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Running out of the fog, one interval at a time.

Today’s fartlek run started with a small mistake: I overdressed. Knee socks and a long-sleeve top felt fine at home, but once outside, it was too warm. I don’t like feeling overheated; it makes me sweat even more, but I decided to roll with it.

Before the run I ate half a bowl of muesli. I didn’t want to bring a gel this time but still wanted some fuel in my system. I’m curious to see how this approach works compared to running on an empty stomach.

I took my smaller forest loop and worked through the intervals: 2 minutes, 1.5 minutes, and 1 minute fast, broken up with slower paces. The fast parts were demanding but fun, and the easy paces afterwards felt amazing. I even told myself at the start, half jokingly, “Okay, brain, now be happy.” By the end, I really did feel lighter. Step by step, I’m running my way out of the recent mental low.

I carried one water bottle and drank it all during the run. Afterwards, I added a short strength session: 5 minutes of core exercises. They felt hard, a reminder that muscles you don’t train regularly take time to wake up again, but it was worth it.

Even with small mistakes, today’s session left me energized. The mix of fueling before the run, pushing through intervals, and enjoying the recovery pace gave me confidence that I’m moving in the right direction.