The irony of my life is that while I LOVE plotting out my training schedules and penciling in each future workout in great organized detail, I find myself rarely sticking to the plan. I try to remember if I followed "the plan" for my last marathon but it has been longer than 24 hours ago and simply cannot recall. My guess would be no. Don't get me wrong, I follow the long runs religiously, it is just the mid-week runs that suffer. You know, the ones that really make the long runs easier. Or at least that is my theory... The mid week base building would make the long runs less of a torture test and more of "slightly longer" run.
My week usually ends up as a juggling act. Fitting in tennis, fitting in dishes/laundry/insert household needs here, fitting in strength classes at the gym or whatever I think I might be lacking or strikes my fancy. If I have tennis practice until 10:00 PM on Monday, my Tuesday AM run becomes a no go. (Unfortunately, I am one of those people that requires a minimum of 8 hours of sleep. Anything less and by Friday I am a walking zombie.) As always, I have too many things I want to do (i.e. group runs on Saturday AM conflict with Zumba on Saturday AM) and not enough time to figure it all out.
I think today's 15 miler was a victim of not enough base building, too much personal stress and anything else I might like to blame. I knew when I woke up that my legs were feeling overworked but also knew I had 15 miles in pencil on the calendar that I could not ignore. OK, I could ignore it but as we all know the miles just keep compounding so you know the issue here. I set out on my run and did get my 15 miles in but wasn't happy with the way it went down. A whole lot more walking than running. In the end I got in the miles. I don't really count it as a successful training run but... at least I kept my legs moving. I am not really sure what the issue was, I KNOW I could do better at mid week runs. I also know that I am under a ton of personal stress right now so I wonder if the mental part is what might be bringing me down. In the end, I am proud that I kept going regardless of how it got done. Sometimes, half the battle is just overcoming yourself, right?
10 comments:
I really think more than half of the battle is overcoming yourself. I fought through a 20-mile training run this morning, where the first 16 or so were on the trail, and the last 4 were in my head. You got out there and gave it a go, and you know what you need to do to make the long ones less painful, so I'd call it a win. Training is a long and winding road.
I bet next time you try running 15 miles it will be much easier. I think at least 80% of it is mental.
Oh boy do I so know what you are saying here. I have had a lot of stress lately too and my weekday runs have suffered and therefore so have my long runs.
You're right though - you got out there and kept you legs moving and that means something. You've built more mental strength, more stamina and endurance even if it didn't feel great to you.
Now you just have to make it all work and it'll come together!
Some runs are tough, but I, too, think your next long run will feel much better!
LOL. I love making training plans but yeah, can't seem to enforce them as well! On my current one I think I made it 2-3 days before tweaking... I agree - at least you logged time on your feet. Hopefully you'll do better at consistency and it'll get easier? Oh and I don't even bother with housework... Cleaning? That can wait... Ok not really since I have horrible dust allergies but it waits anyway. Running > cleaning. Running > cooking. And since occasionally Being Lazy > Running well you know Lazy > cleaning & cooking! :)
Mental, yes! It will be easier next time. Just remind yourself that it's just a race, and you will do so many more. anyway, great job on getting the miles even when it felt bleak, to me that IS mental toughness!
Half the battle is ALWAYS overcoming myself.
I love to plot out my training schedule and ultimately fail at it. Okay, I don't love the failing part but it is inevitable.
I'm impressed with you gutting out the 15 miles and the last 2 on your 12 miles last week.
Bacon...(drool)
Great, I was entertained by the post. I learn more things on it. Thanks!!!
Thanks for sharing such a great post! More power to you! :)
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