Day 20: Threshold Troubles and Teacher Tiredness

Another day, another threshold run, and another opportunity to test my limits. Unfortunately, today's run felt more like a test of my patience than my physical abilities.

The Reluctant Run

I dragged myself out to the familiar streets of Rochester, my Garmin Forerunner 955 helpfully reminding me of the daunting task ahead: one 16-minute effort at a heart rate of around 170 bpm. I knew it would be tough, especially before what I anticipated would be a long day at work, but I was determined to give it my all.

However, my legs seemed to have a different plan entirely. No matter how hard I tried, they simply refused to cooperate. I pushed and pushed, but my heart rate stubbornly refused to budge much beyond its usual easy-run tempo. I managed a few fleeting moments in the desired range—maybe three minutes in total—but the rest of the 16 minutes felt like an uphill battle fought in slow motion. Somewhere out there, a snail was probably laughing at my expense.

Lessons from a Lethargic Body

Honestly, it was a bit of a disappointment. It’s hard not to feel deflated when your body just won’t respond the way you want it to. But as I trudged back up the school driveway, reflecting on the less-than-stellar session, I realised it wasn’t a complete failure. After all, I did show up.

I laced up my shoes, faced the cold and put in the effort. And while I didn’t hit my target heart rate, I did push myself to my current limit, which is exactly what threshold running is all about. It’s just that today, that limit felt a little lower than usual. Perhaps my legs were staging a silent protest against my workday.

The Real Culprit

Speaking of work, perhaps the long hours took more out of me than I realised. Arriving at the school car park at 6:15 a.m. and not leaving until 8:45 p.m. doesn’t leave much time for recovery. It’s safe to say I didn’t see any daylight today—unless the fluorescent glow of classroom lights counts.

It’s no wonder my legs were sluggish; after all, they’re not just for running. They’re also my trusty companions for navigating classrooms, chasing rogue worksheets, and occasionally dodging the metaphorical pitfalls of a teacher’s day. Let’s just say that threshold running might not pair well with threshold teaching.

Onwards and Upwards

So, I’m choosing to focus on the positives. I got out there, I ran, and I learned something about my current fitness level. Tomorrow is a new day, and I’m optimistic that my legs will feel a little more cooperative after a good night’s rest. And if they don’t? Well, perhaps they’ll respond better to a gentle reminder that “showing up” is half the battle—and, quite frankly, the only battle they’re required to win today.

As they say, when the run doesn’t go to plan, at least it makes for a good story. Or, at the very least, a passable blog post.