Learning my limits

I’ve pushed myself to my limits the last few weeks with a huge work deadline, trying to fit in training and spending time with my family. It has been really tough to be honest. 

Last week was all consuming and I didn’t run bar the Saturday before where I did a park run, and the next day where I jogged the International Women’s Day 5k with some people from work – and then I didn’t  run until Friday. As a result of a number of crazy busy days and not being able to let off steam I had a melt down in the week!

Running is my release 

If I don’t run I get fidgety and anxious, and I start seeing runners everywhere – kind of like when I was pregnant and it was like the whole world was pregnant at the same time as I saw pregnant women everywhere!! Running is my way to handle busy times- especially just being on the trails – so when I ended up working 3 12+ hour days last week I finally cracked! 

The world was ending- I needed a release but was too tired. I found I didn’t want to eat and was not having a restful nights sleep and I was generally exhausted. Thankfully I got to my deadline on Friday morning and decided enough was enough and packed my running kit in my car, got out of work at 4 and ran on the trails.

It was like I could breathe again. Everything was back to normal. Life seemed normal. I was at one with nature on the trails and not a soul in sight – it was exactly what I needed. I breathed in the fresh air around me, listened to the singing birds and reflected on the week. 

I have been really hard on myself and realise we all have to know our limits. I need to run! It’s what I have been doing for half my life now and when I couldn’t do it it sent me over the edge! Even my husband can tell when I just need to run! So I am aiming to try and fit something in even when things get nuts – but equally to go easier on myself where work and the quest for perfection in it is concerned. 

With my running I have finally decided to concentrate on running my own race and not others. I have been so focused on trying to make friends and fitting in I have struggled and to the detriment of my running, and I feel trying to run a trail marathon this year may be too much with everything on my plate.so Rainbow Beach will more than likely be a no no but I going to continue trying to run with the Brisbane Trail Runners and my friends when I can but focus on improving on trails and just generally getting fitter. 

Next year I want to do each of the SEQ Trail series and then maybe give the Great Ocean Road Marathon a go….I just have to be realistic and do things when I know I am ready and able – and not try to do too much and then set myself up to fail…

So lessons learned in the last few weeks – but it’s good when that penny finally drops….