The Highs and Lows of Running

Just Another Runner’s Perspective  May 2024 Written by Gale Fischer

The Highs and Lows of Running

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”

—-Dolly Parton

11/10/2018, Vienna, Illinois: Michelle and I had made it to the marathon mark, just a little over halfway before our ultra marathon journey would be complete. I had signed on for this epic race weekend, four months prior. It seemed running fifty miles just a few months after celebrating my fiftieth birthday would be a unique way to bring in a half-century. As is the case with any marathon, there are peaks and valleys, but knowing we had another twenty-four miles to go didn’t ease the signals my weary body was sending my brain. We took a quick bathroom break, grabbed some fuel, and were off again in less than ten minutes. Up to this point, we had implemented a strategy that consisted of intervals of running nine-tenths of a mile followed by a one-tenth-mile walk. We had discussed adding another walk break every mile after the brief intermission, but the calories we had just taken in seemed to supply us with a boost of energy. We decided to continue with the one walk break every mile for now. 

When discussing training and race day strategy with my good friend Scott Struck, over the months leading up to the race, one piece of advice seemed to stick. Scott, who was an experienced ultra-marathon guru, had completed a number of ultras. This weekend he had made the pilgrimage to Vienna with us and was attempting to hit the century mark for a one hundred miler. He had advised me many times that when hitting a rough patch to stay the course. Eventually, a rebound would occur and the mind and body would somehow dig their way out of the grave, and find new life. He was right. So far I had gone through some highs and lows, and now as Michelle and I approached mile twenty-seven it seemed we had found our way out of the abyss and back into the sunshine. 

Our spirits remained high for another four miles. We were still hanging in but it seemed like a wise decision now, to add another walk break into each mile. This change in our game plan seemed to help our physical and mental state remain even keel for another ten miles. At around mile forty we stopped at an aid station for a quick shot of fuel. I grabbed a peanut butter sandwich but was unable to swallow it. I reasoned that dehydration left my mouth dry and no matter how much I chewed it wouldn’t go down. I spit it out and we were on our way again. Sure enough, a few minutes later I could feel my energy being drained as my blood sugar level began to plummet. I struggled through to the last aid station, two and a half miles from the finish. I sent Michelle on her way and took a few moments to refuel before tackling the last section. My body had taken a beating and my energy stores were non-existent, but as I crossed the finish line my emotional state was sky-high. 

Life can become a roller coaster ride with the peaks and valleys adding vivid details to one’s personal story. Running draws many parallels to life with the roller coaster ride being one example. These highs and lows can occur in the midst of a run or race, just as Michelle and I had experienced for our fifty-mile ultra. I suppose the longer the distance the greater the disparity is between each of these peaks and valleys. Although the bulk of my experience as a runner comes from distances of half-marathon and above, I assume the varied physical and mental states one goes through can exist for almost any distance. There are many factors that can shift one through these ups and downs. Weather, changes in elevation from flat to hilly on a racecourse, calorie, and hydration consumption, and the phenomenon of the body recovering mid-race are all examples.

The ability to overcome a rough stretch in the middle of a run or race can come down to mental strength and capacity. Although often easier said than done, staying positive and weathering the mental storm can ease the physical burden associated with running long distances. Implementing a strategy of working through some discomfort with grit can reap dividends but there is also the other side of the mental equation. Knowing when to back off, for a race segment and allowing the body to adjust to the elements can allow one to run out of the valley and regain some composure. The importance of being prepared physically for the demands of a race is undeniable, but being equipped with mental strength and flexibility is also a huge part of figuring out how to run and race. As powerful as the mind can be, there are times however, when one can only do what the body physically allows.

Going through rough patches and finding a way through them are common in a single run or race but this pattern is something that many also face in the long haul of a running journey. When one first decides to give running a try, patience must often adhered to withstand the battle to get through running continuously for one mile, five miles, ten miles, and beyond. The struggle to reach each of these milestones will be replaced with an emotional high filled with excitement and confidence. When seeking to reach a PR, patience and hard work are often a requirement. This period of time may be filled with blood, sweat, and tears, with little emotional satisfaction, but when the goal is reached it will feel like summiting the crest of a mountain.

A journey to reach a peak in terms of speed and distance can satisfy one for years and even decades at a time. As intoxicating as this thrill is for the competitive runner, the decline in mileage and speed tied to aging can have just as powerful an impact, negatively. Once acceptance of this new phase is made, then enjoying the highs of a new chapter in running can be had. The pattern of injury, recovery, and return to running can also be the catalyst of ebbing and flowing between a rough patch and a runner’s high.

If one is attentive and reflective, running can teach many life lessons. Dealing with the highs and lows that some experience as runners can help in surviving the peaks and valleys that are a part of everyday life. As in running, there are things in life that can fuel confidence and make us feel as if we are on top of the world. Enjoying this while also preparing for a possible downfall is something to consider. It is a delicate balance. A rough patch may present itself, but getting through these rough patches to rise again is part of the process. 

Until next time, this has been just another runner’s perspective.