Always be thinking about it

I do a lot of thinking on my run time as I'm sure a lot of you that run do. It has always been that way and it is something I look forward to.

I'm not always looking for answers like this quote suggests but I do find it therapeutic to be out on the trails with no music and just my thoughts. I do tend to have music if I'm doing recovery or speed work on the roads but that is merely to block out the noise of the cars.

I think this is another reason why people who run feel so hemmed in when they get injured. They lose that "me" time when they can escape from the day job of life and be free.

So I guess what I'm saying as someone who has been injured a little over time myself is that we really need to invest in our bodies and look after ourselves better. The run doesn't finish when we land back at the front door. Then the rehab should start and we should take as much care as we can over this. In fact, this is true of all sports. I was at Arsenal recently and stood mesmerised as Alexis Sanchez ran countless lengths of the pitch in an empty stadium after a game before going into a huge stretch session on his own. He then went and got iced up and ate before getting showered and changed.

So next time you go for a run, think about Alexis Sanchez and think about what you're going to do when you get in from a rehab perspective. I'm sure you'd all rather be spending money on new run shoes rather than on people like me.

Look after your body.