running while feeling like s***

take a day off, your body probably needs it

I pushed through the bad days for years. I think many runners feel compelled to do that because we're generally obsessive about our training. HOWEVER, looking back on things, it's obvious to me that I would have benefited from being a little bit more flexible and taking extra rest when I clearly needed it. I think that you have to know yourself and recognize the difference between feeling a little tired or off (I tell the kids I coach that if they stop every time running hurts, they'll never improve) and feeling really awful. There is a point at which the benefits you get from training are far outweighed by the exhaustion you're producing. Nowadays I take a day off or drastically cut my run if I feel like I may be coming down with something (I have always had a tendency to run myself into illness), and I have been almost 100% healthy rather than suffering through infection after infection. Maybe I miss a bit of training, but better that than missing chunks of time due to being really sick.

What sort of runner are you and what are your goals? If you are training seriously than you will have a lot of days when it is tough to get out the door. If you are a casual runner without a training schedule then it doesn't make much difference whether you take an additional day off here or there. Running all your runs alone can also stick you in a rut.

As for the burnout issue, there have to be some flames before you talk about burnout. If you are committed I say run though the blahs.

Last sunday I had a long run scheduled but 1-2 miles in I realised that whenever I tried to pick up the pace I tired badly and had to slow down. Rather than packing it in I continued with the run but at a relativley gentle pace. I ended up finishing the run comfortably, the entire distance(17mi), just much more slolwy than i planned (10:00 min/mile pace) the next day felt none of the soreness i normally do following long runs, and the following day did a hard interval workout. I was pleased to complete the long run rather than giving it up entirely, and although the pace was slow, i know that i still obtained some of the physiologic benefit of the run. I think it was a good alternative to doing nothing

I am a collegiate runner averaging in the 50mpw range and fairly competitive with the goal of qualifying for nationals. I don't like high mileage and last week hit 70, so that could be why i was tired. But I have those weeks when i feel like well shit im content with 55 or whatever, its just hard to stay at that 70 range. I don't know but on the days i feel really slow i end the runs after 6-7 miles..If the crappiness is bareable, Ill tough it out for 10.

Trying running doubles, wouldn't have been able to get my mileage from the 50-60 range to the 70-80 range without them.

Opinion - you appear to have much the same profile as I did in my college days - 50 mpw - probably not quite enough - but you likely have good leg speed - and by any measure are talented.

My regret is that I did not put in the 70/80 mile weeks consistently in college - because with that kind of base who knows what I could have done. And 70/80 mile weeks were eminently doable - except that I did not have the right mind set - my longer runs needed to be slower - much slower than I usually attempted them - and the paramount goal should have been to get through the distance as relaxed and efficiently as possible - that's it. Hence the suggestion above about running alone may be a very good one, at least on the longer distance days. And I find the back and forth about how fast to run the longer runs on this board to be mostly irrelevant - if you have speed - and I bet that you do (50mpw and national caliber likely add up to some speed as well as talent), in a college training environment you are going to end up running your interval days with sufficient intensity - and the longer mileage base will only make you more efficient, which in turn will make your intervals and race days faster....of course, the world class types in the 10k and marathon will spin tales (largely accurate) of running long runs at a fast pace and point to that as a key to their success - likely so - but they didn't get there overnight.

So in the end, "toughing" out the longer runs may be the completely wrong concept. Learning to relax, and really, really relax, and be efficient on those days (which also means slowing down) just has to reap dividends.

Thanks for your wisdom quantum. I feel like you understand me best, i only have one year left and dont want to say the same thing you said about how you wish you would have put in the 70-80 mile weeks, although im sure i will be saying that. Your right, i enjoy track more and am better at the shorter races. I was talking about D3 nationals just so you all aren't thinking whoa, a D1 caliber athlete making it to nats off 50 mile weeks....But yes I think on the crappy days cutting short will be fine and maybe adding a couple extra few on the days i feel ok.

Taken from somewhere I can't remember, "It's better to be 10% undertrained than 1% overtrained." If you're feeling really crappy, you should probably shorten the run quite, take the day off completely, or take it easy for a few days after.

I run in the 70-80 mpw range and am slow as molasses compared to many people who post here. I work a full time job in my mid 30's. Just so you have the background.

I am always tired when I hit a new peak. I always run through those tired spells and come out stronger. I would have different advice if you were regularly at 70mpw and all of sudden were stringing together sucky runs or your season was imminent. I say run through it, come out of it stronger. You can't cram come race time - build your base now.

If you want some free, unadulterated advice read on. 50 mpw with a goal of running at DIII nats? Come on. You sound lazy to me. Whether or not you have the innate talent, you are wasting your potential by not, at the very least, exploring higher mileage. 50 mpw is good for a HS girl. IMHO you are missing out on a potentially untapped portion of your running. 10 miles is an aerobic run, not something you "tough out." Forget doubles, you need to be running 70 mpw first, and now the summer is over. Hopefully you can reach your goals off of the mileage you have done. If you are really that good you should be shooting for all-american instead of just qualifying for nats. Why not aim high an commit to doing the work?

Good advice. I was an 800/1500 guy and a lot of times running with people who were more 5k/10k oriented. You just have to accept that these guys are able to run longer stuff at a faster effort day in and day out for the most part. As quantum said, the point of easy runs is to completely relax...no matter what the pace. If you find yourself on a run feeling like you are pushing it and it is just a mileage day more or less then to me you are missing the point and being counterproductive. It would be better to run 30 sec per mile or more slower and feel good and then be able to run a tempo run later on at 40-50 minutes rather than having to cut it short at 30 b/c your legs are tired. The tempo run is where you are gaining racing fitness, the mileage days are where you are stimulating your aerobic system, recovering, strengthening muscles, increasing capillarization, etc..

Good luck with things.

Mike

opinion wrote:

Thanks for your wisdom quantum. I feel like you understand me best...

....But yes I think on the crappy days cutting short will be fine and maybe adding a couple extra few on the days i feel ok.

Reading comprehension doesn't seem to be your strong suit. Quantum suggested you run the distance, just run it slower. He did NOT suggest cutting your runs short. Stop being a pussy and run the miles.

wow I'd like to have a life during the summer unlike most of the people on here who believe that running is their life.

giver of advice you are retarded, i meant that he understands that i am a shorter distance guy who prefers the speed you idiot.

your strong suit. Quantum suggested you run the distance, just run

opinion wrote:

giver of advice you are retarded, i meant that he understands that i am a shorter distance guy who prefers the speed you idiot.

Since you're still having trouble with that reading comprehension thing, let me help you. Quotes from Quantum's post:

"My regret is that I did not put in the 70/80 mile weeks consistently in college "

"...my longer runs needed to be slower - much slower than I usually attempted them "

"...the paramount goal should have been to get through the distance as relaxed and efficiently as possible - that's it"

"and the longer mileage base will only make you more efficient"

"..."toughing" out the longer runs may be the completely wrong concept. Learning to relax, and really, really relax, and be efficient on those days (which also means slowing down)..."

You're just trying to rationalize cutting your runs short and skipping days. I see 3 or 4 posters above who gave you the green light...so there, you have your excuse. Feel better?

opinion wrote: wow I'd like to have a life during the summer unlike most of the people on here who believe that running is their life.

You wanna qualify for nats but you're not willing to run an additional three hours a week during the summer to accomplish this?

opinion wrote:

wow I'd like to have a life during the summer unlike most of the people on here who believe that running is their life.

Scratch my initial observation. You don't sound lazy. You sound like you don't get it. I pity your coach.