No Rest until Blackheath Common by nigeruns

  Marathon log 30

Running with the brakes on....Part 2 - The solution

It is no good. I am still going nowhere fast, as I am still running with the brakes on. The clock is ticking away, the pressure is on, and time is running out. I am under the thumb and under the cosh, its all so frustrating.  I work hard, but I have nothing to show for my efforts. My mileage is down; my strength is low, though to my advantage, my motivation is high. I want to do this.  The easiest option would be to say, that's it, and walk off into the sunset like John Wayne. But that's not me. The real me is the me who actually relishes the thought of the race against time, and all odds you can throw at me.  It's sadistic, but I like the adrenalin rush of the great escape. In another life I should have been Houdini, but the most exciting stunt I can do is, over sleeping and getting up late for work, rushing into the office all before 8.30am. Maybe it's the element of danger, as being in this position spurs me on. It makes the adrenalin flow and brings out that gung ho spirit that once made the Empire great. Well until young Luke Skywalker drifted back from the 'Darkside', and kicked the hell out of those pesky imperial storm troopers.

The 'Darkside' could possibly be the reason for my lack of form, as I am being drawn even more closely to it. So does this mean that I am going to change my allegiance to my sport, and no more will I be an athlete...?  Instead will I become a fan of sports were men chase a bag of wind around a green field.  Having said that, it has already begun, as the Six Nations Rugby has kicked off, and my Sunday afternoon was spent watching Scotland kicking chunks of garlic out of the French, and my evening spent watching the Superbowl from America, as the crash test dummies known as the Patriots from New England, kicked chunks of big apple out of the crash test dummies know as the Giants from New York.

In fact, the real reason why I am crashed out in front of the TV on a Sunday afternoon is, because I am shattered. I am tired because I have put in a hard session this morning. Being one not to give up and throw in the towel, I have gone out and tackled the situation from another angle. I have taken a step back and substituted miles with hills, my long slow run with short sharp fartlek. I have even changed my recovery drink from Guinness to Lucozade. I have to reignite the spark, tune up the cardiovascular system and give myself a serious kick up the backside, even if this means an extra sustained effort, digging deep and having to swear at myself profusely.

There are times when you hit a bad patch. There are times when it all doesn't go to plan, and there are times when it is all too easy to throw in the towel. It is so easy to be defeatist and put two fingers up at it. But there is always an answer if you look at, and study the big picture. There are times when life does go tits up, and things don't go to plan, or flow the way they should.  We end up looking at these events in life narrow minded. There are times when you have to concede defeat, but why not in a positive view  just take a step back, re evaluate were you are and push on in a different direction. Eventually with a slight detour you will soon be back on track. Well this is my approach, so does this mean that I can run with the brakes off now, please.....?

(3/2/2008)