Nothing else does it.
Not weights, not "crossfit" type stuff, not climbing, not cycling, not hiking.
Long Slow Distance is the only thing that seems to be able to cleanse this mind and purge the body.
Running life has been tough lately. After our BPL group's R2R2R in April, I've been fighting a low-grade uprising of malcontents in my left ITB. Problem is, if these uprisings go unchecked, they can spread…It didn't take long for this one to reach my mind and cause a real funk. I just don't feel too good, psychologically speaking, without getting in my LSD.
Weeks upon weeks of fairly unsatisfying running; either keeping it mild to avoid all pain or tightness when my mind and the rest of my body want to be out pushing it all day…
Or succumbing to temptation and trying to do something too big or too fast, only to regret it and re-enter the cycle of fear and depression that little nagging injuries can cause.
It's hard to not let the mind run away, to not begin to worry that things won't change…
Things are better now though, my mileage is climbing back up. If I take it easy, 10 miles is comfortable. A few weeks ago I was having trouble with 4. I'm avoiding running steep downhills, walking at the first sign of tightness, icing, stretching, the works…Just returned from 6 miles of trail, a little hide and seek with a cottontail, a sunset, and a run that felt very normal. Life is good. There is chicken on the grill and some beer chilling in the freezer.
So I make a solemn oath to the Running Gods, to Antelope, to Coyote, to Cheetah,to Haile Gebrselassie, and Emil Zatopek…Make this thing go away quick and I'll be a good boy and get those miles in.

