Goodness

The great mystery of running to me is why some runs come relatively easy and others do not. I've gone out for an easy 3 miler and felt every last slow step. And then I have runs like yesterday where I cover 8.5 in a pretty good clip and finish feeling like I could have run further. There was a place around 6-6.5 miles where my legs starting to shut down, ache a little, but I ran through it, got a second wind and finished my last mile just over 9 minute pace.

There's a woman in my training group who is having a rough season. She is a strong runner, but has struggled mightily this year to find her groove. I know the bad runs are clearly there to teach us something. To hydrate better, to eat better, to sleep better.... They also show me I can run through it, I can finish when I don't want to or think I can't. When I haven't slept well or eaten well. I'm watching my friend show up, week after week, attempting to slay the mind monkeys and run strong. I admire her perseverance and hope some good runs are right around the corner.

The most important thing the bad runs do is make me appreciate the good ones even more.