Moaning to my running coach the other week, I couldn’t quite explain why all of a sudden running was just a laborious chore. My legs were fine. No sustaining injuries (touch wood).
So how did I go from nailing 3 half marathons and a couple of other fun runs to nada? Nyet. Nix.
Her answer ended up being my question.
“Grace, you’ve just done 3 half marathons. Give yourself a break!”
I hadn’t given myself a chance to sit back and reflect. Or recover.
Zoey reminded me just how much mental effort it takes sometimes to run 21 kms, a household or just life in general.
Mah brain be all pooped out.
Around this time last year, life was frantic with a part time sales job. I was also gung ho about training for a marathon then my plans went ker-splat around the time my ankle did.
When mentioning to a colleague at the time (who also happens to be a naturopath) how weird it was that my ankle just suddenly caved in, she said matter of fact, “You were obviously exhausted but your brain didn’t realise it.”
I don’t know about you but I am freaking out that after today, we only have 9 Fridays till Christmas. Eek!
For me, there tends to be a frantic crescendo of personal dramas and misgivings around this time of year that carry through to Christmas.
The scale of frantic may measure differently in all our lives but the struggle is real just the same.
I have no solutions on how to deal with the exhaustion or stress. (Man, I’m still trying to figure out to stop my eye twitch. I hear magnesium helps).
But I will just say, let’s all be aware and kind to ourselves these coming months.
Let’s just get to Christmas with as little tired brain as possible.
If anything, this post is a self reminder to keep my mental energy on reserves; to stay focused on what I can control and let go of what I can’t.
What’s your solution for mental fatigue? Got one for eye twitches? Ready for Christmas?
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Mah brain be all pooped out too. And I can’t even smile to myself about marathon running. No running at all. Just plain pooped. And only 9 Friday’s until Christmas? Well you just freaked me out … (and now I’m feeling twice as pooped)
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit recently posted..Day 2562 – Herbal Essences Challenges Us to “Crack the Cap”
Let’s get pooped together, Leanne. And you Miss Busy Bee, with all your prolific writing and extensive traveling, you’d totes be more pooped than me!
I hate it when I get those eye twitches! I didn’t realise they were from exhaustion! I’ll try some magnesium next time too!
Ingrid
https://www.fabulousandfunlife.blogspot.com.au
Ingrid @ fabulous and fun life recently posted..7 Scent-sational Spring & Summer Fragrances
Yes, I always seem to get them when I’m exhausted! It’s like a warning sign for me 🙂
“Let’s just get to Christmas with as little tired brain as possible.” Yes! I hear you! great advice Grace. I have my third baby due to arrive in two weeks. Plus my daughters 3rd birthday to happen before I can think about Christmas …. which will be hosted at my house! eek. 9 weeks. The phrases “slow and steady wins the race” and “Just take one day at a time” come to mind. Go you though! ….. 3 x half marathons!!?? Thats awesome! I can’t even walk to the end of my street at the moment without FEELING like I’ve run a marathon. lol.
Pregnancy is tougher than a marathon! Hands down! All the best with the impending arrival, Clare! x
Nine Fridays until Christmas…ok now I’m
officially freaked out!!
Sarah @sarahdipity recently posted..One Step at a Time
I know, right???!!! Let’s freak out together!
Christmas is the magical end of the year for us. As builders, we get a 2 week complete shut down over the festive season, so while as a Mum the thought of being organised for Christmas fills me with dread, the promise of a break is so exciting it outweighs the rest. Oh and I’m not training to run at all let alone the distances you do. Good luck for the push towards Christmas, I do hope that will bring you a rest too xx
Nicole @ The Builder’s Wife recently posted..Tween Desk Styling – #HIT
You guys must relish that 2 week break! And yes, once all the organising is done and dusted, we do take a huge sigh of relief, put our feet up and treat ourselves to a wine or something sweet.
I haven’t even though about Christmas. I’m just kind of hoping it all comes together at the end just as it always seems to.
Mandy @ barbie bieber and beyond recently posted..Life Parallels With A Teenage Girl
I’m glad it always comes together for you. My lead ups are just usually a train wreck. Hopefully not this year!
