When I decided to take on the challenge of training for my first full marathon, I went about it in much the same way as I planned out my training for my first half last year. I would follow a training schedule and then I would schedule races to coincide with the distances I had to run that weekend. It's a fun way to train (and getting medals for training runs is always especially worth it).
When Footstock half came and went almost a month ago, I knew I was suddenly in the last half of my marathon training plan. Life was about to change in a big way. My weekday runs were suddenly going to count for alot more - no more squeaking by on just one long run a week. I was going to need to pay better attention to how well I am hydrated and my nutrition was going to be much more important. Even with this in mind, I still wasn't realizing it.
In the past week, though, I suddenly "got it". A few days ago, I wrote a blurb on hydrating for my half this weekend. This half is to replace a 19K training run. I was so focused on hydrating for THIS RACE that I almost missed that I was going to need to hydrate like this EVERY WEEK FROM NOW ON! In 2 weeks time, I start running at least a half marathon distance every weekend. This is where the rubber meets the road...
The other thing that hit me this week is trying to wrap my brain around the fact that the half marathon I run this weekend isn't a typical half for me. Normally, I would be taking it pretty easy on the weekday training...but this half is just another training run so I have this internal struggle about how much mileage to put in during the week.
I seriously need to find the reset button on my mindset and give it a good push. Erase everything I have done in training for my previous 4 half marathons and start thinking about how I am not training for the halfs that I am running this summer. They are just training runs with medals..the only race I am training for this summer is the BIG ONE in October.
So, tonight after dinner...I get to head out and run. The schedule says 10K, but I think it will only end up being around 7 (I am NOT running past those birds again til fall). and then, tomorrow, I will be up early for another one. Right here, right now my training mind has been reset. I do hope you will all chime in to yell at me if I start to slack off :)
Oh the mind games that come with running. I struggle with them too. I agree... getting medals is a big plus during your training. hahaha! I wish I would have thought of that. I was too focused on one race and one race only. Now I know mixing it up with races will make it more enjoyable!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a good run tonight!!