Relax Into the Run

 

It has been sixteen days since my last post, and I am thrilled to report that I am still running without pain. As the weeks go along, my walk to run ratio is decreasing as my run time increases. Week one called for 5-minute walks and 1-minute runs repeated five times. Week two called for 4-minute walks and 2-minute runs repeated five times. This week, week three, calls for 3-minute runs and 3-minute walks repeated five times. I am running three days a week. My "Running Blueprint" plan tells me that my number one goal is to work on cadence because this will help with proper running form and prevent overstriding. I am supposed to be working toward 163-164 bpm. My pre-injury cadence was usually between 155-160 bpm. Because I am still walking half of my miles, I am not able to go by the average cadence that I see on my Garmin watch. In these few weeks that I began running again, my cadence has been all over the place, ranging from 153 to 167 bpm. As the running time starts to increase, I should be able to get a more consistent cadence, and I hope that will also enable me to ease more into the run. 

As I said, I am thrilled that I have not had any knee pain associated with my runs. I am, however, struggling with breathing and cardio endurance. Running has never come easy to me and, after speaking with other runners, it's not necessarily easy for them either. They just look effortlessly graceful as they do it (Goals!). I have watched tutorial videos on proper breathing techniques, and I can't seem to find anything helpful. Number one, I have a hard time breathing through my clogged nose. Number two, once I'm out there I kind of go into anxious mode and that naturally makes my breathing more labored. I hope that once I'm back into a routine, my runs can become relaxed and eventually feel somewhat easier. 

Beginning next week, my run time will be greater than my walk time. This is already starting to make me doubt what I will be able to do. I know that I cannot go into next week with these thoughts floating around in my head or I'm already starting out defeated. That goes for a lot of things in life which is why God warns us to guard against worry. We worry about so many things that never even happen or, when they do, they end up not being as big of a deal as we thought they would be. As we lean into God, He gives us the ability to face whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. Philippians 4:6-7 (CSB) says, "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." As I head into next week, I will lift my eyes toward heaven and give thanks to God for the progress my body has made and, as His peace covers over me, I will relax into the run.