The answer is: ‘Probably a bit of both.’
Discipline as a core quality
I am quite disciplined when it comes to running. But sometimes I accidentally cross over to the dark side. Let me explain.
Are you familiar with Ofman’s Core quadrant? Ofman says we all have positive qualities. But too much of a good thing is, well, nót a good thing. So a positive quality can become your pitfall! I think that’s what sometimes happens to me, when it comes to running.
When discipline becomes compulsion
For example: I run 4 times a week, and I ride my bike 2 days a week. That leaves me one day of rest. That day is Sunday. The day I used to do my long runs.
But knowing I had to do a long run on Sunday started to weigh heavily on my mind on Saturday. My long run become just another chore for me to do, in a long list of chores.
So after much deliberation I decided to make Sundays my day off.
Am I a slacker or is that my compulsion talking?
Unfortunately, I often feel like I’m REALLY slacking off because I don’t do my long runs anymore. Never mind I exercise daily. It’s almost like that one day off is not allowed. The thing is: I really like being a runner. And I worry that not doing my Sunday long runs makes me less of a runner.
But when I won’t even allow myself one day off, my discipline probably has become too much of a good thing.
I’m wondering if other runners are struggling with this too?