Tuesday, December 3, 2024 – What I’ve learned from not running (Tanis Feasby)

Hi Everyone!

I believe the only racer last weekend was Pearce at Nationals Cross Country! Pearce came 17^th overall as a masters runner in the country. Outstanding. Coming up this weekend we have the Holiday 10K and CIM races! Wohoo! And today we have a guest post from Tanis (THANK YOU Tanis!!!) Guest posts still and always welcome.

What I’ve learned from not running (Tanis Feasby)

I haven’t run in two weeks – or is it two months? – and I’m feeling like an entirely different person. I’m on a forced break because I’ve finally admitted that there’s something quite wrong with my left glute/high hamstring/butt/sit bone area and after running through it for at least eight months, it’s been getting worse.

One thing that rocked me was how quickly I’ve changed my routines. For the first week, I thought I’d get up at my usual 5:15 am and get to the gym before work or at least visit the weights in my basement. After batting 0/5 that first week, I had to adjust my expectations. So I started leaving a bag of gym clothes in my car to could go after work, and by the second week that was working pretty well. I actually have more energy at the end of the day when I haven’t run 10k before 7 am.

There’s been an unexpected benefit to getting up early and not exercising – I sit and drink coffee and have time to reflect before I start my day. This is a real change for me, as I usually live my life in a constant state of GO measured by how productive I’m being and what I’m getting done toward my goals. (Goals could be running-related, work-driven or in the domestic sphere, the latter being the hardest). Now I spend up to an hour in the morning peacefully thinking about anything from Christmas shopping to where I want to live in retirement. Despite this being one of my busiest times of year, I’m slowing things down a bit.  

This newfound flow has also affected how I approach my workouts at the gym. I don’t show up with a plan, but instead wander a bit aimlessly around the gym seeing what strikes me, sometimes following people who look like they know what they’re doing. This is surprisingly liberating. I’ve found that if I give myself permission to do what I feel like, I’m far more likely to make it out the door.

I’m thinking about my whole body and gaining strength in different areas, not just about my speed and cardio. When I’m all in on running, I really only care about strength if it will help me go faster or longer (or maybe look better in a tank top). Now I’m thinking about where I need it for overall health, which isn’t really an easy goal to measure.

Do you guys even recognize this zen person I’m describing? The problem is, I really miss my friends and the therapy of running with you. But I hope that when I eventually heal and return to running, I can be a bit more flexible in my approach and more holistic in my goals.

On to tomorrow’s workout – Lakeshore and Leslie – 6:05 Drills, 6:15 GO! (too many people racing to do hills this week – we’ll bump them to next)

1. Holiday 10K racers: 1 mile tempo, 2 min rest, 6 x 400m w 1:15 rest – 10K pace to 5K pace (don’t over extend here – it’s just to get the rhythm and feel good)
2. CIM racers: 1 mile @ MRP, 2 min rest, 2 x 400 a lil quicker as above
3. Everyone else, take a taper workout if you need one OR add 1 mile tempo to the end of the first one. So 1 mile, 6 x 400, 1 mile.

That is all – see you in the a.m.!

xo

Seanna