What Starting the MAF Method Feels Like
I've done two MAF runs. I have another today. I've been good about keeping my heart rate under 137–walking when it goes above that.
But I took yesterday off because I didn't have a good night's sleep (Phil Maffetone wants you to sleep well), and I also had a crown replaced (unfortunately not the kind encrusted with diamonds). Oh, and my arms were killing me because I used the hedge trimmer Monday. Hedge trimmer workout. New DVD coming soon!
My body just said no to exercise. But I did get two hours of reading done. BTW The Girl on the Train is a total page-turner.
I have another MAF run today, and it's like NBD because they're so easy. In fact, I felt all relaxed after my run on Monday. The only thing about MAF is…
IT FEELS LIKE STARTING OVER.
It feels like I've never run before. Like I haven't finished two marathons or run a bunch of half marathons (I don't keep track–is that weird?).
It feels like crawling. Not just because I'm going so slow, but also because of how babies learn. You know, you gotta crawl before you can walk.
It feels overwhelming. Like I have this huge mountain to climb and I'm down in the valley looking up and thinking, Why am I doing this again?
Sometimes I think this whole running thing is kind of dumb. What is the point? Do I need a point? What if I didn't run? What if I just worked out? What if I didn't have a PR goal? What if I just gave up races?
Hmmm. Guess I'll think about all that on my run today.
Photo credit: Kleine Scheidegg hiking trails via photopin (license)
MAF Method