In 45 days I’m running a half marathon.
Thursdays are my most difficult run day, which doesn’t make much sense because Thursday is always a recovery run — low miles at a slow pace, to help me bounce back from Wednesday’s speed work or tempo run and get loose for Saturday’s long run. But every Thursday, I have to talk myself into putting on my running shoes because gah I am so tired. And so stressed. And so far behind at everything.
Ugh.
I have the same conversation with myself every Thursday, starting as soon as the alarm goes off: It’s only four miles. It won’t take long. It’s supposed to be easy and slow. Just get it over with.
By the end of the first mile, I feel pretty good; by the start of the fourth, I’m thinking I might as well run five instead because I’m already out here, right? But I stick to the plan because the plan is what gets me to the goal.
I love running, but I love running more when I’m training for something. I am the most motivated when I’m moving toward something, less likely to think about how tired and stressed I am and more likely to put my shoes on and go. I wish I had realized this 25 years ago, when my approach to exercise consisted entirely of trying to change my body into something that looked more like what I saw in magazines and less like what I saw in the mirror.
Which is not a realistic goal.
I started swimming at the beginning of September; my goal, honestly, was just not to drown. So far, so good! But here’s a funny thing: since I added the swimming to my training plan (four times a week, every week) I’ve cut nearly 15 seconds per mile off my running pace. Crazy! It’s possible that I’m running faster because the weather is cooler, but I’m convinced the swimming has something to do with it. That wasn’t my goal, but it’s a nice bonus.
When I run, I think about all sorts of things: the details of projects I’m working on, things that are going on with my kids, lists of stuff that needs to get done. When I swim, I can’t do that; I have to focus on my breathing and my stroke and the number of laps I’ve finished. That time in the pool, the time it takes me to finish 1300 yards, is a complete break from the day, the only one I get, typically. Ahh.
I have my training plotted out through the marathon, all my swims and runs, and every day I check to see what’s on the calendar. I like the feeling of control that the training plan gives me, and the sense of moving forward that comes with the goal. It helps me to deal with all the unschedulable, uncontrolable things that are going on in the rest of my life.
Are you an athletic goal setter, or do you enjoy exercise for the sake of exercise?
I love all of this, which will surprise you not at all. I’m so much better at training when I have a goal because, well, I want that goal to go as well as possible, and I know from experience that putting the work in ahead of time is the key.
I do give myself permission to skip a workout when it absolutely cannot happen, and I don’t stress about it, but having that schedule allows me to see a pattern, and, if necessary, adjust. I’ve made Monday my rest day because Mondays are always, always awful, and I had a hard time getting a workout in. I know a lot of people do a rest day on the weekend, but hey, that’s when I have time to do a longer run or a brick, you know?
Yes, I have an athletic goal setter. Her name is Susan Wagner and she’s trying to kill me.
Dude. Totally. You speak my language. Really wish I’d know this a long time ago too.
No way. My life is too crazy (read: the constant unpredictability of getting injured, getting sick, kids getting sick, husband having to go out of town, etc etc etc) to commit to a training plan for a race. Also, too nerve-wracking. I totally run just for running’s sake. I love it and don’t really ever have problems with motivation, even though I’m not working toward a race or with a plan.
Are you doing a FULL marathon this time? I missed that somehow, if you posted it. I remember you did a half in the spring. Yay Running!
No no, not a full, just a half! I don’t think I’ll ever do a full marathon. I like being alive too much.
Thank you for this post!!
Last November while training i developed a terrible stress fracture in my femur. my goal then was to see if i could ever run again. After 7 months, I”m now back up to a comfortable 6.5 miles.
In 2 weeks i’ll be 50 and my new goal for my 50th year is not only getting back to 5 & 10ks, but to start training for a half. I also have Bay to Breakers in San Francisco as a goal in may. fingers crossed i can stay injury free.
Goals and things on my calendar keep me focused and committed.
Thank you for this post. It’s made me think…I’ve never really trained for an athletic goal, just run those races that I knew I could finish. Well, really just 5Ks! I’m such an inconsistent runner that it would mean putting a priority on my running, not squeezing it in between other things and on days when I wasn’t too crazy busy and I feel like the rest of my life would suffer if I was exercising that much.. I’d like to run a 10K and maybe even a 1/2 marathon sometime so something to consider…actually putting it on my priority list.
I am so much better when I have a goal…like you I’m “only half crazy!” A full marathon sounds like a good idea until I start thinking about the fact that I’d have to run a half, twice. All in one day. Also, like you, those “easy” runs seem to be the hardest to muster up energy for. Good luck!
I’m a big goal setter. I was a swimmer in a past life, and it really does build breath control/lung capacity and strengthens different leg muscles. It’s great cross training.
What was your training plan when you first started running? I am signed up for a 4 miler at Thanksgiving and running 1-2 miles regularly but without a ton of strategy.
Goals are key for me. I love the structure, and looking back after a few months and getting to say, ‘Wow; I’m doing this.’ When I have no goal, for some reason I have no will power to get out of bed in the dark to put on my running shoes. I just roll over and sleep in, wrapped in my guilt blanket.
Way to go! Keep up the good work! I suppose I exercise with the goal of becoming healthy/getting in shape. So I’m goal oriented, but not a concrete, “I want to run a 5K” kind of goal oriented person.