Today’s Run 7 miles @ Incline 3 – 61 minutes
I went from a failed progressive 7MPH to 7.2MPH to Farleks to 7.5MPH intervals with 30 second walks. Overall I just wanted to keep my legs going for as fast as possible even if for shorter distance.
Yesterday – 5 Miles on the elliptical 2 miles on the treadmill in about 50 minutes. Which although is not a great workout, I’m proud that I still got it done considering an hour before I fought my house and well my staircase won.
Yes it wasn’t pretty and all I wanted to do was crawl back into bed and cry but instead I went to the gym and continued with my day as I started. I guess it was a sign that maybe I should have went running outside instead of trying to go to the gym on an icky rainy day.
Switching from Amica’s Marathon to United Health Half Marathon
I can list all the excuses I want but the truth is I switched from the Full to Half Marathon because of one crappy, 75 degree muggy run. The 20 miler that turned into 8 broke me. And while I go in and out of regrets from switching races, I am mostly content.
Part of me wishes I read Dorthy’s Post before I made up my mind but it came a day too late. However, it’s still a post worth reading (after reading mine haha). It reminds us all that all training cycles have bad runs. It’s possible to have a horrible training run and a few days later an amazing race.
I had a horrible horrible average pace of 10 MPH almost crawling run on Saturday just to PR less than 48 hours later at a 10K in sub 7 minute miles (Tufts 10K). Part of me should have realized that it didn’t mean I will have a horrible race a week later.
The negatives of switching
– I lost $30 or so since the full was more expensive
– I won’t be able join marathon maniacs by the end of 2012
– I’ll only be able to run 13 miles instead of 26
The Perks of running half the distance
– I can stop stressing out over the lack of distance training I had over the past 4 weeks
– I can go all out and not worry as much about my lack of pacing ability
– I can pretty much not worry what I’m eating or doing the day before
– I don’t have to worry about getting enough sleep to the same degree
– I will be racing and finishing around the same time as my friends who are all running the half instead of the full
– I’m only running 13 miles instead of 26
Now don’t get me wrong, I still respect the half marathon. Running 13 miles at your hardest is no easy task and a lot can happen. However, it’s still only half of what can happen in a marathon. You can go out too fast and still finish in a half marathon relatively at your goal pace. While at a marathon.. well a lot can happen at a marathon. I’m also used to running for 2 hours. I am not used to running for 4 hours. It’s still new distance for me. I haven’t given up on marathon but for now I want to keep PRing in smaller distance then gathering notches on my marathon belt.
I know sometimes I get carried away because some of my running blog idols are so much faster than me but I have to remember they have been running for many more years and races than me. I’ve only be running for 2 years and only 1 year of marathon distance. I’m only 25 and while I will never be an elite athlete, I still have years of improvement to look forward to. I can pick distance and speed. I can get faster and I can build up my base for marathon but it won’t happen overnight.
Am I the only one who thinks I’m the only runner who has bad training runs? Makes no sense but sometimes that’s how it feels. It’s easy to get carried away when you read about some of the most amazing runners.
I’m guessing you’re going to look back and know that you made the right decision.
[Fitness, Health and Happiness]