I want to talk about those workouts that we have that, well, the ones that suck. You know, the ones that you dread going to from the minute you wake up, the ones that you try and find every excuse to get out of, the ones that make you feel like you have not exercised in months, the ones that as soon as you start you know you should have listened to your gut and not even shown up too.
I had one of those workouts yesterday. I went for a run after work and I had to force myself to put on my running shoes and get outside. And my run was terrible. I was slow, my legs felt like they weighed a ton and I was counting down the minutes until it was over. This wasn’t the first time I have felt that way during a workout and I know for certain it will not be the last time. But workouts like these make me a better athlete. I learn how I can push myself and how I can stay positive when all I want to do is throw in the towel. Workouts like these make me stronger, not the ones that are easy and I have more tough workouts leading up to a race than I do easy ones.
What is important for you to remember when you are experiencing one of those dreaded workouts is that you are not out of shape, you do not suck and you are not fat (which I am sure are the exact thoughts that will be running through your head). Instead tell yourself that exercising and training are not easy and it is ok for you to feel tired sometimes. When you feel like giving up just tell yourself to do the best you can at that moment, because each day your best will change. When you finish your workout, instead of being angry at how terrible and torturous it was, remind yourself of what you just accomplished and be proud that you did not give up.
On those days where the absolute last thing you want to do is exercise promise to yourself that you will do at least 10 minutes and if after 10 minutes you still want to stop then let yourself and know that you tried. My running partner said this to me on Monday when we were about to head off in the pouring rain on our first long run since we both had run a marathon, “We can do anything for 10 minutes”. And my favourite thing she tells me when I am the one looking for an excuse to get out of our weekly hike up the Grouse Grind is this – Quotes said by no one “Man, I sure regret that workout”. There will be zero regret for the tough and mentally and physically exhausting workout that you complete but not even trying is a different story.
Attached - Minka Kelly at the gym yesterday.
