LEARNING TO TAKE YOUR SMART PILLS

In a humorous way I think of myself, and perhaps every runner, as having a bottle of smart pills and a bottle of stupid pills. Naturally it is my intention every day to take one of the smart pills; but somehow, due to all kinds of circumstances, I keep getting the bottles mixed up. That's when I get myself into trouble.

I have a terrible race day. My time is off and I have struggled from the beginning. Now it is time for evaluation, so I begin to ask the questions: "Did you eat the right things yesterday?", "Have you gotten proper rest over the last two nights?", "Was it really smart to go all out in your last training run?", "Have you really allowed enough time for your last injury to heal properly?", "Have you paid proper attention to the rules of recovery?". That is when I begin to recognize that I have been in the wrong bottle!

Naturally there are exceptions. Maybe there is someone that you wanted to be with or some fellowship you wanted to enjoy that was more important than running a good race. That, to me, is completely legitimate. I contend that every one of us needs something or someone more important than running in our lives. Something or someone for whom we would gladly neglect our training or even miss a race. It is the only way I know not to become completely obsessed with running.

But when the race is important. When you know your strongest competitor is going to be there; and you are determined to beat them. When you are looking for that new PR. When you are faced with that situation, then in the days leading up to that event be sure you are taking your medicine from the right bottle!