Welcome to my email newsletter 'Never not [thinking about] running' - a weekly newsletter about running and mental health. If you haven't subscribed yet and you're not sure whether you really want to receive an e-mail from me on every Tuesday, have a look at the archive. Todays newsletter is more or less, just a quick update, how things are going.
One of those days
Yesterday was another one of those days. A diary filled to the brim with all kinds of digital and face-to-face meetings. Sometimes here, sometimes there. In between, you have the opportunity to get something done, but before you've even gotten to the point, the next appointment is already on the agenda. Nothing really works.
I hardly get anything done, which is frustrating. On top of that, my accommodation for the UTMB booked via Airbnb has simply been canceled and I don't know where to find a good replacement. So, in between all the work, I click through the various portals to find an alternative accommodation. Shortly afterwards, the next message arrives that my bike will be back from the repair shop later than expected. Perfect. I get bogged down and annoyed.
The stone in my shoe
Besides that, I've had this imaginary stone in my shoe for days, which somehow always pinches but doesn't fall out when I shake it: my training plan. I'm losing a good four weeks of my 20-week plan due to my bronchitis and I'm not sure whether I'll be back where I was before. That's annoying. Like a stone in my shoe. But it doesn't help. Shake the shoe until the stone falls out. And that's what I do. I go for a run. I clear my head. And then I can plan and I almost always succeed.
I change my training plan and set fixed points for certain sessions and competitions. Days that I look forward to. Goals. I want to be at this level of performance by then. I want to run a test race and so on. And that helps my head. Not to bury your head in the sand and think that the training plan isn't working and the apartment is canceled, so I can cancel the race too. That would be easy. But I don't feel like doing that. So - if you have any tips for accommodation in Obernai around Whitsun, let me know.
After the run
Back to "After the run". A simple run can actually help you to regroup. Instead of getting nothing done all day, just stop, do something else and then start again. In fact, everything else works much better afterwards. Always fascinating. Probably works with other things too. So play the guitar for half an hour or do a round of pottery ;) I know you know that, but I always find it fascinating that it works.
Housekeeping
The topics have been a little heavier here in the newsletter recently. Especially in the last week. The text was also very long, which prompted a few people to unsubscribe. I always get self-doubt, but I've also received some surprising feedback that quickly wiped away the doubts. Thank you for that.
The question or comment comes up again and again. Why I deal so openly with the topic of "mental health" and I can only say "yes, why not?" every time. It's also sometimes easier to just write something on the internet and not tell someone at a party at the weekend. Just try it. And you’ve got also a good starter at the party ;)
Therapy update
Went well. My therapist summarized the results of the last few weeks and explained what her plan is for the future. I love it when someone is so structured and well prepared.
Running
No quality workouts last week. Nearly. Just getting back into running. Heart rate is stupidly high after the bronchitis, but that’s normal. At the weekend I did a longrun, which was ok. The legs remembered the speed I did before. A good sign. Heart rate will follow.
You can find all updates on my training plan here.
The end
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Imaginary stone in your shoe… I love this metaphor! Well written.
Just do what it feels natural to you and don’t get bothered by unsubscribe numbers. Last week issue was why I joined this platform.
🤞