When it’s time for their morning run, The Bull and The Babe both start their preparation early. The Bull, who represents the mind, sets goals for the run and plans the route while the Babe, who represents the body, waits to be stretched and be prepared for the workout. Although The Bull thinks he’s in charge, The Babe sometimes rebels and demands to be properly primed and fed before starting the run.
After consulting the training plan, the Bull sets the goal of running 10 miles for the day. The Babe says, isn’t it good that we worked out yesterday, so I am in shape but prime me up for today’s deal, and also feed me with proper food to last 10 miles. After a proper warm-up and nourishment, The Bull and The Babe hit the road together. The Bull keeps track of important metrics like pace, cadence, route, and breathing while The Babe focuses on maintaining proper mechanics and posture throughout the run. They work together as a team to navigate obstacles like ditches, rocks, water, dogs, and traffic on the path.
Overall, The Bull and The Babe are perfect examples of how the mind and the body should work together during physical activity. By communicating and working in harmony, they are able to achieve their running goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
There are many different factors to consider when it comes to running, such as stretching routines, pre and post-run exercises, diet, foot landing techniques, and breathing patterns. While there is no one right way to approach running, it is important to be mindful of what works best for your body and to continually optimize your approach based on your individual needs and experiences. Every injury can be a learning opportunity to improve your running routine and prevent future injuries. Injuries sometimes are just normal running wear and tear, and sometimes it is not paying attention to the Babe’s needs or simply the progression of the age. Sometimes slowing down is all that is needed.
Despite the challenges, the Babe is always happy to be out running in the morning, enjoying the fresh air and the beauty of nature. The Bull enjoys the opportunity to observe the animals and birds along the course, greeting familiar faces and meeting new ones. Over time, these animals become accustomed to seeing them and allow them to get closer and appreciate their beauty.
As the run progresses to five miles, the Babe is struggling. The Bull urges the Babe, a little faster buddy. The Babe pushes back, “ I am tired, you have not given me a drop of water since we started, I am dehydrating.” The Bull becomes frustrated and growls at the Babe “ I gave you what you should have at the start of the run, now keep humming along until it is over and by the way pick up that pace.
The Babe is already in a foul mood and tells the Bull, mind-your-own-business, I am doing the best I can under the circumstances, look at the sun and the heat. The Bull reminds, what about that nice breeze cooling you off, does that not count for something? Proper cooling is important while running, one should be mindful of the heat and hydration needs. The Babe gets a couple of squirts of water, and they move on.
As they reach seven miles, the Babe begins to slow down the heart is huffing and puffing. The Bull says, again you slowed down, pick up that pace, hurry up. The Babe replies, pick-up pace my foot. She reports, there is pain in the heel. The Bull realizes the issue and advises the Babe to slow down and take it easy, promising to make up for the lost time when they reach a downhill section. The Babe is pleased to have made a small victory in this decision.
Right around 8 miles, the cadence is slipping now. It is downhill, the Babe wants to do it fast and get run over. However, the Bull reminds the Babe of the importance of maintaining good running form and cadence, despite the desire to just get the run over with, the cadence chart will be all red. Not only that, but sometimes in the rush to finish the run, the attention slips, and injury occurs. The Babe, who cares about your chart, I am not having fun anymore.
It is important to remember that running should be enjoyable and not feel like a chore. While it is important to push oneself, it is also important to listen to your body and adjust your pace and goals accordingly. If the Babe is feeling pain or discomfort, it is crucial to slow down and take care of any issues to prevent further injury. Running should be a rewarding experience, both physically and mentally.
If the last best run was 10 miles, then it is fair to add a couple of miles at the next run in similar conditions; weather, elevation, etc. But adding another 10 miles would be over-extending. When over-extension happens, without getting the body ready, there are good chances of accidents and injuries.
Oh no, here comes another steep hill. The Babe who was working harder is now totally stretched, somehow managing the run using up the last remaining juices it has. The Bull says, faster a bit, the pace and all stats are getting screwed. Now the Babe is really mad. It starts yelling at the Bull. “You sit there in the ivory tower, just keep giving orders. You don’t have to carry this 150 lbs of weight for over an hour, in the scorching sun while also running. Moreover, you annoy me, when going gets tough you start wobbling that shell of yours (the head), that is what is slowing me down, as I have to balance the wobbling head while running. “Why don’t you just sit tight, smell the roses on the route, and let me finish the run”, the Babe says. The Bull gets the message. The Bull tries to offer a bribe in the form of a protein shake, but the Babe is not impressed and wants to know whether the Bull has already bought it or expects the Babe to make it. The Bull, hmmm, never mind.
Finally, it is done. The Babe asks, where is the sofa? The Bull, oh no, we still need to walk for ¼ of a mile. The Babe, walk, that is fine, I can take it. As the walk is about over, the Babe says, I need those post-run stretches. The Bull says, do it yourself, I am done. The Babe reminds the Bull, it will be all trouble when you ask next time to go out for the run. The Bull recalls, oh yeah, post-run stretches are a must before signing off. And starts recalling all the post-run stretches.
The Babe knows, if the post stretches are not done properly, it will be a pain for the rest of the today. Additionally, the Bull knows not doing post stretches could create trouble for the upcoming ½ Marathon run. The Babe and the Bull become good partners again and finish off the post-run stretches in no time. They are relaxed enough to make that great protein shake together. Protein intake is good for muscle recovery from all wear and tear that happened during a run. Neglecting these aspects can lead to injury, burnout, and setbacks in progress.
Every run starts with a first step and ends with a last singular step. In between a lot happens if you think of it.
Indeed, a lot can happen during a run. It’s important to remember that running is not just about physical fitness, but also about mental strength and endurance. The ability to push through pain, fatigue, and self-doubt can make all the difference in achieving personal goals and reaching new heights.