Healthy Running

When you run a lot, you often find yourself grumbling when a training run doesn't quite go to plan, or you don't do as well as you'd hoped at some race. But after having to take this week off to heal an annoying muscle strain, it was just a pleasure to be able to run pain-free again this morning.

Which begs the question, how much is our physical performance really influenced by our mental state? If Little Rock was anything to go by, the answer is quite a lot.

And after not running since Monday I was raring to go - I felt strong, with plenty in reserve, and enjoyed myself. And best of all, no pain - it just felt good to be back out stretching my legs.

Now I need to get back to formulating good training habits. After all, El Scorcho is only about 5 weeks away.

I did 8 miles today, and since we started so early I was able to get home and get a lot of things done while waiting for the World Cup games to start. I mixed and kneaded my bread dough and started it rising (made wonderful grilled sandwiches for lunch), made blueberry pancakes for breakfast (with syrup, butter and whipped cream - yummy), and cut and edged the grass before it got too hot.

Tomorrow is Father's Day. Nancy's been asking me what I want, but the fact is I already have everything I want. So she's letting me watch all the World Cup games I want this weekend, and she and the boys are going to make one of my favorite dinners - New York strip steak with twice baked potato (fully loaded) and brown rice, followed by peach cobbler and ice cream for dessert.

Though I am going to insist on grilling the steaks myself - there are some things I just can't give up control of, and my barbecue is one of them.