getting back on track

About once a year I get a into a stretch of weeks or a few months or so where I'm not really motivated to run. I don't mind if that happens in the Winter, but it's not great when it happens in the Summer.

In May I had my mind into running and I was in good running shape. I ran a really nice half Marathon on May 1st in Minnetonka.

In June I still had my mind into running when I ran/walked the Bighorn 50K. I didn't train to race it but I did just fine with the plan and was completely motivated to finish while having fun.

In July I ran the Run the Keweenaw series in Upper Michigan. I was not in good running shape and my mind was just not into running. Evidently a continuous long-taper/long-recovery cycle doesn't help fitness if there is not much running involved! :-) I didn't even plan to do any running after the races while I stayed up there on vacation for a week. I finished all the races but I was very slow compared to last year. I just didn't feel like running.

There are many reasons for my current state of mind and fitness, one was the stress of remodeling my house, another is work stress. I'm sure there are more reasons too but I just wanted to write that I'm back in the mood to run and I've added some non-running workouts on 3 days each week. Instead of finding an excuse to skip a workout, I'm looking forward to the workouts to come.

It looks like my next and last race this year will be the Door County Fall 50 relay. I have a 4-person team this year and I always love that race. I'm planning to have some running fitness and speed back by then.

I was hoping to be able to run the Surf the Murph 50M this year but I have other commitments that day. I'll shoot for 2012 to finish that one.

--Mark