All stress is stress.
This is something I say a lot – often as a reminder to the people I coach, but about equally as often as a “note to self.”
Because we, as humans, love to put things in neat, little boxes that keep everything separate and tidy.
We have work stress.
Family stress.
House stress.
Car stress.
Training stress.
And sometimes we don’t even like to admit that training is a stressor because we use it as “stress relief” from all that other shit.
But it’s still stress.
And most of us love to pretend the work stress doesn’t affect the family and that the family stress doesn’t affect the running…
But they do.
And if we do multiple activities, we also love to pretend that the running doesn’t affect the biking, which doesn’t affect the climbing, which doesn’t affect the skiing…
But it does (and it does… and it does…)
And honestly, this is the most common reason a lot of the people I know get injured.
Because sure, they were actually fairly responsible with increasing their running volume…
But they also started training while they were trying to take on a new role at work and sell their house and get better at a second sport.
So while the running volume seemed completely reasonable, it was way too much in the context of their life.
The result?
Injury.
Because all stress is stress.
And furthermore, training isn’t stress relief.
It’s escapism.
You’re escaping all the other stress in your life by replacing it with another – admittedly more enjoyable – stressor.
And that’s okay.
There’s nothing wrong with a little escapism.
But at some point, we also have to prioritize recovery.
We have to eat food and get sleep and hydrate – all of which can be tough when you never sit down for more than 20 seconds at a time.
Most runners I know go through life with the intensity dial cranked to 11 and then wonder why they’re constantly battling some chronic injury.
It’s because we don’t know how to recover.
And yes, I clearly include myself in that.
I’m not delusional.
I say this from a place of understanding.
Not judgment.
I’m trying to figure it out for myself, just like everyone else.
Which is why I have people in my life who are there to help me.
Friends.
A therapist.
A network of coaches.
Because sometimes, it just helps to get another set of eyes on the problem.
It’s hard to find the harmony between all of the things that matter to us.
Life is complicated and we all have a lot to do, every day.
It’s often easier to see the solution from the outside.
Sometimes, you need someone else to say, “Hey, you’re focused on this one little part right here, but see aaaaalllllllllllllllllll this stuff over here? That’s what’s causing the problem.”
It’s a lot easier to analyze when you’re not in the middle of it.
Anyway, I’m going to go eat some breakfast so I can make it to therapy on time.
If you’re struggling with your training and would like some help, I’d be happy to be that second set of eyes.
You know how to reach me.