Good advice about ‘how much we keep on doing’ but maybe we need that little rest (I nearly used break, and I refused to put that word out there!). What I know now, is that we need to be kind(er) to ourselves when we spend most of our time giving to others. You won’t particularly like my post today…because it’s about ‘countdown to Christmas Eve prompt’ over on my blog next Monday. Hope Friday and the weekend ahead bring you some respite and fun. D xx
Denyse Whelan recently posted..Pretty Pansies. 366/295.
I sighed when I read your post, D! I can’t believe how soon it is! And yeah, I pretty much slept all weekend. Well, when I could, anyway.
I used magnesium for eye twitches and it was decent enough. I suspect it depends on severity and other personal factors. Around the same time I started feeling refluxey, which is unusual for me. I wasn’t sure if it was the magnesium tablets or a coincidence but I swapped to eating almonds every day and it helped more. Not sure what level of things was it working and what level was placebo but hey, it worked for me.
It’s really, really hard to give yourself a break. I’m trying at the moment to cope with getting my iron up but with it being my busy time and work and the part of semester where things are due, there’s only so much I can give up. Extensions galore, taking days like today as rec leave to catch up on uni, and dropping the ball literally everywhere else is how I’m coping!
vanessa recently posted..Beach Serenity
I read your FB post about getting your iron up. Glad you’re taking positive steps. Take care of you, Ness!
I had crazy eye twitch for about three months during my pregnancy which was very weird, not to mention extremely annoying. Having the baby seemed to help.
Beth | AlmostPosh.com recently posted..Flashback Friday: Cherry Boots
Wow, how bizarre that it stopped once you had the baby! But yes, they are annoying! Eye twitches, not babies, of course 🙂
3 half marathons? That makes you a winner in my book. I’ve been talking about taking up running for about 3 or 4 years! As for Christmas, I saw some festive features in a magazine the other day and I did a double take thinking I was reading something from 2015’s celebrations. Oh dear. x
Tonia ZEMEK recently posted..Frocktober week three
Have you been into the malls, lately? The Christmas paraphernalia is everywhere! Too early!!
You do marathons girl! You rock! I wish I could run marathons!
JodY At Six Little Hearts recently posted..FlipaZoo Toy Review… #SLHFeaturedThursdays
No, just half marathons! I’ve still yet to try a full…next year when I get my mojo back! 🙂
I think you should schedule in some well-deserved ‘me’ time. You need a break!
Di from Max The Unicorn recently posted..Review: Cherry Blooms Fiber Brow, Fiber Lash & Vinyl Liner!*
Yeah, I plan on it very soon, Di!
Oh the eye twitch! How crazy is it!
Hope you’re feeling better soon… those 9 Fridays will go fast!
Eye twitches are sooooo annoying! It’s like “is it an itch?” “is it a sore?” Whatever it is, it’s bloody annoying!
Wowsers – 3 marathons?!
My only excuse for being tired is being made redundant from a high-stress corporate job after 8 years.
Christmas is looming but Spring weather is yet to arrive in my neck of the woods, it’s freezing, so it makes it feel like I have loads of time to get organised. Eek!
Thanks for the opportunity to link up!
Cheers,
Louise@WillungaWino.com
I know that exhausting feeling after a high street corporate job. Take this time to recharge!
Oh and by the way…it was only half marathons 🙂
Glad you could link up!
Marathon! marvellous. My hat off to you. It’s not my cup of tea, but I admire people who do those sort of leg burning running. Yes I’m stopping and keeping my mental energies in check. I want to enjoy leading up to Xmas. I don’t want to line up in the frazzled queue. Good luck.
Maria Parenti-Baldey recently posted..Cafe in Australian Bush
Yes, that’s right, Maria! It’s inevitable that we will frazzle, but the key is not to get frazzled too soon!
I think you definitely need a rest, that’s a given! I remember your ankle going-ouch! Injuries are injuries though, not caused by tiredness directly. I know or all of us shift workers would be falling to pieces haha!
Amy @ handbagmafia recently posted..The Girl on the Train: Femmo Film Friday
Oh man, shift work! My parents were night shifter for over 40 years…to this day I don’t know how they did it!
Yikes. That gotta hurt..
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