A Head Thread

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Sharkie Sep 2021 3:09pm, 20 Sep 2021 18,634 posts	0 Sharkie Long posts from everyone are very welcome .B. (My thread, my rules) It's a good post too. I like the fact you list 'accountability TO MYSELF' as a helpful factor in committing to the thing/s you want. I do know that the more internal our motivators are the better chance we have.
EvilPixie Sep 2021 3:13pm, 20 Sep 2021 28,006 posts	0 EvilPixie the headspace thing is definitely a thing!
Sharkie Sep 2021 3:24pm, 20 Sep 2021 18,635 posts	0 Sharkie Incidentally I am enjoying so far the book sort-of-recommended by Chrisull. Robert Wright: Why Buddhism is True. Not at all new agey or hippyish. - the subtitle is pretty accurate 'the science and philosophy of meditation and enlightenment.' I DID have three or four sessions of sports pysch as a treat to myself a few years ago. Fascinatingly we sent packing an issue I'd carted around for many years ...but didn't really solve the principle issue I'd presented her with. Recognizing your own 'drivers' (for want of a better word) seems crucial.
Sharkie Sep 2021 3:24pm, 20 Sep 2021 18,636 posts	0 Sharkie I should think stuff out before I post. But I'd be here all day with an empty box.
Chrisull Sep 2021 3:52pm, 20 Sep 2021 18,427 posts	0 Chrisull Great news B, and glad to hear you're enjoying the book Sharkie. I posted a long post to the sub 3.15 about the collapse in both my running form and motivation, that seems perhaps just as suited to a post here. It's probably been around a bit, but masked by my progression to my 25000 running miles in 12 years (crossed that last month). Since hitting that big marker, running is becoming more and more a chore (although funnily enough not on holiday, where I recorded my longest week for ages). I feel washed out, aching on runs (knees, glutes, hamstrings), I've put on a little weight although nothing dramatic (2kg) which stubbornly won't come off, my speed has taken a complete dip. So 20.14 last year for a time trial to 5km. Then this year on a 7 miler actual race 55.04, (where I've always been between 47-50), where I couldn't hold a 7.30 pace (2 months ago I did 6 miles in training a just over 43). This weekend, I slightly salvaged it with a 21.43 park run where I set a target of in 7.00-7.30 pace band, (so 6.5x pace), park run was mentally a lot easier to face and more fun. But I'm kind of at a loss, I think it's the discomfort (taking ibuprofen after a run, makes the aches disappear and the next run will be easier) and fatigue that are more of an issue. I haven't had covid that I'm aware. I'm wondering chronic inflammation, some sort of overtraining thingy. My head is just not in the right place at all, or if it is, only for a couple of days before lapsing back into fatigue/survival mode. I'm happy to reset expectations, but it feels wider than that. Meditation/breathing stuff is just not denting it at the moment either. Ego is just going "blah blah blah blah" so much I want to throw bricks at it.
EvilPixie Sep 2021 4:04pm, 20 Sep 2021 28,007 posts	0 EvilPixie when I was Outlaw training for all those months never did I ponder skipping a session now I'm like CBA
.B. Sep 2021 5:06pm, 20 Sep 2021 43,441 posts	0 .B. Not having the big target to draw you to it is a big thing Chrisull (amazing miles btw!). I think it’s quite common to have a dip in running “mojo” after a big target e.g. a marathon, and not surprising really that you/ your body/ mind want a break. Always best to rule out any physical cause of the fatigue etc. , but also to consider what else is going on in your life? I know my training always drops off if I am busy/stressed by work or other life issues, we can only do so much, and sometimes the best thing is to give ourselves permission to take it easier, e.g. pace someone to a far slower time than you can do at parkrun or volunteer - you’ll get the positivity but not the discomfort? I hope you can find the joy again.
Homeless Kodo Sep 2021 5:07pm, 20 Sep 2021 1,736 posts	0 Homeless Kodo I’m only experienced to talk about meditation from a predominantly Buddhist perspective but I have done the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course, which is secular. My purely anecdotal experience with regards to people struggling with meditation falls in to a few categories. No teacher or training. Meditation’s one of those things that’s simple but not easy. There are numerous mistakes and errors you can make learning to meditate that an app just won’t help you with but a teacher will; whether it’s physical such as posture, seating, dealing with pain and discomfort or psychological getting frustrated, getting bored, giving up. Meditation is as much physical as it is mental. One of the first meditations you learn on the MBSR course & one of the first meditations I learned with the Sakya lineage is the body scan, linking mind and body more closely. Correct seating & posture are vital to effective meditation, they stop you falling asleep for one thing. As (I think it’s Rinzai Zen) Buddhists say “not 1 not 2” - mind and body are two separate entities so not 1 but they are inextricably linked and cannot function without each other, so not 2. Compassion. Mindfulness isn’t solely about focused awareness and concentration, developing compassion is the second lesser known or forgotten part of it. Compassion firstly for yourself, so you don’t throw bricks at your ego when it goes blah blah blah which then evolves to compassion for other people. Leaving it all on the cushion. Formal meditation, whether seated or walking, is the bedrock of meditation, you’ll not get far without it but if that’s all you do you’re missing a big trick. It really helps support & develop practice if you take meditation out in to the world with you, so stopping for a 3 minute meditation here or there, when the opportunity arises really embellishes & improves the effect of meditation. The MBSR course teaches the 3 minute meditation brilliantly.
Sharkie Sep 2021 5:42pm, 20 Sep 2021 18,640 posts	0 Sharkie I'm interested in - to misquote that bloke - what you* think about when you're running. Do you think about running, think about thinking, zone out and let your mind wander where it will, zone in to a trance like state, sort out problems, have arguements... what? If you count or listen to music or podcasts or whatevers then that's not really applicable here. * 'you', not me. Sprinting and jumping don't present much time for thinking. Any relevant thinking has to be done beforehand
Sharkie Sep 2021 5:43pm, 20 Sep 2021 18,641 posts	0 Sharkie Helpful - as ever - HK. Loved your long blogs about Buddhism by the way... still waiting for next installment.