In the zone?

When I laced up my bright orange Brooks ST5 racers today it had been 16 days since they had last been on my feet. 16 days since I had run a single step (granted on that day I did run more than just the one step, in fact I had run many more than that during the Marrakech Marathon). The excess synovial fluid that was calling my shin and ankle home had finally dissipated and left me pain free and seemingly ready to hit the road again, just in time for the Seville Marathon this coming Sunday.
Shoes, socks, shirt and shorts on I strode out the door. "Just a gentle pace to get me back in the swing of things, just to make sure my tendonitis is truly diminished". Striding down the street my hamstrings and glutes feel a little tight but nothing untoward going on as of yet. A quick glance at the watch once I'm comfortable tells me that I'm running at a 6:56 mile pace. I'm happy with that. By the time I hit 2 miles I have slumped into an autonomic stride with theta brain waves a plenty and I realise I have absolutely no recollection of what has happened over the 2nd mile. This is what is known as being "In the zone" or "performing within the zone of optimal performance" to give the full journal recognised title. Was I in the zone? had I been wrenched from a mental nirvana by my Garmin beeping to inform me that the next mile had passed? Or was I just day dreaming? A quick glance at the watch would let me know more. 13:46 was displayed. Yes I had been performing at my race pace with no effort or concentration. Autonomy had lead me for the last 1609 meters. With this I was very pleased, now the trick is to somehow replicate it? But how do you do something again that you didn’t know how you did it the first time? Whilst considering tactics for increasing my theta brain waves I began to assess how my ankle and shin where feeling. Tibialis anterior....check ...... ankle..... feels a little weak but no pain or tightness, check! It was then that I began to realise how I had lost 7 minutes of memory between miles 1 and 2. As I concentrate on every kinaesthetic and proprioceptic clue coming from my left shin and ankle I notice that I pulling and inquisitive face and tilting my head slightly like some sort of pondering cartoon detective pooch. This was accompanied by the feeling of drifting off mentally. I could almost feel myself stepping into the zone.
Brain switched off, legs switched on. The miles just fall away, before I know it I'm turning the corner onto the top of Sailsbury Avenue, I have just under one mile left and I feel like I'm only just starting. Heading down the hill I allow my stride to lengthen and I power home in comfort, With about 1/3 of a mile remaining Arcade Fire come on through my headphones and with an empowering blast of chatherdral-esque organs I am being flown home relieved that I am pain free and feeling ready to head to Seville excited and ready.
Bring it on.


Keep Running!

www.justgiving.com/12marathonsin2012

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