I Just Have To Remember There Will Be Days Like This

I took the picture above at the end of my run this morning and posted it to Instagram.  While I was running, I was thinking about how sometimes a workout seems so effortless and then there are other days when it feels like I can't do it at all. This past week I hurt my arm and didn't lift for the rest of the week.  I felt awful and it was difficult to complete my workouts the rest of the week (even without the weights). If I'm not teaching a class, I tell myself to try for at least 10 minutes and if I'm still not feeling well, I can stop.  However, I still tend to beat myself up about it.  

Despite your fitness level, everyone is going to have those off days.  It could be because of a million different reasons; what you ate, what you did or didn't drink, what the weather is, what your mental state is, what your immune system is dealing with, what kind of sleep you got the past few nights...and on and on.  Even though I know this, I still get frustrated by any tough times.  It should be getting easier all the time right?  If I can run 3 miles one day, why do I feel like stopping after 1 mile two days later?  Yes, we should be seeing positive effects from consistent workouts and we should be able to do more as we continue to exercise.  However, there are just always going to be those days when it is rough.  

The trick, I think, is to give yourself some grace, take care of yourself and get back to it another day.  Even if it is hard to remember, this is one of the things running has taught me, somedays are more difficult than others but that doesn't mean to quit. Listen to your body, take a rest day or two if you need to and know that when you get back at it, you will have one of those workouts that feel so great!