It’s been a month since the Sangre de Cristo 50, and while I feel fine, my body continues to throw me a curveball now and then.

Last week, for example. Everything was fine the first half. Just a little sluggish starting my Wednesday morning six-miler, but finished strong. Good run! Then on Thursday, it was like something had sucked me dry. Fatigue and low energy all day, even with extra sleep. This persisted through Saturday.

I could have sucked it up and followed the training schedule my coach set up on the Final Surge app. And if it were just lack of motivation, I would have. But it was a physical condition, not mental. Fortunately the weather was cold and wet, so I wasn’t tempted to push it. Warm, sunny days carry extra induced guilt. You’re wasting this beautiful day. Get your ass out there, slacker.

Describe the above to any coach or trainer, and the answer will be identical: Listen to your body. I’ve heard the same from fellow ultrarunners, and even given that advice. And, as any ultrarunner will tell you, easier said than done. All the athletes I know, including myself, have this inner voice that drives them to train, so they can accomplish the BHAGs (*) they set for themselves. My wife and I refer to it as my samurai.

My test for 1st Kyu (me on the right), applying all the samurai I could muster.

The name stems from an advanced Aikido class I took many years ago, where in addition to throwing each other around the mat and sparring with wooden swords, we received lectures that contained insights into samurai culture. One lesson really struck me, the idea that a samurai allows no outside condition to disturb his serenity. Raining? Let others run; a samurai continues to walk. I’ve done just that ever since, and it’s fun. Once a hard squall came in just before a 10K race. Everyone else crowded under the shelters, huddled masses yearning to be dry. I finished my warmup, Sure, I got soaking wet. So what?

My samurai has come in handy in many races as well. Like the brutal foot pain I had at mile 97 of the Kettle Moraine 100, or mile 125 of the Veterans Memorial 150. In each case, once I’d made sure I wasn’t risking permanent injury, I kept going, and finished both races. Or the Potawatomi and Miakonda ultras, where I ran for hours with a stomachache. Would I have had the mental discipline to do that without Aikido? Possibly, but for sure those classes helped me become the runner I am now.

Now, actually, I didn’t “not listen” to my body those times. I did listen, and made a decision to keep going, the goal being more important than temporary discomfort. However, there are times when it’s prudent to let the body have its way, such as after a hard race, or during normal training. Pain? Unusual discomfort? Cut it short. I can make it up later. Or, perhaps it’s best just to rest it out, which is what I did last week. Did I feel guilt? You bet. But as my wife likes to say in such situations, “Tell your samurai to stuff it,” and most times she’s right.

On Sunday the sun reemerged, as did my energy, and I got in a nice long run without any problems. And today’s gym workout went fine, too. It helped that both my coach and my trainer said I’d done the right thing. My samurai has grudgingly agreed, but he warned me he’s not going to cut me any slack next time. He takes his job seriously.

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(*) BHAG = Big Hairy-Ass Goal. Means just what it says.