NAILED It...

There's lots more to write on this later (when it's not 6:30 AM and time to get ready for the day), but I want to share right now the good feeling of a plan well-executed.

The last (almost) year since starting heart rate training has taught me a lot about what running success can look like. Our coach hammers into us that, for the most part, pace truly doesn't matter in heart-rate training. It's more about execution of the plan. As someone with a history of digging in and gutting it out, and giving it ALL, it has been a pretty big mind shift to step back a little and focus on giving the RIGHT amount at the RIGHT times, and not emptying the tank every. single. time.

So today I went out on time and executed the plan. I didn't overdo it, as that would put my delicate core and glutes at risk. They're getting stronger, but I really do need to watch it a little. I did intervals, but they're not the all-out kind I did when I was 15. They're controlled, sustainable, and just right for the day. And I DID them. And then I settled back down for a controlled cool-down, where I wanted to stop and walk, but I kept going to keep the mental toughness. The parts that had a heart-rate range, I kept within the range. The parts that had a pace goal, I kept the pace goal. I nailed that workout.

It's not that the plan is that spectacular, or difficult, or anything. It's more that it is growth for me to be able to follow it well. I was not fast, but that wasn't the goal today anyway. I was solid and strong, and it felt great.

In conclusion, you may be well-versed in making a plan and executing it, and I applaud you. You may be more like me where plans can be hit-or-miss, or you might be anti-plan. That's cool, you do you.

But I hope you find something today where you feel like you NAILED it, because that's a great feeling...