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Finding power even without perfect rest.

It’s amazing to notice how well my body is adapting: after Friday’s half-marathon, two 16 km bike rides on Saturday, plus yoga both evenings, I still had no muscle soreness. Even on Sunday and today’s Monday run, no issues showed up.

Sleep, however, was another story. I only got about 4 hours and felt generally drained, but not physically tired. At first, I thought of using that as an excuse to skip the session. But then I reminded myself: that’s not who I am. I don’t run only when conditions are perfect; I run because it gives me joy and strength, especially when I feel worn out.

The plan was a fartlek session, and it turned into another strong run. I noticed again how, after about 20–30 minutes, I really ‘arrive’, body and mind fully present, focused, and ready to tap into power I didn’t know I had.

By around 30–35 minutes, midway through the second fast interval, I felt my quads working hard, muscles tight and engaged. At first I thought it would have been good to carry a gel for mid-run fueling, but by the end I didn’t miss it. Instead, I finished the run looking forward to breakfast.

The quick shifts between slow and fast intervals reminded me of my earlier days in athletics. Back then, in school and leisure sports, I was never the fastest, often one of the slowest. But I was always proud that I gave everything I had. Today’s fartlek run brought that same pride back: not about being the fastest, but about giving my best effort.

Despite little sleep, this run reminded me that performance isn’t only about energy levels; it’s also about mindset and showing up. Even if speed wasn’t at full potential, the session was effective, uplifting, and deeply satisfying.