer for the 2:20 pace group. As I got to the stadium, I saw a lady with the 2:20 sign, I went up to her and asked if I could join the group, she said ‘sure!’. I was really excited about this because I was thinking about my current PR of 2:19:54 and thought if I run with the 2:20 pace group, I could pace myself to beat my PR.  Note: I know every race shouldn’t be about the PR but…well you know….

So there we were starting the race and finding the groove.  I expected this as we figured out the spacing and pace.  Well into mile 1 and we were WAY ahead of pace! To run a 2:20 half, your average pace should be about a 10:30/min mile. Well we were at a 9:43! In my mind, I thought, ok stay with them I am sure they know what they are doing. Ok Mile 2 and we are STILL ahead of pace as we clock in at 9:50.  I was feeling pretty good so again, I said to myself again ok stay with them I am sure they know what they are doing. Well this went on through mile 5.5!!!!  At mile 3, I told the pacer, ‘we are way ahead of schedule…..oh wait did I tell you that she didn’t have any way for tracking her pace (no watch-no pace band-no NOTHING!!!). Ok so back to me telling her to slow the F#$% down.  Well she didn’t and at mile 6, I said to hell with it, I am pulling back and running my race, my pace! I finished the race in 2:20:03-I should have been the damn pacer!!! The 2:20 pace group finished 4-5 minutes ahead.

The reason I am telling you this story is that on May 30th, I told myself that I need to start listening to myself and my body sooner and better.  At Zooma, I knew by mile 3 that the pacer was off and following her lead and pace,would mess up my race but instead of pulling back and choosing to run my race at my pace, I stuck with it (I still don’t know why!?!?).  Not listening to myself and my body greatly affected my race. By not listening to my body, I went out to fast, had difficulties on the hills, walked more than I had wanted to and in the end didn’t PR like I hoped I would have and should have. I trained well for this race and allowed myself to abandon my training by depending on someone else!

Fast forward to today June 13 and I did it again……. didn’t listen to myself and my body.

Yesterday a fellow mom runner from my local MRTT posted that she was going out for a 10k tempo run in the morning starting at a 10:15 pace and ending at a 9:00. I was hesitant at first because she was planning to go out at 5am but then decided to go.  I have never done a tempo run before so I was actually a bit excited about it.

Well into mile 1 and we were WAY ahead of pace!…..does this sound familiar? Yep the exact same thing happened!! We went out way too fast and therefore I ended up having a reverse tempo run (is there such a thing? LOL!!).

Just two weeks ago, I told myself that I would listen to myself and my body so that running and racing remains fun and engaging for me.  And just like that, I fall right back into not listening to myself and my body.   Not listening to myself and my body today greatly affected my run. By not listening to my body, I went out to fast, had difficulties through the run and walked more than I had wanted to….still sound familiar!?!?

Come on Tamieka why is this difficult?  Get your -ish together and do what is best for you!! The reason you run is to give yourself time-time for yourself, time to connect with yourself, time to center. Listen to yourself and to your body! 

Clearly this is a work in progress for me but I am committed to doing better!!!

How are you at listening to yourself and/or your body? Any advice for me?