Sunsets and Slumps Don't Mix

I am winding down from a long and disappointing week in training.

It started off pretty well… arrived back from Alabama last Sunday afternoon… was a bit tired but I woke up bright and early and got my assigned solo 5 miler in. I was supposed to go 5 "easy" to recover from the long run (which had numerous hills and the constant threat of rattlesnakes) but instead I decided to go moderate and finished up with an average 7:47 pace. Normally this would make me fairly happy ("Look at me! I'm zipping along on my easy day!"), but I guess the coach puts "easy" in there for a reason. (Hmmmm.)

It was a long day at work on that Monday, but when I got home the sky was just glorious. So I took one of my daughters down to the local marina so I could get some yoga in for the silhouette project. It was insanely beautiful out there. I forgot how the sky seems so much crisper and vibrant as the fall weather starts shifting in.

I loved that my daughter was into it.

My yogi-in-training.

Warrior pose.

Dancer pose.

Headstand.

But Tuesday morning I woke up and had to take the kidlets to orthodontist appointments and stared at the neglected piles of laundry everywhere. Speedwork day. And no one to do speed work with since the morning sessions got canceled.

Speedwork. The dreaded workout of the week. Cue the horror movie music.

The old me (the ironman from last year) would have found a way. And done it. Period. The current me, exhausted in mind and spirit from travel and lack of enthusiasm (no ironman on the horizon), bagged the run altogether and did chores and errands. The weather turned awful. Rain, rain, rain. I went to work, got even more exhausted, and collapsed in a heap.

Wednesday the rain continued to pour down in buckets. It was supposed to be a rest day for those who did their speed work (ahem) but guess who decided to take yet another mental health day. 

Thursday. I could not take another "mental health day." So I went on my what was supposed to be my 7 miler, but got too late of a start and had to cut it short at 5. Plus I ran it a bit hard again, average pace about 7:50/mi.

On Friday I just ground it out in spin and met a friend at the Bay for a swim. I have neglected my swim for months. The water was rough and choppy. Even the wetsuit didn't give me enough of an edge to overcome to tossing. I struggled and decided to give up before I hit the first set of pylons. Had I registered for an ironman, I'd be sucking it up like a buttercup. But since I was just there for moral support, I decided to cheer from the beach.

Of course this just added to my disappointment and made me just shy of a basket case.

On Saturday I did nothing but spectate soccer games in the morning. Later in the evening we took the paddle board and kayak and saw the most beautiful sunset I've seen in ages over Back Bay.

A great ending to a week that had been full of dismal weather and lots of blues on my end.

This morning I met my former Richmond Marathon training buddy Shelly, and we had a great conversational 10 miler that lifted my spirits. She has also signed up for the Harbor Lights Half in November, and has agreed to pace me for a PR.

Am ready to dump the slump and charge ahead next week. Will keep the blog updated regularly as best as possible to aid in the motivation department. Less whine and more work.