…not being able to run more is beginning to really bug me.
Before my fall training kicked into highest gear (and I was exhausted most of the time), I got to really liking running twice a day. The morning run woke me up and got me both energized and relaxed for the rest of the day. The evening run was the day’s reward, during which I cleared out all the detritus that had accumulated in my mind over the preceding 10 or so hours.
Now I’m limited to one measly 6 mile run most days. I do it in the morning so it gets done. It’s also starting to get very dark, very early — a condition that will get worse after Sunday when we turn the clocks back an hour — so I guess it’s time to break out the headlamp for those evening runs.
At first I enjoyed having those aimless hours in the evening; I was still too tired to run more than a few miles anyway, so lying on a couch and reading a book was about the limit of what I could do anyway. Now I resent not being able to go run after work. The extra four pounds I’m carrying around (and the need to watch what I’m eating because I can’t run more miles) is only adding to the frustration. In fact, I’ve stopped drinking completely, since I can’t afford the calories. This is always guaranteed to make me very irritated, especially on the weekend. And, worst of all, my “longest” run on the weekend is laughably short: 10 miles? That’s all? That’s less than 1.5 hours. What will I do with the rest of the morning?
Just a few more weeks of this and then I can go back to running doubles most days and doing nice, long runs on Sundays and Wednesdays again.
I do sound like an addict, don’t I?
Races Like a Girl 
Funny, I’ve been purposely eating less too for fear of blimping up. My mileage is getting somewhat on track though, so I’m back to the nightly candy that is my nutritional staple.
I’m so impressed with you and your love of doubles (and major contribution to your madwoman mileage), I can’t see myself getting there, though who knows what another year will bring? You’re a great role model for mega-miles and their speedy rewards so I might just follow your footsteps one of these days…
Have fun getting back in the groove, girl, the drug awaits!
I’d like to get to that place where I’m “really liking running twice a day”, but to tell you the truth, I struggle at times on some runs – especially the morning ones.
How long did it (does it) take you to get used to that routine?
I’d say it probably took 6-8 weeks before it felt natural to run twice a day. I added doubles fairly quickly, going from 1-2x per week to 5-6x per week in the space of about a month.
The only days I found them difficult were the ones during which I did a short recovery session in the evening after a hard session in the morning. I’ll drop those for my next cycle, since I don’t know that they help and I’ll be a lot less mileage obsessed this time around.
I don’t think it’s for everyone. But you may like running twice a day if you give it a try and always run those miles very easy.
Thanks. I should try and persist. I can feel some benefit after a couple of weeks.
Have fun spectating. Being at the 20-mile mark is a bit voyeuristic, although the leaders don’t blink at 20 miles – they just keep on running.