Six weeks from now, I will be...
running a marathon? I'm not sure right now.
Here's the thing. The marathon I want to run (the only one I know...the one I ran last year) is just six weeks and change from now. It's on Valentine's Day.
Even though I have been averaging 38 miles per week for the past FOUR MONTHS, I have been having major trouble getting in my long runs. None of them have felt strong.
I am sick. I know this may be coloring my perspective right now, but I have been battling this current upper respiratory illness for twelve days. It sucks trying to get motivated for my workouts feeling the way I do.
I have to travel to China for work sometime in the month of January. The part of China where I work (rural Sichuan Province) is absolutely 100% not a place where a woman could go running outdoors, alone. It's just not going to happen.
Training for my first marathon was a big goal, but now that I've done that I'm sort of like...what's the point???! All this running is certainly counterproductive for overall fitness past a certain point. It crowds out swimming, cycling, skiing, climbing, and all the other "cross training" type activities I used to fill my weekdays with. It leaves little room for all the plyometrics, strength training, and yoga that actually make me a better athlete. It can be boring, especially when I'm faced with 1) an hour+ slog on the treadmill, or 2) the same hills and the same catcalls over and over.
Sure, I can win my age group at local races, but how much more do I have to sacrifice to be a really competitive runner? Will I keep watching my upper body strength wither away? Will I get injured again? (Honestly this is what scares me most, as I sense the tremendous imbalances running more that two hours at a time causes in my physical body.)
How do I get my motivation back?!!? This is definitely something I want to work on as I move into the New Year.
Once again, I have realized that this week's long run will be a struggle. My track club has canceled the run in favor of all the New Year's related running activities happening over the weekend. Eighteen miles by myself? Probably not.
I went ahead and registered for a trail 20k that takes place this Saturday. Maybe I'll feel like an additional six miles after the race. Maybe not.
I think this year will include lots and lots of trail miles. More raced trail miles. A triathlon. Quality time in the pool. Yoga. A pregnancy. Maybe a 50k or even a 50 mile race. More happiness. Less injury and fear.
I'm looking forward to it.
(And yes, I reserve the right to retract this post in a few weeks after I am home from my parents', back in a routine, and feeling less despondent and weird. Maybe.)
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| Photobombing my husband on our run today. Running is silly. |
Even though I have been averaging 38 miles per week for the past FOUR MONTHS, I have been having major trouble getting in my long runs. None of them have felt strong.
I am sick. I know this may be coloring my perspective right now, but I have been battling this current upper respiratory illness for twelve days. It sucks trying to get motivated for my workouts feeling the way I do.
I have to travel to China for work sometime in the month of January. The part of China where I work (rural Sichuan Province) is absolutely 100% not a place where a woman could go running outdoors, alone. It's just not going to happen.
Training for my first marathon was a big goal, but now that I've done that I'm sort of like...what's the point???! All this running is certainly counterproductive for overall fitness past a certain point. It crowds out swimming, cycling, skiing, climbing, and all the other "cross training" type activities I used to fill my weekdays with. It leaves little room for all the plyometrics, strength training, and yoga that actually make me a better athlete. It can be boring, especially when I'm faced with 1) an hour+ slog on the treadmill, or 2) the same hills and the same catcalls over and over.
Sure, I can win my age group at local races, but how much more do I have to sacrifice to be a really competitive runner? Will I keep watching my upper body strength wither away? Will I get injured again? (Honestly this is what scares me most, as I sense the tremendous imbalances running more that two hours at a time causes in my physical body.)
How do I get my motivation back?!!? This is definitely something I want to work on as I move into the New Year.
Once again, I have realized that this week's long run will be a struggle. My track club has canceled the run in favor of all the New Year's related running activities happening over the weekend. Eighteen miles by myself? Probably not.
I went ahead and registered for a trail 20k that takes place this Saturday. Maybe I'll feel like an additional six miles after the race. Maybe not.
I think this year will include lots and lots of trail miles. More raced trail miles. A triathlon. Quality time in the pool. Yoga. A pregnancy. Maybe a 50k or even a 50 mile race. More happiness. Less injury and fear.
I'm looking forward to it.
(And yes, I reserve the right to retract this post in a few weeks after I am home from my parents', back in a routine, and feeling less despondent and weird. Maybe.)
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