As you know I have been in race season recovery mode. It’s been like six weeks now, and I really feel like it has done my body good. I’ve racked up very few miles in weeks, and although I feel like my body is recovering from the eight marathons and numerous other races in 2014, I am starting to feel that general malaise set in when it comes to getting my runs in. Does this ever happen to you?
I’m trying to help myself, and yet I feel like I am being lazy. I guess it cannot be helped. In addition to having a lack of desire set in due to the cold, dark season I’ve had a severe head cold for eleven days now which hasn’t helped matters. When I do get out and run a few miles I’ve been hampered by difficulty breathing and general tiredness. It’s funny that I am hardly ever sick, but have been sick a good bit of the time I have been in recovery mode. I think it’s related.
I know that based on previous years letting my legs and feet have a rest is critical to starting out a new race cycle with a clean bill. I’m just getting antsy. It’s like a long, drawn out taper, and I don’t like it at all. At least at the end of a taper though is a big race to look forward to. I’m still seven weeks away from a major race. Maybe this is all just race withdrawal. Maybe it’s a combination of seasonal affective disorder, recovery and illness, but I want to feel good again. I want the desire to come back, the NEED to get back out on the road.
All in good time, I guess. Slow and steady, I am trying to convince myself. I certainly don’t feel like the hare at all these days, much more so the tortoise. How does the off-season impact you? Does recovery mode take its toll on you like it does me? Convince me that this is a good thing.
Running Wild 