Turtle beats the Hare!
I quit.
I have no need for super speed anymore.
and it’s all good.
Some months ago I set out on a mission to train for my 3rd marathon (NYC) with a focus on improving my time. Actually, it was to knock a HUMUNGO chunk of time off so that I could qualify for the Boston Marathon next year. Yeah, small goal.
But no problem. I am a ‘goals girl’. I need one or I don’t move. As long as there is a final destination, I will work to get there. I got a training plan, the necessary gear and ran off into the sunset. Speedy Gonzalez style.
Until I one day I stopped.
Not completely, but significantly less and a lot slower.
At first I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Up until 3 weeks ago I was right on target. But now I was tired, didn’t want to get up to run in the morning (i’m a 4am runner), and had no desire to continue my training. WTF!
Was I getting sick? No.
Did I start my training off to hard? Too much, too soon? No.
Was I over training? Negative
West Nile Virus from my many mosquito bites? don’t think so, no fever.
Oddly though, aside from trying to figure out what was going on, I was kind of ok with it. I was still running, just not on all the days planned and somewhat slower. But, the fact that I wasn’t freaking out more really weirded me out. Why was I ok with not being able to stick to the plan to achieve my speed goal all of a sudden? I knew I wasn’t being lazy, I just couldn’t put the pieces of the puzzle together.
Until a few days ago.
It all started three weeks ago when we had some significant work/schedule changes in our household. It never occurred to me that these changes would have any effect my running, I would just continue my plan. But all of a sudden I went from decent sleep to barely any sleep and an increase in responsibilities at home, work & school, leaving me exhausted. There has been nothing left to give to the Speed Gods. You’d think I would have put two and two together faster, but I really couldn’t make the connection. When I finally did I thought “DUH!, ofcourse I’m too dang tired to run! It all makes sense.”
So, why don’t I just suck it up, push thorugh it and try to stick to the speed plan as best I can anyway? Because, to know me is to know that the old me would do just that. I’ve always been balls-to-the-wall ALL or NOTHING. And it’d be very easy for me to push myself through this, and everything else, while driving myself into the ground in the process. But for once, all of my years of therapy have paid off, and I’m saying no, it’s not the right time for me or my family, as they are making adjustments too.
But I don’t see it as giving up, its more like a shift in my priorites. There are certain circumstances in my life right now that need my time, energy & focus more. I still want to run, and I AM going to run, but RIGHT NOW I could care less about running fast. The idea of running an 8min/mile for the marathon is awesome, and I’m very capable of training for it, but not this marathon. It doesn’t fit.
Trust me, I believe wholeheartedly that if I really want something I can and will figure out a way to get it. Suck it up, work hard and make it happen. I’ve done it before and I will do it again. But just not right now. ‘Right now’ being the operative words, because maybe I will next year, for my next marathon.
I am still ABSOLUTELY siked about running NYC in November. I will be running in my ‘hood with all of my Nu Yawka peeps cheering me on. I CAN’T WAIT!!! The focus now is to get through my training injury free to run well and cross that finish line! Right now that, I can do!
photo: tylerajan
Sep 02, 2008
I am so proud of you for figuring this out (esp. before an injury figured it out for you!) and for being so darn sensible about it all. No hysterics or judging – just taking good, gentle care of yourself. Can I be you when I grow up??
You are going to rock that marathon, girl:)
Sep 02, 2008
you know Im proud of you.
but, as will all Fitarellacompliments, it bears repeating:
YOU GO WOMAN!
love and no speed work,
Miz.
Sep 02, 2008
Awww, thank you Charlotte. I think this is the first time in my life that I’ve ever made a decision like that w/o judging myself for it. Why now? I have no idea. But i’m goin’ with it
Sep 02, 2008
Right back at ‘cha Miz! Huge hugs to you for feelin’ the fear
Sep 02, 2008
It’s not like you’re quitting the race! Good for you for taking it easy on yourself.
Sep 02, 2008
go girl! You are still achieving your goal, just not killing yourself to get there. Perspective – yay!! I gotta get me some of that.
Sep 02, 2008
I should follow your lead although I don’t know what goal I could possibly tweak without ruining my whole life. Also– I’m still eagerly waiting for any ideas you have for me!
Sep 02, 2008
i LOVE your attitude! you are going to rock the ‘thon and have tons of fun doing it!
Sep 02, 2008
Good luck running the marathon! It’s probably best you train this way instead of “running” yourself into the ground, picking up injuries of all sorts along the way!
Sep 03, 2008
This has got to be the single greatest lesson for those ‘former young athletes’ who are trying their best to be in the shape and perform the way they did before they grew up and got jobs and families!!!
LOL
Great post.
Sep 03, 2008
Good for you! Had a similar revelation about my training recently.
8 minute mile! wow!
Sep 03, 2008
Fantastic attitude! You are going to rock! A positive attitude is contagious!
Sep 03, 2008
My husband and I definitely need to take your advice. We’ve been balls to the wall to complete wipe out several times this year trying to do all kinds of stuff. Need to come up with a new strategy! You’ll have a fabulous marathon!
Sep 04, 2008
What a great attitude. I’ve always run with a goal time/pace in mind and I wonder if I would enjoy running that much more if I just set out with a single goal of just enjoying my run? Good luck to you and there is always another BQ marathon around the corner. Who cares if you skip this particular one?
Sep 04, 2008
Good luck to you…I’m sure you will have a great marathon!
Sep 04, 2008
Thank you so much for your awesome support! 18 miles coming this sunday – woohoo
Sep 05, 2008
Great attitude. I’m slowly learning to accept the speed I have TIME FOR rather than the speed I WANT. Enjoy NY. I want to hit this one day.
Sep 06, 2008
Hopefully, you’re not invisibly pointing fingers at me!!
Training to qualify is a HUGE goal. One goal that lots of other goals have to be put away for a while.
Wishing you all the best in your training/ and running the NYC.
Training for this marathon has been incredibly intense on the intensity days and I have one friend who freaks out about the time goals. I’m down to one more 20 miler and yes my legs are trashed. Got pains in my legs up and down the hamstrings..massage has been a leg saver for me.
Here’s to just enjoying running without all the pressure to perform!
Much love,
Rach
Sep 17, 2008
I am finally here. I keep seeing you out in the blogosphere and gawl darn it, there are so many good bloggers to keep up with–anyway I’m here and I’m hooked (yet again).
Isn’t there some master of time management that refers to this as a “temporary imbalance”? I wrote an article about this for Experience Life (my editors knew I’d experienced a few of those temporary imbalances) and what I learned from the writing–my own experience really–but it took an interview to put words to it, is that when YOU choose to slow down or put something on hold then you keep the power, you stay in charge of your life. You don’t feel victimized because of your schedule or whatever is happening at the moment, you own it, you make changes, you put things on the back burner knowing you’ll get to it later. So you don’t quit or fail. I think it’s a great way to look at it. My last marathon I had wanted to qualify too, but like you, it was just too much under the circumstances. It will happen. When, I’m not sure, but it will happen.