Kayla told me today at breakfast that chocolate milk is the best post-workout snack to have because of all the protein and good fats in it. Being lactose intolerant, I asked if soy milk had the same benefits. I have yet to google this, but nonetheless, after coming in from my fabulous run today and downing a Nalgene, I pulled out the chocolate soy milk I bought at the bistro this morning.
This morning I got SO antsy during my 3 hour class, I decided that after class, tabling for Relay For Life, and lunch, I would go to the gym, but try my first adventure on the treadmills instead of my usual stint on the elliptical. My high hopes were crushed about one mile into my run, when I got a horrible pain in my shin. I'm not sure if this a normal treadmill occurrence, but I know I don't get this when I run outside. Despite the chilly weather and cloudy skies, I left the gym and proceeded to run around campus, much longer than expected before heading back to Dodd. All in all, I ran more than the 5k I did this weekend, but it was much easier this time.
I've realized that running is more than physical endurance, it is also a lot of mental endurance. Tennis is an extremely mental sport, but it is more about getting inside your opponents head instead of your own. Gymnastics is pretty mental as well, but it is more along the lines of mental "sprinting" with each stint lasting no longer than 90 seconds. I've realized that I don't just need to work on my physical endurance, but my mental endurance as well. That was the difference between the 5k and today. I had psyched myself up for the 5k, and stressed over the distance required of me. Today, I was just running, with no agenda, and no clue how far I had run, only taking clues from my body when I was ready to stop. In this moment, I can't imagine running 13.1 miles, just the thought of it makes me tired, but someday, I'll be able to, and when I can, I'm sure I'll surprise myself.
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