In 2011, I started running. In 2014, I’ll be running the oldest and most prestigious marathon in the world, the Boston Marathon. With this blog series, I’m sharing the techniques I use to coach myself (mentally, emotionally and physically) through six months of training. Thanks for joining me!
Let’s just get the difficult part out first. My training isn’t going as well as I would like.
It’s a hard thing to admit.
I’ve completed most of my runs, but, they haven’t been easy. And they, especially the long ones, are taking way longer to recover from than I’m used to. In fact, I never really felt like I needed to recover from runs in the past. Sure a nap after an early 20 miles was always nice, but I haven’t ever felt like I couldn’t do more than lay on the couch and netflix binge post run. And, that’s what’s happening. Every. Single. Time.
Crazy (for Portland) winter weather derailed two training runs last week. Today, I found myself with enough time to run OR write this post. I’m choosing to write this post.
I’m disappointed.
And worried.
This Boston thing has me amped up more than I’ve ever been about a race. I want it so badly. I want to cross that starting line in Hopkinton, literally following in the footsteps of the world’s best marathoners. I want to run down Boylston Street and cross the finish line that over a half a million people have crossed in the event’s 117 year history. I would love to get a PR (personal record).
Then I remind myself, You Are Here. I can’t do anything to change that. Right now, in this moment, I am here. That X on the map of my health and training and life right now is where it’s at. There’s no sense in wishing it was somewhere different. That takes precious energy I can’t afford to expend right now.
I am here.
Knowing that I can’t change where I’m at right in this moment, ironically frees me up, to move where I want to go. Yes, I want all of those things I mentioned above, but most of all, I want to do my best.
I want to show up and do my best in every stage of my training. I want to show up and do my best in my business. I want to show up and do my best in my relationships. I want to show up and do my best for myself, in my life.
When I do that, I am satisfied.
It’s not clear to me if that will get me to the Boston Marathon starting line. That uncertainty can be difficult, reassurances and guarantees would be fantastic. I could relax into knowing that I’m doing all the right things. Although, I can’t possibly know if they are the right things. So I, once again, find myself here. The place where the only real option is to do my best.
Training
In the last month, my long runs have increased to 14 miles. This past week, I was scheduled for a 15 mile run. But a freak snowstorm followed by freezing rain, put the kibosh on that. I haven’t figured out how people do all their marathon training on treadmills. I did get out for a brisk 5 mile walk in the snow. While it wasn’t anywhere close to a 15 mile run, I felt like I’d done something when I was finished.
My weekly interval run was replaced by a fun morning of sledding. Each run up the sledding hill was rewarded with a fast trip down!
Photo: Running up this hill and sledding down filled in for my weekly interval run.
Are you in the Portland area? I’d love to see you at one of my talks at the Athleta store in the Pearl District.
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