First: I wrote my first solo piece for Running Shorts today! It's a review of Born to Run, a little more in depth than what I've written about the book on this blog. Please, take a look and let me know what you think. And if you haven't yet, check out my co-contributor Megan's first article, on surviving the treadmill.
Second: There's a giveaway at the end of this post! Skip down to it if you're just here for the freebies.
Running my way out of a rut
As for the personal stuff that only belongs here, not on Running Shorts, I've been in a little bit of a funk recently. Not depressed or anything like that, but just not quite myself. Kind of unmotivated, with school, with cooking, with day-to-day activities.
The biggest sign that something's not quite right, other than the elapsed time since my last haircut, is that I've been sleeping in more. I don't have to be into school until mid-morning at the earliest, but I always get up with Erin at six to make a smoothie for us. I do this primarily so that she doesn't think I'm a lazy sack of s, sawing logs in bed while she's off helping kids (she's a pediatric occupational therapist) to support our lavish townhouse lifestyle.
The trouble is, I find myself going back to sleep more and more after she leaves. Sometimes for two hours, sometimes for four. Before you say "must be nice," realize that it's not nice. And it's not me. When things are right, I have so many things I want to do that I can't wait to get out of bed in the morning. But recently, I can't wait to get back in.
Believe it or not, I think this is related to qualifying for Boston about a month ago. So much of my focus was on that goal, and now that I've achieved it, I can't help feeling a little bit directionless. I have so much to look forward to and work toward with the baby, my Ph.D., and hopefully a 50-mile run. But none of those things is urgent enough to occupy my mind the way the upcoming marathon and the chance to achieve the goal I'd been chasing for so long did.
The one thing that's giving me more energy than it ever has is running. Since I've started trail running with this group of ultra-runners (ironically called RUT — RASAC Ultra Team), running has been more enjoyable than ever for me. When I'm not running, getting back out on the trail is all I can think about. For the first time in my life, it's not about the training process, it's about the running. And for the first time, I feel worthy of the label "runner."
So I have a plan to get myself out of this rut. I'm going to run every day in November, usually early in the morning. I'm going to try to average seven miles per day, or about 50 per week. This might not seem like a big deal to you, but for me it is. I've never run more than five days a week for any period of time, and never consistently run this many miles. More significantly, I've never wanted to run this much before.
Don't worry; I'll be smart about it. If I see that I can't handle it, I'll stop. Being injured and not able to run at all would be the worst thing right now. But I think that done carefully, this just might be the jolt that I need.
Amazing Grass Giveaway
![[green superfood]](http://www.nomeatathlete.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/8.5ozGSF_Small250x335.gif "[green superfood]")
Great news, readers — another giveaway! After seeing the response to the Vega Sport giveaway on my blog two weeks ago, I got another one in the works right away. And here it is: Amazing Grass is giving away one of their products to a lucky No Meat Athlete reader! You can win your choice of a 17-oz container of Green Superfood (any flavor; lots of people like chocolate) or wheatgrass, or a 15-serving container of Amazing Meal.
If you're not familiar with Amazing Grass' stuff by now (how could you not be, if you read blogs?), here's the deal. Green Superfood is a greens powder you can add to smoothies to get the antioxidant equivalent of seven servings of fruits and vegetables, plus some probiotics and digestive enzymes. It's all-natural and organic, and 100% vegan. Amazing Meal has some greens in it too, but it's a smoothie in itself, since it has some plant-based protein and carbohydrates in it. And it's both organic and raw.
![[amazing meal]](http://www.nomeatathlete.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/AM_Large_Combo400x295-300x221.jpg "[amazing meal]")
I tried both of these products a while back and really liked how they tasted. If you've tried other greens powders before, chances are you've noticed some of them aren't exactly palate-pleasers. But Green Superfood is definitely the best I've tasted. I don't know that I'd mix it straight with water, but in a smoothie it's barely noticeable and not at all unpleasant. And Amazing Meal is delicious as well. See my initial review of Amazing Grass products from the early days of my blog for more.
Ok, so just like with the Vega Sport contest, nothing more than a comment is required to enter. No tweeting or linking back needed, just a simple comment. I know I like entering contests like that, so that's why I do it this way. For a little extra random-number karma, check out my Running Shorts post. Beyond that, it's in the hands of the goddess Fortuna and a roll of the bones.
Get those comments in; I'll choose a (random) winner on Friday and announce it over the weekend. Good luck!
Last thing: if you already use Amazing Grass or are looking to try it, there's another benny of being an NMA reader. Order from their website and use the coupon code "nomeat" at checkout to save 15% off your entire order!
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It sucks when you get in a rut, it always seems to happen to me when it starts to get colder out. Kudos to you for taking action to get yourself out of it, it can be really difficult at times, especially when there's a warm cozy bed calling your name.
I've heard of amazing grass many times but have never actually tried any, hmmm, if I don't win I may have to finally give in and go buy some to try.
I've wanted to try Amazing Grass but its not in my budget. Some for free would be lovely!
Caroline´s last blog ..Hump day already?
I've been in a cooking rut too. Just having one those kind of weeks. Ugh.
Jamie Walker´s last blog ..My Kitchen Meltdown
Glad to hear you're finally feeling like a "real" runner! Even though you always were, you just didn't know it :]
Amber Shea (Almost Vegan)´s last blog ..Almost vegan in Capri/Sorrento
I love that grass!
I also love this giveaway!
Katy @ These Beautiful Feet´s last blog ..Going greek!
I've somehow lost my motivation. I ran today for the first time in about three weeks. I think it's the change in season and time. Thanks for the great suggestions and I love reading your blog!
Hi Matt
Here are a few ideas:
I have found that when I've been so focused on a race and times etc, I can get tired of training – especially speed sessions etc and it can be really nice to leave my watch at home and just run! Head up, taking in the scenery, not focusing on how far you're going / how fast you're going – just enjoying being out. I'd recommend going somewhere with great views of nature, having some good tunes on and enjoying it.
In terms of feeling low, maybe you need more mini goals between now and the ultra marathon. Things that excite you and make you want to get up. i.e. running every day
You could add some more things in too for a bit more balance.
Perhaps you could benefit from adjusting the way you approach goals. We can become really outcome focused, rather than enjoying the journey (excuse the cliche). Remember that you're complete now and that achieving goals is about having fun!
Let go of conditions on your happiness. (It's easy to get sucked into the pattern in our culture that says that we have to be, do or have certain things in order to be happy.) Let go of any pressure on yourself to be, do or have anything, and do things that make you feel good – and do them from a place where you are focusing on why you want to do them, not because you feel like you should.
From personal experience, if I have a day (or two…
where I don't want to get up, it's generally because there are things I don't want to do. perhaps making sales calls etc. The best way to get over them is to start them and then realise that they are much easier than you imagined.
Other times it can be a result of forgetting what your purpose is. i.e. mine is to help people and make the world a better place by being a source of positive energy in the world.
I remember once having one of those days when I was feeling low for no apparent reason, and someone at a check-out was really friendly (even more surprising as I was in London and I find people to be a bit more insular in big cities). Anyway, it completely changed my mood and I walked down the street grinning from ear to ear, thinking 'what a nice person'. I certainly passed that good feeling on too, so by smiling and being friendly to me, that person helped a lot more people.
I love the feeling that my actions can have a positive effect on so many others. Certainly helps me get up in the morning.
Keep the blog going, always enjoy it
Ed
Congratulations again on qualifying! It's definitely a goal of mine and your story is very inspiring! And a trail running group sounds awesome, and definitely something I wish we had where I'm from!