One bad run does not ruin the bunch

On Friday, I went out for my usual run, but things didn’t go as planned.  Before I continue though, let me back up a minute and give you some background information.  

The day started very early, at 4:30am.  After working until noon, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up essentials for the weekend, then returned home and started cooking.  After cleaning up the kitchen, I spent the rest of the afternoon with my boys, and then helped my wife put them to bed.   When it was finally time for my run, I realized that I hadn’t eaten as much as I usually do, but I decided to get out there before it got any later. 

Well, needless to say, as I was exhausted and not properly fueled, my body just couldn’t keep up with my demands.  Shortly after I started, I realized that I should have run my back-up loop instead, but I pushed on.  Then after the first mile, when I should have turned around and headed home, I foolishly carried on.  Finally, when I completed the second mile, my body just ran out of gas.  Without any more energy to run, I cut my losses and walked the rest of the way home. 

A couple of months ago, before Running Without a Watch, I would have had difficulty recovering from this kind of run.  I probably would have coped with my negative feelings by overindulging in unhealthy foods, and may have pushed off running for a few days.  However, now things are really different.  Although I did take the next night off, I did it for the right reasons.  I decided to spend time with my wife for an “in-house date night.”  We talked over a nice quiet dinner, and then rented a movie. 

Since beginning Running Without a Watch 45 days ago, the changes continue to amaze me.  I have lost about ten pounds, I am making smarter choices with my food, I am able to control myself around dessert, and this is the most consistent I have been with my running in years.

Remember, one bad run does NOT spoil the bunch!