This is my fourth marathon training cycle and probably my toughest one yet both physically and mentally.
July was really freaking hot, and some personal stuff zapped much of my motivation. Some days, even just the idea of going for a short walk with Bailey seemed insurmountable.
And then I started getting knee pain.
I started doing a lot of thinking. Why was I running this marathon? Was this something I really wanted to do? Was my heart still in this? I kept training while I worked through these thoughts, hoping I’d come to some sort of answer.
And earlier this week, it did. I saw that the deadline to defer Wineglass registration was August 4, and I knew immediately what I had to do: defer. Sure, I still could run a marathon eight weeks from now, but could I run the marathon that I want to run? That I feel strong, kick ass at and shatter all my goals at? I didn’t think so, so I decided to defer and make the New York City Marathon my goal race. (I magically got in through the lottery and originally was going to run it “for fun.”)
Yeah, it’s a tougher race, but I’ve run it before and know what to expect. I fully expect to be entirely endorphin-WASTED for 26.2 miles, smiling my face off the entire time. Tina, you’re going to come run it with me, right?
Completely apropos of nothing, I found out last night that my hometown is having its first half-marathon this year!!! 9/29, Franklin Lakes. I’m obviously doing it. Let me know if you want to do it too!
Have you ever changed your goal race before or changed your training plan halfway through because it wasn’t working? Big thanks to Jess for changing around my training plan to accommodate my new goal race.
Also, I’ve picked a winner for my Philly Half giveaway using the pick giveaway winner plugin. I wish I could have given all of you a bib! There were some awesome comments and bucket list races.
Smart thinking on deferring your race if that’s what your body is telling you! I’m sort of deferring in a no money back sense. I was (am) signed up for Chicago and can’t run it because of my injury! Know anyone who’d want the bib? I’m doing Jacksonville Bank instead.
yay!! I am running NYCM too! I can’t wait and totally plan on being “endorphin-wasted’ too the whole time…love that phrase. Can’t wait!!
I cannot tell you how bummed I am that I’ll be out of the country on Nov. 3 because it will make it more difficult to stalk and cheer you on during the race but YAAAAAAAAAAY for NYCM 2k13! You will make all those bridges your bitch and kick this race’s ass. xoxo
@Valerie: You didn’t plan your honeymoon around my marathon??
@Theodora: Well I didn’t want to make you think it was a Paris > Theodora situation. 😉
Yep. For me, running is a very zen thing and adding a “goal” kills the joy. Training programs to run faster and races just leave me feeling exhausted and drained. Maybe someday my body will want to do more, but until that happens, I’m going to enjoy what I can do and not worry too much about the rest.
@Beckett @ The Birchwood Pie Project: USUALLY I can still run happy with a goal, but it’s not as easy/working as well this year. Once I meet this sub-4 goal, I may back off on big running goals for a bit.
I know I’ve commented about this on your blog before but I am training for my first marathon and am about halfway through my training. I just booked my flight to the race because I wanted to make sure that I could get enough training under my belt to feel confident in my abilities to run 26.2 🙂 I still have my concerns (totally normal, right??!) but at least know I’ll be able to run a good chunk of it at a decent pace!
@Becky @ Olives n Wine: So totally normal! I think I did the same thing booking my flight for my first marathon.
I approve of this decision…but wish you weren’t experiencing injury…and wish that we saw each other more often…
Just knowing that you’re going to be out there on the NYCM course makes me super excited. Maybe you can run some easy training runs with me if I pick up the pace a bit?
Why have I not commented on your blog before yo?
@Emily: Let’s work on this seeing each other more often, okay??
Smart to listen to what your body tells you! I’m pumped to hear you talk more about NYCM, especially as race day approaches!!
Totally understand and am going through the same thing. I’ve been thinking about changing my marathon and just haven’t pulled the trigger yet. Thanks for writing about it. I’ve been afraid to change my goal race because I didn’t want to let anybody down :/ but it should be more about my feelings right? at the end of the day, we are the ones that have to run and should only do it when ready.
I so want to run NYCM one day. It’s suppose to be as good as London which I’ve ran twice. Good luck, I’m sure you’ll smash it!
Im glad you were able to compromise! Good luck running the NYCM! wooohoo
I always admire people who do marathon. It really motivates me to get fitter. If you guys can do it, I sure can too!
I’m sure that was a tough decision. Sounds like you’re being smart, better to have more training and run a strong race when you’re more prepared.
Props to you! You make it seem like that decision was so easy, but I can only imagine that if it were me I would have been going back and forth and struggling for weeks. Good for you for making the right decision, and NYCM better watch out!
It actually was fairly easy!! For some reason, I never even thought of just making NYCM my goal race. I thought it was going to be Wineglass or bust. When I realized that, duh, I was signed up for another marathon that I’d loved, it was a pretty easy decision.
I get so stuck sometimes, specifically with running/races. With my last half(Steamboat), I literally did not make the decision to run it (I did) until the week before because my training had been so hard. It ended up being the greatest run of my life, but the journey to get there was tough! I need to take a picture out of your book and just go for the ride!