Right now, I’m in a period of active recovery after completing my first mountain/trail 100km ultramarathon on October 12th and 13th. One mistake I’ve made after past marathons is not prioritizing active recovery when my body was capable of it.
Note to self: Prioritize active recovery after major efforts. Remember that even a light activity—like walking, jogging, or cycling—can help the body heal more effectively and keep you moving forward. It was a 190 km ride on Wednesday after the weekend event, and it was exactly what my body needed. I don’t recommend this to beginners, as I have almost 8 years of trial and error in the endurance sports. Also, I grew up playing sports in my childhood and youth.
Now it’s October 24th, and I’m following a mix of weightlifting and running. I’m easing back into the weight room, taking it slow since I haven’t lifted in about four months. I’m also using my Garmin watch coach to keep my running focused. Yesterday was a light jog, but today was a tempo run: ten minutes at a comfortable 6:15/km pace, followed by 39 minutes at 5:15/km.
As I ran, I listened to a Vipassana meditation talk on a loop, aiming to center myself on cadence, posture, and the calming audio. But, like life, distractions happen.
Note to self: Focus on yourself and your own plan. Not every day is a race, and not every day is meant to push yourself to your limits. Stick to your own training goals, and remember that progress happens when you listen to your body and respect the process.
My pace quickened to 4:45/km, faster than I had planned. I tried to regain my focus and slowed down, but the distraction had already pulled me out of my rhythm. The reason I increased my speed, hearing footsteps from other runners behind me. The runners stayed behind me for a few laps before they finally passed, only to stop about 100 meters later, out of breath. Maybe they were racing me, maybe not. Who knows? But I let them influence my run, taking me out of the place I wanted to be.
It’s a simple reminder that goes beyond running:
run your own race.
Live your own life.
There will always be people running behind you, beside you, or ahead of you, but none of that should dictate your pace or your focus. Today’s run was more than a workout; it was a lesson. I need to stay centered, keep my attention on my own rhythm, and focus on what matters to me.
Note to self: Awareness is the true victory. Noticing when you’ve slipped into old patterns is a sign of growth. Smile at the fact that you were aware—even if you got distracted—because awareness is the first step towards change.
One Way Grit 