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Finding strength in unexpected obstacles.

Yesterday I felt tense just thinking about today’s 2-hour run. After my recent mental struggles, I wasn’t sure if I could manage it. I went to bed with doubt and woke up with the same feeling, respect for the distance, but also fear that I wasn’t strong enough.

After sleeping longer than usual, something shifted. The stiffness lifted, I felt looser, and I decided to use this run to work on my mental strength. I filled my hydration pack (with water), packed two gels, drank electrolytes, and set out, not with excitement, but at least without fear.

The plan was 2 hours: starting slow, then working into comfort zone. After 20 minutes I took my first gel, drank regularly, and tried to relax. The strange imbalance I’ve been feeling, not physical but mental, as if my stride were uneven, was still there. To change things up, I ran the route in the opposite direction for variety.

It wasn’t easy. At times, I felt like a stubborn child complaining inside, not wanting to continue. I even stopped briefly to take photos of some flowers, small things to keep me going.

Then came the 30 minutes at my comfortable pace. The first 5 minutes were tough, but then my mental strength returned. I started enjoying the run again, not at full power yet, but better than before.

Halfway through, I saw what looked like a huge obstacle: a tree blocking the path. At first it felt like hitting a wall.

But as I got closer, I realized it wasn’t storm damage; it had been cut down by a beaver! That made me laugh out loud and instantly lifted my mood. I thanked the beaver in my mind, took a deep breath, and turned around, reminded that sometimes you can’t go through, and that’s okay.

I finished my second gel later in the run and managed to hold about 6:20 min/km in comfort zone for 30 minutes. My body felt good, my mental energy steadier, and I finally felt in balance again. The ‘easy pace’ segments were still frustrating; I walked part of one and ended another early, but I accepted it and focused on what worked.

The run didn’t follow the plan perfectly, but it brought me back to myself. My body felt strong, my mental energy recovered, and the unexpected beaver-felled tree turned frustration into laughter. Thank you 🦫🌳