I set out for a run today, with good intentions of getting a good 6 miles under my belt to justify me having a very large gin this evening. The sun was shining, I’d had a nice big breakfast of eggs on toast in preparation and life felt good.
Then after about half a mile I realised just how hot it was, well not just hot, but blazing sunshine. And I had a black top on. Epic fail! But I had my trusty Phytosport elecrolyte drink with me so I pushed on, concentrated on listening to the radio and told myself some encouraging words.
About 3.5miles in I stopped in some shade. I could feel myself slowing down and I was struggling to drink the wonder drink that I knew would help as my breathing was all over the place because of the heat. So I stood in the shade of a tree and took on some fluids.
I gave it another go soon after but it didn’t feel good, so I slowed down to a walk. To begin with I felt really deflated, I had not got anywhere near my target, I was miles from home and it was really hot! But then I started to notice things, the baaing of the sheep in the field next to me, the birds flying over head and then these.
The first blackberries of the season.
I helped myself as I walked slowly along the road. They were huge, full of sweet juice and tasted divine.
If I had carried on running I would have missed them completely. They are very early, we usually don’t get them till half way through the summer holidays. What a wonderful thing to experience, literally the first ones of the summer to get to their perfect ripened state.
After about a mile of walking and several juicy blackberries later I started to run again. I had taken on a lot of drink and the electrolytes were doing their job. It wasn’t fast, but I was back running. I thought about what I was going to do and which route I was going to take home.
The easy one or the hard one?
I chose the easy one. I ran another mile, completed 5 miles and then slowed back down for the half a mile back home. I felt really chuffed with myself and here’s why.
I could have carried on when I first started struggling, I could have pushed myself and got to 6 miles without stopping. But I would have really struggled to do anything else for the rest of the day. I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed that gin because I would have been too tired. I would have found things hard tomorrow as well. Instead I compromised and took my foot off the pedal for a short while, then got myself to the finish line without over doing it.
So how can you take what happened to me this morning and learn from it for your life?
Now when you need to stop and rest. It’s not failing, it’s not giving up. It’s then giving you the ability to carry on and live your best life. If you keep going at top speed all the time you will eventually crash out and not be any use to anyone. Taking your foot off the pedal allows you the chance to see things you would’t normally see, for you it might be enjoying your children playing in the garden, or noticing a beautiful plant, or being able to have a chat with a stranger. This will invigorate you and replenish you. Giving you the tools and the energy to get to the end point.
Do you see? This is not a story about being physically fit. It’s about being mentally fit and recognising when to stop, slow down for a bit and reassess.
I’m off to enjoy that gin!
