Progress as a Runner

I was feeling smooth and controlled, albeit a bit winded as I was about to switch from recovery jog into the third repeat of 4 x 2,000 meter reps. The workout was going great so far. I was hitting my paces and that in itself was a boost of motivation for the remaining reps.

Within seconds of starting my third rep, my heart rate spiked, my skin began to tingle, my feet felt like bricks. I was met with the dreaded “bonk” that can catch even the best off guard and that all runners know well. I describe it as such: feeling as if you are working so hard, only to look down at the pace and be hit with the realization that it is dramatically slower or, even worse, a recovery pace. To this day, I can count on one hand the amount of times I have bailed on a workout--that’s how rare and horrible these “bonks” are; you will know when it is happening to you. Barely a kilometer into my third rep, I called it quits. At this point, is it even a workout anymore or just a form of masochism? 

There happened to be a bench nearby, so I sat down to catch my breath and immediately texted my coach, Johnny. I didn’t expect a quick reply, but it felt right to let him know what had happened. Within moments, Johnny’s name appeared on my phone and despite expecting a butt dial, he was actually calling to respond to my text. He didn’t ask the why’s, what’s or spend time over-analyzing that day's workout. Instead, he encouraged me that early in a training segment or after a period of prolonged absence, workouts can tend to result in these unusually bad days. As I continue to do my weekly workouts, bi-weekly strides, and long runs, the body will fall into a rhythm and bad days will become less severe and less common. 

Taken by Gabby Ring after a hot and humid summer morning completing 400m repeats at Ferry Field. 

Because I’ve been running since 2009, I’m no stranger to workouts that have gone bad. I wasn’t looking for someone to hold my hand during this bad moment, but it was nice to hear someone’s trust in the process, trust in my outcome, and trust in me. 

This workout was a couple months ago, and since then I’ve hit all my marks without a single “bonk”. My legs are feeling springy and fresh. There is an element of repetition that my legs are beginning to learn. My goal marathon pace is beginning to feel easier. I’m trying not to get overly excited so instead I’ll continue to keep my head down, ride the even keel, and continue to put the work in. 

P.s. I am reading “Atomic Habits” by James Clear and this photo is of a graph from his book. The book provides understanding and tips on how to build and maintain habits and I believe this parallels with running. We expect linear progress, but progress can take a logarithmic approach similar to this photo. My favorite quote is “...work was not wasted. It was simply being stored. It is not until much later that the full value of previous efforts is revealed.”