Itching for the Couch

I’m at the phase of marathon training where I am equally excited and burnt out from training.

I’m so excited for the actual marathon and all the hoopla of the week before–carb loading! meetups! the expo!–but the idea of actually going out and running somewhere between five to eight miles right now? Welcome to snoozeville, population, 1.

In the beginning of marathon training, I had a hard time getting motivated to run because I knew I had months and months to go and that those first 6- and 7-milers didn’t mean as much as the really long runs I’d end up doing. Well, now that I’m tapering, I keep hearing “you’ve done all the work, what matters now is rest.”

Um, rest? I can do that.

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I-don’t-want-to-run eyebrow raising.

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Pulled pork at “book club” last night? (Quotation marks because we discussed the book, Girls in White Dresses, for approximately 2 minutes.) Far more exciting than a mid-distance run.

I should have just run as soon as I woke up this morning, but I put it off for hours and hours and finally went out this afternoon for five miles.

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I tried to psyche myself up by wearing my marathon shirt. (Brooks EZ T II, the plain version of the I <3 Sweat one.)

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And looking at the beautiful blue sky. And listening to Pumped Up Kicks on repeat.

When I started, I really didn’t want to be running, but I kept thinking of positive mantras:

  • one day you will not be able to to this–today is not that day
  • if it were easy, everyone would be doing it.
  • no matter how many miles you run, that’s that many more than you would have run sitting on the couch. (Must figure out how to run on couch.)

I was aiming for this to be a relatively easy-paced run, but I ended up running 5 miles at an 8:52 pace out of frustration.

Maybe I need to find something to frustrate me on marathon day.

18 comments on “Itching for the Couch

  1. Meg G

    This is only slighted related, but I could not stand Girls in White Dresses. It angered me so much, it’s hard to describe.
    On a related note, putting the shoes on and heading out the door can be THE hardest part of training. You are doing great!

    Reply
  2. Margaret @ Have A Good Run

    Ahh thanks for this post! My feelings exactly…totally should have run this morning, but totally did not. Now I have to run tonight!!! I’m also having a tough time with the motivation, but we’ve put in SO MUCH WORK and we just have to buck up for 2 1/2 more weeks before we kick total butt! Thanks for the motivation! I’m must more excited about tonight’s run now 🙂

    Reply
  3. Ericka Andersen

    Feel ya. I have marathon #2 next weekend, haven’t done a single thing since marathon #1 last weekend — and I don’t want to. Guess I’ll push out 4-5 miles tomorrow. Don’t want to lose my running mojo.

    And, btw, was that book any good? I’m in a book club (we usually spend 1/4 of our time talking about the book) but just curious!

    Reply
  4. Melissa

    I completely understand. I cannot get myself to workout lately! I think I’m taking advantage of taper 🙂

    I was just thinking this weekend that I wish I knew what style of the I <3 Sweat shirt was. It's so comfortable and lightweight. Thanks for posting the link to it!

    Reply
  5. Lindsey

    I still have two weeks left before my ‘taper’ begins and I’m already feeling like that. I look forward to the long runs but the mid week runs are killing me.

    I’m a new reader and am enjoying your blog. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Katie

    i think the population in snoozeville is far more than 1 🙂 and im still a week behind you (my marathon is the weekend AFTER nyc)!
    goooood luck!!!

    Reply
  7. Corrie Anne

    Ahh. I’m totally experiencing one of those totally unmotivated to do a run days!!!!! I wanted to get out right now so I could JUST DO IT, but I have to wait for my mother-in-law. Maybe I’ll get a good frustrated pace too! 🙂

    Reply
  8. lauren

    I always run faster when I’m frustrated too, sometimes I don’t hear my music either though 🙂
    I’m sure there will be bagels and beer after your marathon, maybe you can get frustrated that they are 26.2 miles away?

    Reply
  9. Caitlin

    Totally feel you lady. The few weeks before the marathon are the hardest motivation-wise – those mid-distance runs killed me! Love your mantras – I used the first one in my marathon recap post! It’s what got me through the last 6 miles of Chicago. I also like this quote a lot: “The miracle is not that I finished, but that I had the courage to start” – John Bingham.
    Let me know if you’re ever in need of company on a short run (or a beer after!)

    Reply
  10. Michelle

    This makes me feel so much better because I’m so excited to run NY but man I am avoiding my runs like woah right now. I heard that taper will drive you crazy and that all you’ll want to do is run but sitting on my butt seems like a totally great idea too.

    Reply

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