When I started running in January of 2011 I had no clue what I was doing. I pretty much hopped on a treadmill and started running hoping I would eventually be able to run a 5k. I didn't do any research, I had no clue what the couch to 5k program was, and I most certainly paid little attention to any resources on how best to train.
Fast forward two and a half years and I have accomplished so much more than that. I have completed more 5ks than I can count, a handful of 10ks, some special distances/races, 8 half marathons, and a full marathon. Now I wonder if it was too much, too quickly. I lost the run love after my marathon in December - it was a humbling experience that left me questioning my abilities as a runner. Instead of being tough and training harder I didn't run for several months.
While I have run a half marathon already this year, I didn't train well and my heart wasn't in it. I only have two more races planned this year: Color Me Rad with my daughter and another half marathon in September. My focus this year is supposed to be on building my endurance to complete the Dopey Challenge in January. To this end, I have told myself I will run slower and allow walk breaks - the problem is that I feel like I am losing fitness, or maybe just not regaining as quickly as I would like.
That means that running even 3 miles feels incredibly hard right now, my hearts not in it and neither is my head. I am looking forward to being able to say I completed Dopey, but there are days when I sincerely doubt my abilities... if 3 miles feels hard how on earth will I run 48.6 over 4 days with little to no sleep?
Start with one mile at a time and go from there. You'll be ready for January!
ReplyDeleteYou can do it. Take the next few runs and make it fun - run like a crazy little kid, skip for five minutes every mile, leave the watch at home, pretend you're on a scavenger hunt...just remember to have fun and don't stress!
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