Early morning session at the track. Cold air hits different when you're halfway through intervals—makes you realize how much your lungs have to work. Today was 6x800m with 90-second rest. The third repeat always feels the worst, right when your body starts questioning the whole plan. But I kept the splits consistent, and that's the win. A guy running on the adjacent lane nodded at me after the fifth one. No words, just that quiet acknowledgment that we're both out here doing the work.

After the workout, I stretched longer than usual. Not because I felt sore, but because I've been skipping it lately and my hamstrings are reminding me. It's easy to cut corners on recovery when you feel strong, but that's exactly when you need it most. I sat on the track for an extra ten minutes, foam roller in hand, and worked through the tight spots. Boring? Sure. Necessary? Absolutely.

Breakfast was simple: scrambled eggs, toast, black coffee. I've been experimenting with adding a bit more carbs in the morning on hard training days, and it seems to help. Small adjustments like that don't sound exciting, but they add up. Nutrition isn't about perfection—it's about finding what works and sticking with it.

Midday I reviewed my training log from the past month. One thing stood out: I've been consistent with the runs but inconsistent with strength work. Two sessions one week, zero the next. That's the pattern I need to break. Discipline isn't just showing up when you feel like it; it's showing up when you don't. So I scheduled three strength sessions for next week and set reminders. If it's on the calendar, it happens.

The afternoon was quieter. I spent some time reading about periodization and recovery cycles. There's a quote I came across: "Rest is not the opposite of work—it's part of the work." That hit. I've been treating rest days like something to tolerate instead of something to respect. Tomorrow is a rest day, and I'm going to treat it like a session. No guilt, no second-guessing. Just recovery.

Tonight I prepped meals for the next two days. Chicken, rice, vegetables—nothing fancy, but it takes one decision off the table tomorrow. When you're tired or busy, that's when discipline shows up in the small things. Meal prep might not feel like training, but it is. It's training your consistency.

Tomorrow: Foam rolling in the morning, light stretching, and a walk. No running. Just recovery.

#fitness #discipline #training #recovery #consistency