Hello, lovely readers!
I’m sad to say I’m on a bit of a hiatus from running. I had foot surgery back in 2021 (read about it here), and lately have been having some trouble with the same foot. I’ve been resting from running, going on walks instead, in hopes that it will get better. And there’s a phone call to my podiatrist in my future if it doesn’t.
While I don’t enjoy being on forced rest, there’s something to be said for taking things slower. On one of my last runs before my forced break, I noticed something. I’d found myself in that dead zone of running with the wind (read more about that here), and my brain began to beg me to stop and walk.
“It’s too hot,” it said. “We’re overheating.” “Just a quick breather.” And, even though I should know better, I obliged.
Big. Mistake.
I instantly felt even hotter. What my brain didn’t realize was that even in that dead zone, there was just enough movement happening to create a slight breeze for myself. When I stopped to walk, that slight breeze created by forward motion ceased to exist.
A Season for Slow
Now, am I saying that we should never, ever stop to walk? Of course not. There’s a time and place for walking. But in that moment, my body didn’t really need to walk. I could have slowed my pace and still kept the breeze from the forward motion. I didn’t really need to slow all the way to a walk, and when I did, things actually got harder instead of getting easier. Ironic, huh?
When things get hard, it doesn’t take much to convince me to stop and walk. I trick myself into thinking that I don’t have any momentum, that things could be easier if I give up. But what if all that’s required is slowing the pace a bit, and not stopping altogether?
These summer months have been very much “full speed ahead.” I’ve written two book proposals, sent out a manuscript to beta readers, worked on edits as feedback came in, and outlined a new project. I’ve spent time learning more about the business side of writing. It’s been full and good.
But there have been times when my brain has begun to shout at me. “We’re overheating! It’s too much! We can’t hold this pace!” And my brain isn’t wrong. There have been days when I’ve had to adjust the pace, but not pull back completely.
Adjusting for the Course
Looking ahead, the transition from Summer to Fall is a challenging part of my race course. The shift in life rhythms will require a pace adjustment. A time to slow down a little in some areas, even as life speeds up in others. My goal through the adjustments is to slow as I need to, but not to stop completely.
Forward motion creates a breeze, even when we don’t realize it’s there.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecc. 3:1 (KJV)
‘Til next time,
Becca
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