Tuesday, September 10, 2025 – Cost of doing business
Hi Everyone!
What a weekend of racing! In the Georgina Full we had Rob Dunne who nailed his goal time and BQ and is going to Boston Baby!!! Jason also ran a BQ but tbd if it will get him in – these Boston standards are for serious! Michelle S ran the half, and although not a race, nailed a very tough training run! And in the Yorkville 5K, Brianna set a PB and came 2nd in her age group, Steph got a PB (while training through) and came 4th in her age group, and Kerry ran a solid race (not quite a PB) and came 3rd in her age group! And Monica ran a super brave race in her first comeback race after a very serious injury, which while not a PB, got her 3rd in her age group! Way to go all!!
This leads me to what I’ve been thinking about this week: the limits of our bodies. All of us here are fortunate to have bodies which allow us to move swiftly through the world under our own power, and experience the bliss, empowerment and exhilaration that this elicits. This is a gift. Not everyone’s bodies’ allow them to do this. We often take it for granted that we can just step out the door, and decide how hard to push our bodies on any given day. And we follow training plans which stress our bodies in the right ways and right amounts so that they’ll respond by building back stronger. But sometimes the formula goes wrong, and we can feel betrayed by our bodies. They don’t build back as quickly in some places, and we get injured. Or sometimes our systems can’t keep up, and we get overly tired and can’t bounce back. Or sometimes it’s something outside of running which impacts our bodies in a negative way, and we are taken out from running for a while. I’m sorry to be the one to say this, but this is just the cost of doing business. I can say this because having just been diagnosed with anemia, I’m experiencing it too. Of course not all of these things will happen to everyone, but at some point, we’re all going to have to take our turn sitting on the sidelines or taking a step back. It sucks, but it is just how it is.
Being sidelined, or slowed down a bit, is not always all bad. Often in fact, it is just a sign. Maybe we forgot to be grateful for all the great things our bodies were doing and we asked a bit too much. Maybe our brains and minds needed a rest, so our bodies took control and forced it. Maybe there was something slightly off balance in our approach or routine, and we needed to be alerted to an area for improvement and strengthening. Or maybe it was just bad luck and we have to learn to be patient, resilient, and perhaps even pick up some cross-training skills.
We are actually lucky in a way that we’re runners, because we immediately notice every weakness or instance when the system isn’t running smoothly. We are highly attuned to these things. If I didn’t care about how running felt, or let’s be honest, performance times, I am sure I would let my physical health and imbalances slide a lot more than I do. And maybe this is one of the reasons runners tend to be healthier than the average population: it’s not the running, it’s the high demand of health from our bodies, and figuring out ways to stay there when we have it. So I’m sorry if you’re one of the ones experiencing bodies which aren’t cooperating exactly as we’d like them to. It is frustrating. But just know that you’re not alone, and it WILL get better. It just feels like it never will. I know because I’ve been through it a billion times. Cost of doing business. Luckily we’re all tough bad-asses and will always come back stronger and wiser.
On to tomorrow’s workout! I think this might be the last Fartlek on the spit bc it’s getting dark to start. Meet at Lakeshore and Leslie: 6:05 drills, 6:15 GO!
6 min tempo, 2 min easy, 5-8 x 2 min on, 1 min off, then marathoners finish w another 6 min @ MP to tempo (after a 3 min break)
The full workout is a BIG workout and only for marathoners who aren’t on a recovery week. And only if they’re feeling good. Lots of options in this one, so pick the poison that is right for you!
That is all – see you in the a.m.!
xo
Seanna