Today’s plan called for a 5-mile (8.1km) run, but my brain seemed to have its own agenda! Things started off steady at marathon pace, but before long, my legs began to feel stiff and uncomfortable, almost like I was shuffling. That’s when the mental battle began—my brain was urging me to stop.

I did my best to drown out the noise and pushed through to the halfway point. By then, I had to slow to a walk. Instead of throwing in the towel, I decided to make the second half count by turning it into an interval session, gradually increasing the pace with each running interval.

Initially, I was frustrated that I didn’t stick to the original plan, but in hindsight, turning it into an interval workout was a smart move. Interval sessions are incredibly beneficial—they improve cardiovascular fitness, increase endurance, and train your body to recover quickly between bursts of effort. Plus, they build mental toughness, which is just as important as physical strength on race day. What felt like a setback at first actually turned into a productive session!

5mile (8.1km) in 49:31 on the treadmill at 1% incline.

Todays film quote:

“There’s been a change of plan.”

Detective John Kimble (Arnold Schwarzenegger) – Kindergarten Cop (1990)