The Couch To 5K Running Chronicles : Unplugged

We finished Week 8 today.  Hooray! This week was rough.  It might be the combination of the warmer, humid weather and an over-all fatigue.  For a few weeks I've been pushing harder and faster.  So when week 8 came along I was feeling the drag. Even my playlist wasn't helping.  I didn't want to fall out of love so early in the game so I decided to take a couple of days away from both running and P90x.  This break was in perfect timing with the homeschool mom's retreat I attended over the weekend. I had no thoughts of running or lifting weights. It was all homeschooling thoughts all the time.  That mental and physical break from exercise was a good thing.  In keeping with the spirit of retreat, for today's run I decided to turn off the music.  I have to admit dreading that a bit.  Music was my crutch. The last time I ran unplugged was back in week 4.  But we all know a big part of running is mental and I would like to think I'm mental enough to survive the silence. I'm happy to report that I had an amazing run! It was even better than that previously posted calming evening run.  

Running unplugged allowed me to be more in tune with my body. I wasn't trying to distract myself with music.  I was in the moment - sweat, sun, amazing blue skies and all. And I have a renewed appreciation for what our bodies can do.  Mine has carried six babies, endured a couple of surgeries with a life-long battle with hypothyroidism.  Running cannot even compare to how much my body has had to endure.  Those thoughts carried my feet, sustained my brain, and gave me a sense of gratitude and elation.  I won the mental game at the end of Week 8.

I'm so excited about the end of this program! It's almost a misnomer to say that it's ending because really I have just begun.  I hope Week 9 will be epic.  

Happy running!

photo source-Buzzfeed