Advanced hips, running away and no live class October 2

Hi all,

“I know now that I will become weaker at what I avoid, that what I run towards will strengthen in me. I know to listen to my body, but not so much that I convince myself I can’t do things or that I can’t push myself.”
― Sarah Polley, Run Towards the Danger: Confrontations with a Body of Memory

I have been thinking about the idea of "running towards" after this podcast and the story of Sarah Polley's concussion recovery which entailed doing more of the things that triggered her symptoms as a counterintuitive way to heal. 

Not long into coaching ultrarunners I started mentally putting them into two distinct groups. Those running towards something and those running away. To me it seemed like the "healthier" of the two was running towards something instead of away. I just realized these two groupings of people are doing the exact same thing, the only difference was mindset.

Running away from something can feel easier because it taps into our natural fight-or-flight response, which is driven by fear and the instinct to avoid danger, discomfort, hard conversations and difficult relationships. No need to face what is behind us. 
On the other hand, running towards something requires vision, patience, and self-discipline (ther hard stuff!). The reward or goal is often less immediate or tangible, making it harder to maintain motivation over time. Unlike fear, which triggers a survival response, the pursuit of a goal demands sustained effort and can be slowed by doubt, distractions, or uncertainty.  This is a difficult path. 
Both running towards and running away are deeply human responses, and in the end, maybe the direction matters less than the drive that keeps us running. Just keep running everyone! 
NO STRENGTH TRAINING FOR RUNNERS LIVE CLASS ON WEDNESDAY
I will be traveling so no live Strength Training for Runners tomorrow (October 2). BUT good news, how about this one from the archives!? Don't miss class just because I am gone!  Keeping consistent in most anything pays off but especially strength training. 

And for those of you with the Booster Pack, no Rise and Shine on Monday, October 7 either. See you the week after. 

ADVANCED HIP MOBILITY
Here is a post with some hip mobility moves that I promise will challenge you. You can do it post strength or after a run. 

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MOM
The conversation went something like this…
Chris: "So I'm thinking of finally running the 238 mile Katy Trail."
Mom: "Oh, I've always wanted to bike it. I could do it with you!"
Chris: "I plan to run over 100 miles per day and not stop to sleep…"
Mom: "I think I could do that."

"My mom and I finish, unceremoniously, in the dead of night, at the Machens Trailhead, 238 miles from our starting point in Clinton, after 45 hours and 37 minutes of bliss and joy and peace and stress and frustration and cool breezes and oppressive sun and beautiful views of endless fields and midnight strolls under towering bluffs and, yes, even a dash of existential crises. What a stupid hobby." -read more about Chris Roberts supported FKT on the Katy trail here. 

Happy trails everyone! 
Dana