Running has been really difficult for me both mentally and physically lately. Physically: the heat and humidity are making me slower and my legs are still just kinda creaky. Mentally: there’s a whole lot going on AND the physical stuff and related slower paces are frustrating.
I read Kristin’s post about being excited to not train for a marathon this year and did some good, hard thinking. Did I still really want to do this this year? Yes, I want to run sub-4, but do I really want to do all the training that goes into it?
I thought about whether I’d have FOMO missing out on fun long runs with friends or if it was the training, goal-setting and goal-acheiving that I’d actually miss. Sure, if I weren’t training, I’d have some FOMO for the fun my friends were having on their long runs, but I’d really miss the thrill of finishing a long run feeling awesome or hitting goal paces during speedwork…and then the eventual high of hitting that big, sweet sub-4 goal.
A few days ago, I thought about what I could do to turn my training around. One big one was less wine. There’s just been too much of it in my life lately and it’s not doing any favors for my training, waistline or wallet. I’m also recommitting to my yoga practice to balance out the creakiness.
But there’s also a few significant mental tweaks I’m making.
Enjoying the journey. Life’s a journey, not a destination and all that. But in all seriousness, training is 16 weeks and the marathon itself will be 3 hours and 50-something minutes. If I don’t start embracing the journey, it’s gonna suck.
Thanks to my buddy Laura, I’ve really gotten into Jillian Michaels’ podcast. It shows a much softer side of the tough trainer, and it’s sort of like therapy in my headphones. Each podcast has several segments. Sometimes they’re focused on fitness topics, but more often and not, they discuss common issues. One I heard today that I really identified with was: Attaching to the Goal and Not the Journey. HELLO!? I am so attached to sub-4-or-bust that I’m not enjoying the journey to get there.
On the podcast, Jillian (we’re on a first-name basis now) talks about a man who tried out for The Biggest Loser who wanted to win the show, become his hometown hero and inspire everyone he knew. Jillian talked about him needing to focus on getting healthier and enjoying that and leading a life he was proud of, rather than having to win. He’d said he wouldn’t be happy unless he won the show, and she was nudging him to enjoy the process more.
Getting rid of negative thoughts. Jess sent me this exercise to get rid of negative thoughts. Though Believe I Am is a running journal, this is really a universal exercise. I took the 5 minutes the other night to write down all my negative thoughts–mostly focusing on running but writing the other ones down, too–and then writing down ways to reframe those thoughts.
Enjoying the surroundings. Instead of grumbling through my miles at how my pace and the weather suck, I’ve been trying to enjoy myself and my surroundings more. After all, I live in NYC. There’s ALWAYS something new to see. For Monday’s run, I was super-sick of my usual east or west side paths, and I ran down to the Brooklyn Bridge, across it and back across the Manhattan Bridge and up Bowery. Running south to the bridges, I caught this view and couldn’t help but appreciate seeing the two bridges and Lady Liberty.
Embrace the suck. Some of it’s going to suck. Not every run is going to be puppies and sunshine. But just as the hard stuff in life is what makes us who we are, so are the hard runs. They’re the ones that make us stronger, mentally and physically. I’ve been trying to stop fighting it and trying to embrace that my pace would suck for the foreseeable future…and what do you know? It’s slowly getting back down to where it normally is.
It’s supposed to be fun, as Jess reminded me. I’m not Liz, and I don’t intend on winning the marathon, and, oh yeah, I chose to do this, so I’m reminding myself to let go a little more and have fun.
How do you turn it around when your mind just isn’t into your training? This isn’t a mental tweak, but I’ve also started listening to music a bit more while running so I can completely get out of my head.
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I needed this encouragement today. I am training for my first marathon and have had a couple weeks of crappy runs which are leading me down a super-negative thought path. I am afraid that I "can't" do it and need to focus on the journey, not just the actual race date. Thanks for the inspiration and reality check!
I think you read my mind. My marathon is in December and I'm having a hard time getting my head back into the game. Thanks for your inspiration.
I love Jillian's podcast! I listen to it on almost every long run during training cycles. I love that it shows a different side of her :)
@Caroline: Right?! I think that's a huge part of its appeal, too--that it's so much different than you'd expect from her.
I recently had to do a little re-set also. I'm 3 weeks post marathon right now and was struggling with figuring out a new goal. I decided its time to take a little break from focusing on the road, and now I'm going to give biking a try! Irongirl has a dualthon a few hours from where I live, and the race is in 10 weeks, which gives me enough time to train, but also its close enough where I won't get burned out from a long training plan. Then it will almost be winter, where I always take a break from goals and try lots of fun classes!
I adore Jillian's podcasts! I listen to them on my runs all the time. She is awesome and I love how real she is and how you hear what the show is really like, because it's certainly not what you see on TV or what people say.
Although I'm a very newbie runner (only done a couple 5K runs), I'm working toward doing my first 10K and the runs this summer are killer. I don't know how people do it. But I really like your bullet points and I think I'm going to keep them in mind next time I'm out on a run.
I am a little torn reading this post...
On one hand, I loved it. I think we all go through phases where our passions can become a burden (especially when they require a stringent schedule and discipline). I love that you consciously made decisions to turn your mindset around. It inspires and reminds me to do the same. I also love hearing about Jillian Michaels' podcasts, which I am downloading right now. I could use some therapy in my earbuds.
I DON'T love that there is a lot going on mentally for you. I hope that you are working through everything and coming out on the bright side. I struggle with anxiety as well and I find myself relating to all of your posts regarding stress, etc.
So... I feel your pain :)
Hugs!
So glad I read this post! I've been having some similar issues with training for my upcoming half (my first!). My long runs have actually been going well, but the mid week runs for some reason I've been struggling with. I've lost some enthusiasm thanks to weather, being tired, fitting in runs between work... you know, the usu. ;-) But running is (/can be) FUN and voluntary and we're lucky to have the ability to do it.
This is a good motivating article, I have had same issues, I go from training hard to not training at all, usually due to the injuries I get from pushing myself to hard. And each time it take more effort to get back. I think balance is the key and enjoying what we do is the most important of it all. Exercising is suppose to be fun and a healthy diet can help it make more fun by providing us with more needed energy.
You convinced me to try out Jillian's podcasts :). I am actually having similar issues - I am really terrible at running in the heat/humidity, and it's been discouraging. I think re-committing to yoga might help me too!
Im also running wineglass, so I am about where you are in training through this humidity! Its been hard to accept my slower long run pace, and the last couple of runs ive been going out too fast. This friday my goal is to keep trying to forget about the pace for my 16 miler. Im usually pretty good about not watching my watch during the run, it is the afterwards pace check when ifinish that depresses me sometimes. I need to stop worrying about it.
I try while im running to just be thankful that I can run and find enjoyment in it. I have one friend who is really sick, and i try to just be thankful for my health and strength. I also really enjoy the mantra, "hurting more today will make race day hurt less" . I really like what you said about getting through the tough runs.