Running on Empty

Yesterday afternoon I had of those runs where it just felt like I was running on empty. Was it: a) the stress of the holidays b) sick kids c) chronic sleep deprivation due to said kids d) too much coffee and not enough water e) lack of eating enough prior to the run? The correct answer is f) all of the above!

I know you have had one of those days where things just don’t seem to click on a run. Sometimes it’s easy to figure out what the issue was when you look back at your running log. Other times, it may be a little harder to decipher. I think that this time of year can be particularly hard for keeping on track with training.

Because the holidays are a really busy time for everyone, it can be harder to fit in your training runs. You may have too many parties to go to or places to travel, and sometimes runs just get lost in the shuffle. This time of year, it’s particularly crucial to schedule that time for yourself and not give in to the mommy guilt! Giving yourself 30 minutes to pound the pavement can make a world of difference in the way you approach the rest of the day.

Nutrition(or lack thereof) can also be really hard to maintain during the holiday season. Lots of treats make for feeling deep sugar highs and lows and can leave you feeling sluggish. Or sometimes you just forget to do the grocery shopping like me and find yourself out of your normal staples! It wasn’t until my run yesterday afternoon, that I realized I really hadn’t eaten that much during the day. Without fueling properly, I was left feeling lightheaded on the treadmill. Not a fun place to be!

The light headed feeling was also a direct result of too much caffeine and not enough water. When I am running on empty, I often grab a cup of coffee in the afternoon. Yesterday’s java must have been a little too close to my run. I made myself go home and chug a couple of waters–I felt much better afterward. This week I am going to try and focus on making sure I eat regularly and cut back on the coffee, while upping my fluid intake. I also want to stay consistent with my running schedule.

How do you stay on track with your training during the holidays?