My Machine Metaphors for Running

Picture of a large hydraulic press labeled powerful and a combine harvester taking up two lanes of traffic labeled slow

Lately, my runs have felt like a large, powerful industrial machine doing its job. When I get my hips forward and my feet to land under my body, I am a stamping machine making punches into sheet metal. My footsteps are not heavy, but they feel very purposeful.

I also feel similar to how a large industrial machine moves. Imagine a combine harvester backing up traffic on a rural road. I feel slow. However, I am okay with that since I am running with better form. These days, I wonder how I ran 26.2 miles (three times) with poor form.

Last week, I increased my runs to 4 miles and my weekly total to 16 miles. My heart rate while running has been in the lower zone 3, but it has felt like an easy pace and slower than my last training block. The pain in my quad and hip flexor has disappeared. The glute activation warmup is working. On Sunday, I ran without the glute activation warmup to start my run with a drizzle rather than a downpour, and my quads were not happy with me after the run.

I’ve come to terms with the fact that this part of running is not glamorous. It’s the brick you lay daily to make your path for your next race. It’s compound interest. In a world of near-instant gratification, it can be challenging to wait for results, but that is the key to success.

What are your metaphors for your running? Please share in the comments below.

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