Thursday, August 1, 2013

Pain versus suffering

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
- Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

As I get back into running, which I did years ago for training but never really enjoyed, I've come to appreciate the ambiguity and inspiration of Murakami's quote. There's a lot to be gained from focusing on what's right rather than what's hurting or wrong or sore.

6 burpees to start, then 4 miles at an easy pace today (~9:55 pace). Trying to be smart about it and ramp up the running slowly, G's speed notwithstanding. Went out with the goal of doing a nice controlled easy run. Felt crappy for the first mile, but better as muscles and tendons warmed and loosened. Runkeeper's awfully spotty under the east side overpasses - note the purported elevation gain and speed increases - but I think something just under 10:00 is probably accurate enough.

Speaking about pain and avoidable suffering, I spent 20 minutes before the run trying to rinse the eucalyptus oil I mistook for contact solution out of my eye, then spent an hour after waiting for spare keys (thanks J!) after I locked myself out of the apartment. The run was the best part of the morning!


2 comments:

g said...

Ouch man, watch what you put in your eyes!

Nice K, now we have to keep this going.

I am awfully sore today, but Murakami says never to skip more than a day...

kenny g said...

Yeah, but keep in mind that Murakami has been running long distance for a very long time.

Especially getting into it, people typically recommend upping your distance and intensity slowly and getting enough rest days in.