(On Running) #9 The Runner's Paradox

The Runner's Paradox

A book I was reading this week

"A paradox is the appearance of contradiction between two related components. Although light and darkness seem to be opposites, you can't have one without the other—the opposing elements of a paradox are inextricably linked." 

- The Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown (82)

This week, I sought to rediscover the joy in running. My consistent running practice has brought so much to my life, yet the monotony and demands of marathon training have grown tiresome. My pursuit of a Boston Marathon qualifier kept me highly motivated in my first training block, but now that I have realized that it may take several more training blocks to run sub 2:48:00 in the marathon, I am experiencing the challenges of delayed gratification for long-term goals. 

Running, in many ways, is a paradox. The act of running itself is grueling, exhausting, and monotonous. Running at high mileage demands that you build your schedule around your training plan, including sleep, nutrition, and social plans. Running forces you to choose between other hobbies and activities, as there is simply not enough time to run, play golf, play soccer, read, write, cook....

Yet, running has been a foundation for growth and change in my other hobbies. My golf swing has improved dramatically. I can run longer and faster on the soccer field than ever before. I am constantly reading new books. I write and reflect on my running journey. I cook high-carb and protein meals to propel my training forward. It can feel like I have less time to do everything I enjoy, but it has really inspired me to become more intentional so that I can do everything I enjoy. 

Despite this, marathon training can be undeniably boring. Especially when you run the same route, at the same distance, on the same day, at the same time. For the first few weeks of my Baystate Marathon training block, I relied heavily on the bike path for the shade it provides, and ran similar mileage on each day of the week (aside from Wednesday and Saturday). Running became something that inspired joy and creativity to something routine and predictable. 

To address this, I made important changes to my training this week. Firstly, I ran every day without headphones. Listening to music allows me to zone out during runs, which can be helpful, but to find the joy in running is to be alone with my thoughts and witness the self-love and belief that grows with each step. My two running playlists have been used heavily, and I think I need a new playlist before I listen to music again while running. 

The second change was to run strictly in the evenings, Monday - Friday. I have reflected on how I am a morning runner in past entries, yet this is simply another paradox. Yes, I run better in the morning. Yes, morning runs have cooler weather than in the evening. Yes, morning runs set my day up for success. But, my summer schedule is unique in that I have time to run in the evenings, which I didn't during my past two semesters. Evening runs gave me more time to plan new routes, take my time, and experience the morning without immediately going for a run. There is joy to be had in the morning and evening.

Going forward, I plan to run at different times of day, with and without music, and at varying mileage, paces, and locations. The joy in running is in exploration—of myself and the world—which means embracing change rather than avoiding it. To continue to grow and change as a runner means I am succeeding, and it is when I become complacent in my training that I know it is time to switch things up.

Week 7: Training Summary (Baystate 2026)

58.36 miles | 8h 56 min workout | 2,224 ft elevation

(E) = Easy | (W) = Workout | (L) = Long 

Monday (E): 7.03 miles | 8:14/mi | 246 ft elevation gain | 6:22 PM

Ran the Emily Dickinson Trail (.9 miles) to Groff Park, then found my way back to the bike path before entering the Brickyard Conservation area trails. Trail running makes me forget about pace and take in the scenery, along with inviting obstacles that road running does not. This was my first step towards mixing up my training.

Tuesday (E): 11.02 miles | 7:57/mi | 627 ft elevation gain | 5:57 PM

Explored some local neighborhoods that I hadn't considered as a route option previously. They were hillier than I predicted, but an enjoyable change of scenery. They began to feel like a bit of a maze after a while, though. For the ~2.5 mile section of this run on the bike path, I grew to appreciate how running in one direction allows me to turn my brain off, when I don't have to worry about where to turn next. 

Wednesday (W): 7.32 miles | 8:28/mi | 23 ft elevation gain | 6:39 PM

My 6th Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club track workout. I am beginning to feel like a regular and recognize most of the people there each week. 

The workout:

• 1.5 mile warm up
• 800m tempo 
• Stretches and strides
• 6 x 800m 5K pace progression (2:00 standing rest)
• Split 1: 2:53
• Split 2: 2:47
• Split 3: 2:42
• Split 4: 2:37
• Split 5: 2:36
• Split 6: 2:27
• 1.5 mile cool down

800m repeats are tough, but progressively getting faster throughout the run built confidence. I run with pretty much the same group each week, which has helped build a community around track running. I am considering running my Wednesday marathon pace workouts on the track as well (especially since I just ordered new track spikes!)

Thursday (E): 7.30 miles | 8:40/mi | 194 ft elevation gain | 6:12 PM

Returned to the run club this week. I always appreciate social running, even if I am not going as fast as usual. In my opinion, it is necessary to have at least one social run a week to keep training interesting.

Friday (E): 9.67 miles | 7:54/mi |  535 ft elevation gain | 6:48 PM

Completed my hilly UMass loop that I frequented during the last training block. It felt nice to run on campus again, although it made me realize that I need more hills in my current block. 

Saturday (L): 16.02 miles | 7:58/mi | 413 ft elevation gain | 8:46 AM

I preserved my bike path privileges to the one that needed it most: the long run. 

Mentally, this run felt great. Running without headphones all week and mixing up the routes made running, even on the bike path, fun again. This run felt like a victory lap, a successful mindset shift from previous weeks. I felt as though I regained control over my training.

Insights on Improvement

I have realized that I operate best under what I call "structured flexibility." I have a plan, yet I am not afraid to change it when needed. After the first few weeks of training, I realized I needed a change. 

This upcoming week is the last week in the "speed and threshold" portion of my training plan before shifting to marathon-specific running. After this week, I plan to go back into Claude and adapt the rest of my plan to better reflect what I have actually accomplished in my first eight weeks. My mileage has been slightly lower than planned, and I have recognized that running the same mileage on the same days of the week does not work for me at longer distances.

My goal for the upcoming week is to embrace the runner's paradox: that it is both the hardest and most rewarding thing I do for myself.

Stay tuned every Sunday for insights into my training towards a sub 2:48:00 marathon!

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Ryan K. Beck can be reached at rkbeck.writing@gmail.com