Every runner faces battles, some more “winnable” than others. Today, I waged war against a down comforter, sweat pants and the dark gloom of the monsoonal rain we’re having. I fought the good fight – pressing snooze more times than I would care to admit, telling myself five more minutes, convincing myself if I missed my gym time I can just wake up a do a workout DVD. But alas, my efforts were fruitless and I slept, slept, and slept some more, until…OH CRAP!
I think it’s about that time in the training cycle when getting the runs in becomes more of a mental struggle than anything. With just 26 days to go, I almost feel as if my body is getting lazier. I’m opting for sleeping in than getting all of the mileage in (seven miles is the same are nine, right?), speed work is minimal and I’m simply anxious to get to Boston already. I know in the back of my head the importance of getting this final training in and I’m still passionate about the running, but then a little thing called life gets in the way and I need to remind myself that it’s completely normal.
So today I vow not to beat myself up if I miss a workout or two because my body needed to sleep or wedding planning duties took precedence. I’m human. You’re human. And training schedules are meant to be flexible.
What point in training do you feel yourself begin to fade?
What do you do to prevent it or keep yourself sane?
Laziness at its finest – don’t worry, we’ve given here a hair cut since this photo.
Happy Running!
P.S. Be sure to check out my guest post on Bun & Borough…tips for beginning running (P.S.S. I still don’t know why Christine didn’t let me be her stow-away on her trip to Barcelona…le sigh.)
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Day 83: TBD
I’ve been struggling with this quite a bit lately and I’m not even formally training for a marathon yet! You’re right, sometimes we definitely do need to just give ourselves the extra sleep, modify workouts and move on. Sometimes that is certainly easier said than done. You’ve put in so much hard work, it will all pay off on April 18th!! 🙂
I’ve been oversleeping since last week w hen we had daylight savings! I’m a little further out from my race (6 wks to OC Marathon) but I’m starting to feel burned out. This weekends’ tri/long run combo didnt help, but I hate to admit I’m thinking about doing it again in 2 weeks. From looking at posts on daily mile it seems a lot of us are dragging right now. I blame DST! :o)
I couldn’t agree more with this post! Naturally, I am veryyy lazy…. but things that have helped rectify the laziness when it comes to running: running at night, telling myself I’ll only regret NOT running, and most importantly, NOT THINKING about it. If I think, I usually make excuses and talk myself out of what could have been a great run!
Thanks for the shoutout! Everyone loved your tips!
xo. Christine
I definitely get the same thing about 3-4 weeks out from a big race. I often wondered if I was ‘peaking’ in training too early but I think it’s just a normal part of the cycle…just keep pushing through these last few weeks and Boston will be here in no time 🙂 It’s also OK to attend to ‘life’, you’re just about at your taper anyways, right?
I’ve been fighting that fight lately too. I tend to struggle with motivation mid-training. When I’m starting to get tired from training, way past the “yay I’m excited to run the marathon” stage and not yet to the “OMG it’s around the corner” stage. I’m with Monika and the daylight savings time, too. It’s been too dark in the mornings!
I did NOT want to get up this morning and I didn’t even have to run today! I just feel like I never get enough sleep and there is just too much to do!!
What is up with this monsoon style rain we’re having around here? I feel like we’re in the South, where weather like this is normal, haha
Great guest post, you are becoming a rock star on the blogging circuit!
And yea, during my only marathon training cycle so far, about a month away from my marathon I started to lose it a bit, I was just tired of running, so I think it’s normal for you to feel this way about a month away from Boston. You are almost there!
And thanks for the comment, I don’t mean to add pressure to you at Boston, I was even debating about even throwing out a time, haha I just think you’re super fast and you will destroy it regardless of what your time is =)
LOVE this!! I find it SO hard not to beat myself up if I miss a training run for something, whether it’s to catch up on sleep or for something else important. Although sometimes it is just me being lazy and preferring the cosiness of my bed! 😛
I try to just not think about it. If I do, my brain will come up with a list of a thousand reasons I shouldn’t run, so I just lace up my shoes and get out there! And if it’s a morning run, I sometimes sleep in my running clothes so I can literally fall out of bed and out of the door!!
And that picture is SO cute!! 😀
hang in there friend! you can do it put your back into it!!!!!!!!!
I’m making a point of NOT having much of a training program this time. I’m on the “I’ll just run because I’m grateful I can do it, and it keeps me sane” plan. I’ve had enough injuries that when I think of delaying a run, all it takes is imagining that I COULDN’T run. Since I know how awful that is, it gets me going.
Oh thank God its not just me! I’m ready to be done with training and run for fun! Love that picture!!!
YOU’RE NOT THE ONLY ONE! This last week I’ve had to DRAG myself to get on my feet! I can’t wait to RACE and then just run when, where, and however long I feel like! 4 months is a long time to focus on ONE goal-I’m happy I threw a race in the mix this weekend so I dont’ feel bad about taking it a little easy this week!
New follower, LOVE your blog!
A rest day every now and then will prevent major burnout later, so that was a good choice. Just make sure you get out there tomorrow. 26 days!! You can do it!
Oh boy can I relate! And I totally agree with you on being flexible.