I had a 45-minute guided run on Nike Run Club with Shalane Flanagan, and here’s what I learned:

You should always start off easy in every run to let your body physically warm up and allow your mind to mentally prepare and commit to the run.

Sometimes it takes 15 minutes into the run, sometimes 20 minutes, and sometimes it takes the whole run, and you still haven’t warmed up. On those days—days when you just want to stay home and not go for a run, maybe the weather isn’t nice, you’ve had a tough day at work, or your mind is busy with what’s to come—you just have to make do with what you have and get past the starting line. You’ll be glad and proud of yourself for doing it.

I ran 7 km in 52 minutes. My calves felt a bit tight but improved the longer I ran. My phone dropped into a puddle while I was trying to jump around to avoid potholes. I’m feeling stronger both mentally and physically. I have a half-marathon run as my long run this week, but it’s not happening right now.

What will come, will come.