State of Mind

Mind over matter. Critical to the long distance run. Yesterday I learned the hard way that if you can't get your head around it, a 32K run is brutal. I was not in the best frame of mind. The biggest emotional factor was that Peter and I were arguing. Well, not arguing actually, we were not communicating because we were not very happy with each other. A carry over from Saturday morning. This meant that communication about where to run to make up our 32K was problematic. We both wanted someone else to make the call, then we would simply follow.
When will I learn that you absolutely have to know where you are going before you start out? If not, you can't visualize the route and finishing it. The last thing you need when you set out is uncertainty, doubt, and miscommunication.
In addition to being in totally the wrong place, mentally and emotionally, the footing along the canal was treacherous. Thankfully, our route took us off the pathways when we ran in Hull and around the Governor General's but eventually we were back on the path along the canal on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway side. I said goodbye to Peter by the Pretoria Bridge and took his iPod. Peter had hurt his back on Wednesday and it was affecting his run, so he decided to call it quits. This meant I had to do another 13K by myself. The footing from Bank to Bronson was pretty much impassable. This confirmed my decision to rack up some kilometres by running in the farm, where at least I could run without fear of falling every few steps. On the way back to the Bank Street store I ran on the driveway rather than the pathway.
Even though I did many things wrong, I did get my longest run done. Peter and I are doing better, too. It always comes down to communication. Later that evening, I felt better about running and relationships as Peter and I chowed down on his most amazing ribs, polenta, and swiss chard. Peter just put the cutting board on the ottoman and we polished off two huge racks while we watched the Oscars. (Enough to feed at least a family of six.) I even washed them down with a couple of glasses of red wine. Decadent, yes. But it was a very challenging morning - mentally, physically, and emotionally. Just a few more training runs and we're on our way to Rome.