Nietzsche Said

It's that time of year again when the temperature is in the 90's and getting up at the crack of dawn is a runner's only hope of beating the heat. Thursday morning was one of those brutal runs that make you both mentally and physically tougher come race day. I had a 10 miler scheduled and within 3 or 4 miles the self negotiation had already begun. I debate with myself during runs. "Well, technically 8 miles would be the equivalent of 10 miles due to the heat." "If I make it up that hill I can stop and rest for a minute." "If the traffic light is red I'll turn around." It goes on and on, especially on these really tough, hot, humid runs. But the reality is that there's just no way I'll stop and rest at the top of the hill. There's no way I'll trade in my 10 miler for 8. And that red light? Chances are there won't be any traffic coming anyway and I can breeze on through the light. But pretending (or trying to convince myself) that quitting is an option does help me push through the toughest portions of the run. So much of endurance running is mental.

So I'm mentally preparing myself for tomorrow morning's 17 miler in the heat and possibly in the rain as well. I'm going to try to be out the door with the sunrise. There is a triathlon taking place along a portion of my regular running trail so I either have to run through that area before their race starts or I have to drive to a much tougher, hillier trail. Either way, it's going to be a tough run.

My piriformis (ass) is still bothering me. I'm able to get the miles in but the speed work has been sporadic. I basically have to take what my butt will give me during each run. This morning, I had this Red Hot Chili Peppers song lyric going through my head over and over during my run, "Pleasure spiked with pain..." Yep, that about sums up my runs these days.

Tomorrow wraps up week 5 of my 18 week training cycle. I can afford to give this piriformis injury about 4 more weeks (max) to heal and then it's show time if I'm going to be able to "race" Columbus this fall.