There’s a mantra that’s been floating around the running community for several years now: Embrace the suck.
What does that mean?
It means smiling in the face of adversity and celebrating when the workout gets hard. It means charging to the finish line even when your body has had enough.
Basically, when times get tough, savor it.
It can be a helpful thing to remind yourself as you push through a sport that is equal parts pain and pleasure. But there are some, like myself, who tend to venture into waters that are way over our heads.
I have a history of running myself dizzy and nauseous. I’ve been alone with low water and nutrition on the snow-covered trails, miles away from other human beings, and I’ve gotten lost on those same trails.
Simply put, I’m just prone to biting off more than I can chew.
But this year, instead of thrusting myself unprepared into these max-level stress tests, I’ve turned my focus to making gradual improvements. Part of my approach has been incorporating a different phrase into my routine: Embrace the boring.
There has been nothing exciting about this past month. I’ve been on the treadmill walking, not running, with a focus on stacking up elevation. I’ve been going from a snail’s pace to a light jog, all with rolling hills. Some days I’ll be on for an hour, and others twice as long, but I usually won’t stop until I’ve accumulated at least 1,000 feet of elevation gain.
While certain segments of my workouts have warranted an “embrace the suck” response, my primary challenge has been boredom.
To counter this, I’ll play little math games with my running data as it adds up in real time, and other times I’ll watch TV or turn on some music. If I’m failing to sell this experience, it’s because it’s boring. Nobody wants to do it. I don’t even want to do it.
But those steps add up and so does the elevation, and every time I step off the treadmill I feel like a million sweaty dollars. There’s not much time to bask in the afterglow of these long hikes, as I’ve complemented my long hikes with light dumbbell workouts.
Using this approach, the numbers on the scale have been getting lower and lower. When I last checked in around New Year’s, I was 30 pounds down from my October weight of 280. Now, as we navigate through this second weekend of February, I’m down 10 more pounds. Clothes are finally starting to fit again (some are actually too big!) and even better yet, I’m building up strength and endurance on a regular basis.
I plan on staying on this long, dull road for as long as it takes until I feel physically ready — and emotionally mature enough — to take on the challenge of running and competing again.
I wish I had a more flashy message to end with, but I don’t want to be misleading. The key to my success has been simple: Embrace the suck, especially the boring parts.
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
Thanks to Mother Nature, it’s been a tough several weeks on the race paths.
Snow and extreme cold have forced event cancelations in bunches, but there are a handful of locals who have been too stubborn to give up on their running fix.
Marion’s Brandon Crider and Chambersburg’s Daniel Foster were both in Lock Haven last weekend for The Frozen Snot, an unforgiving 13.5-mile suffer-fest with very few runnable miles. Crider surged to the finish line in 2:51:13, while Foster clocked a 3:15:29.
In Pocomoke City, Maryland, two Hagerstown runners are still thawing out after competing at the Alonquin 50K. Bradley Lundber posted a 6:27:11, while Catherine Turner reached the finish line in 7:17:58.
Finally, Waynesboro’s Kinley Cook had a solution to the bad weather, traveling to Florida for the St. Petersburg Half Marathon. Cook completed the race in 2:37:22.
And now, a look ahead:
Cupid’s Chase 5K: Saturday, in Harrisburg/York. Multiple cities will host a variation of this race, which benefits Community Options, Inc., an organization that provides housing and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Check out the even on runsignup.com.
Little Patuxent River Half Marathon: Saturday, Feb. 21, 8 a.m. There are also 5K and 10K options for this event, which begins and ends at Guilford Pratt Truss Bridge. Register for the race on runsignup.com.
Squirrelly Tail Twail Wun 13.1M: Sunday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m., in Lewisberry. Gifford Pinchot State Park will serve as the back drop for this challenging trail race. Look up the race on ultrasignup.com.
Also: Viking 5K/10K/Half Marathon (Saturday, in York); Falling for You 5K/10K/Half Marathon (Saturday, in Potomac, Md.); Eenie-Meanie-Minie-Moe 13.1M (Sunday, in Newtown); Ugly Mudder 10K Trail Run (Sunday, in Reading); Frozen Hare Triathlon (Saturday, Feb. 21, in Broomall); Viking 5K/10K (Saturday, Feb. 21, in Akron); Hanover 7 Miler (Saturday, Feb. 21, in Hanover); Rosaryville Ramble 5K/10K/Half Marathon (Sunday, Feb. 22, in Upper Marlboro, Md.).
