Mental Game

I was meeting a contact from my alumni association for coffee this morning, so I didn't have time to run before work as I normally would. Actually, I generally take Mondays off from training because I typically run on the weekend and need to ease into the work week - but because I wasn't able to run on Saturday this past weekend, I felt like skipping today wasn't prudent. So I figured I'd just do an outdoor run after work today and take advantage of being back in warm, sunny Florida after yesterday's miserable winter run in North Carolina.

But my day didn't get off to a great start. Panera Bread isn't the best place to meet up with someone if you are trying to stick with a low carb diet. I wasn't planning on having breakfast there - just coffee. But then my contact was really late for our appointment. Not her fault, but it left me feeling anxious and stressed out because the whole point was to meet and have enough time to chat so that I could get back home in time for the work day to start.

Plus I didn't really know what she wanted to meet with me about. I figured it may be something I'm not in a very good spot to help with right now - either volunteering time or money. I was pretty active in the association when I lived in NJ and hope to do so again here in FL - but I just need to get settled first, ya know? It always adds to my anxiety when I have to tell someone "no."

So I ordered the steel cut quinoa oatmeal and drank like 3 million cups of coffee while waiting for her.

I paid for it later on in the day. I anticipated I would have a lot to tackle at work, given I've taken a few days off in the last two weeks for moving into my new house. I think it felt even more overwhelming to me being pumped full of caffeine, and knowing I still had to find a good stretch of time to run.

When I paused work for the day to get out for my run, it didn't feel right. I was worried, obsessing over whether I'd have enough time to run AND get done all of the little things I still needed to do. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't let go of all the stress of the day.

This is another reason I usually like to run before the work day starts instead of after - I wake up with a clean slate, feeling like I have all the time in the world.

So even though I wanted to take the same route I did last Wednesday morning - when I had a particularly good run - I decided to turn back early. And I noticed an immediate change when I was heading back home - like everything was going to be ok because I was going to be home soon and could attend to my 8,252 projects.

And you'll see it in my run times below - I was able to go faster at the end of my run, rather than the beginning. I think it was all due to my mental state when I left for my run.

I've just gotta remember to run when I want to run, not because I'm compelled to run.

Oh, one random thing I need to point out about today's run. I use a RooSport* to carry my phone when I run outside. I mostly love it, except something happens (I think only when I'm wearing a particular pair of capris) and I end up taking photos...

Of the inside of my RooSport.

Today, I took 102 photos. It's a new record.

Actually, when you count the number of "bursts" it was A LOT more than 102 photos.

Anybody else use a RooSport and have the same thing happen? Or can an iPhone expert tell me what settings to change to stop this from happening?

*Amazon Affiliate Link. This means that if you click a link to Amazon through my site and buy something, I may earn a commission. Much obliged.

68 days left.

Today's Exercise: Outdoor Run:

M1: 15:47
M2: 15:38
M3: 15:07
M4: 14:44
M5: 15:19

Breakfast	Lunch	Snack	Dinner
Panera Steel Cut Oatmeal, coffee	Chili, tea	N/a	Aidell's sausage, baby spinach, red wine