Yesterday’s long run turned out not to be long. Not only was it hard to get out of bed and out the door at 5 a.m., but I have also been having some tightness in my knee and hamstring this week. After the 20-mile run last Sunday, we took a few days off to rest, in hopes the knee problem would go away. I went for an easy 2-miles on Saturday and accidentally ran a little faster than I had planned (sorry, not sorry), but I did not feel the pain at all. Then on Sunday, it decided to come back around a mile in.

I was also reminded how HARD it is for me to run early in the morning. My husband and I are sort of night owls, normally getting our runs in after work as the sun is going down, but I find that it takes my body a little extra time to warm up and wake up in the mornings. As the days are getting shorter and the weather a bit chillier, I am finding it hard to stay motivated to get out the door. When this happens, I usually try to remind myself of all the reasons I still love to run. For me, it is the feeling of accomplishment I always have after a run. All runners know that not every run is going to feel awesome, but we almost never regret going for a run. I like to focus on the positive. I love being in the middle of a workout and seeing the sun come up through the trees. I love getting to explore our new little town (since it is still dark out at 6 a.m., we decided to run on our street under the street lamps). I love getting to spend quality time with my training partner (my hubby).

All these things, and so much more, make running worth it for me. The seasons are always going to change, and, at some point, it is going to be so cold that it hurts to breathe or so hot that you feel like you might not be able to take another breath. You may have to squeeze in your long run before the sun comes up because you have work or other commitments that day, and you may have to end that run short because something just feels off, and that is ok. At least you got out there and made the effort, and that is more than most people can say. No matter how challenging it may SEEM, always find time to FIT in your workouts. You will always be rewarded. Happy Monday, friends!