The first step to de-stressing

I woke up this morning angry.

I’ve been having some problems with a family member at home. Yesterday I had one of those horrible stress tension headaches where it feels like someone tied a rope around your skull and started squeezing with the force of a 5-ton truck. I lied down at about 6 p.m. I have no idea when I actually fell asleep. I woke up wide awake this morning at 5 a.m.

This isn’t really the place to get into the personal details, but it’s relevant, on a blog about health and fitness. This is an unhealthy situation that is causing me a lot of stress which is outside of my control.

First step to de-stressing: Focus on breathing. I am alive and I am going to be OK. The fight-or-flight hormones kicking in are not going to help me. So just relax. Focus on peaceful mantras. You are strong. You are calm. It will all be OK. You think better when you’re relaxed.

Second step to de-stressing: Do something you enjoy. I see a peaceful morning run in my immediate future.

Third step to de-stressing: Once calm, identify ways to move past the stressful situation in your life. Accept the things I cannot control. Remove the things I can.

I ran 7 fast miles yesterday with the group in Brunswick. My goal for the Mid-Winter 10-miler Classic next week is to do 10-miles at a 9:30 pace. Yesterday I ran 7 miles at a 9:30 pace for a training run. It was hard, but it didn’t kill me. And I wasn’t nourished or rested like I will be for a race, either. My goal is very attainable, which is exciting, because my half-marathon PR is at a 10:07 pace.

I’m haven’t decided what today’s workout will be. 7 miles yesterday was 2 miles less than  the 9 long, slow distance scheduled this weekend, but 4 miles more than the 3 pace miles scheduled on Saturday. Whatever I end up running, it will be at marathon goal pace (10:30), even if its fewer miles than yesterday.

 

 

Pattie Reaves

About Pattie Reaves

I'm a new mom and renegade fitness blogger at After the Couch. I live in Brewer with my husband, Tony, our daughter Felicity, and our two pugs, Georgia and Scoop.