2008 - Autumn

[marathondan]

EG, I think there is a bit of a wagon-hopping mentality in many of us. Call it mood swings, bipolar disorder, manic depressive tendencies, or whatever. It’s difficult to stay on the narrow path all the time (and I don’t just mean when you’re walking home from the pub). We all have a naughty side, and sometimes it takes great delight in temporarily defeating the virtuous side. (Let’s face it, liberal rationalists that most of us are, this process is well described by the good ol' battle of good versus evil.) If this is the way you are, then maybe you just need to embrace it. In fact, if you expect to lapse (say) one week a month, then the guilty attraction of the lapse may even be diminished.

Having said that, I think the idea of programming a "binge week" into one's training programme may be taking the "step back" concept a bit far (more "fall over" than "step back"?). However, maybe it shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand...

Slightly related to this, I had been wondering recently whether a "running holiday" is a good part of an ongoing training plan. No, I don’t mean the annual Almeria Mini Break, but the idea of (say) taking a month off from running every year. I’ve just had an enforced one, and most residents of this parish seem to suffer from a loss of running mojo once a year or so. Again, embracing our limitations could have a positive effect.