Marathon Training
I’ve finally decided not to do the marathon that I’d planned to do.
I feel a bit defeatist about it but the decision is made on the fact that I’m not doing the miles I need to. Last week I should have run about 40 miles in total. I actually managed 5 and struggled through that because of (yet another) cold that developed over the subsequent couple of days. One downside to being the parent of a young, illness-susceptible toddler I suppose.
It’s all a bit of bad timing really. The wife has had even worse morning sickness this time around than she did with numero uno. It’s not just a matter of feeling sick but being totally incapacitated by it. This does mean that trying to find 2-3 hours on a weekend to go out running just doesn’t happen.
Part of me still thinks that I should just enter it and do it and see what happens but I really want to be prepared for it both physically and mentally. As I don’t think I will be, I might as well defer and find a time to do it next year. Hey ho!
Hey Dragon, don’t give it another thought. There are much more important and pressing issues and there will be marathons there next year or in 10 years when the kids are older. The thing to do is keep up the short runs to maintain the fitness and then when you decide to do anything the step up isn’t so huge.
Good luck with all your current projects!
Comment by aquaasho — October 27, 2007 @ 10:46 am
Thanks Aquaasho. It helps that there has been good reasons I haven’t been getting the mileage in and that it hasn’t been just laziness or lack of motivation on my part.
All that being said, I feel pretty good today so if next week’s short runs go well, it may still happen but I’m pretty much of the mind that I should find another one and start again so the mental preparation is there.
In retrospect, I would never have been ready for the Dublin marathon on monday either so that was a good call too.
Next year will be marathon year. (But not London on account of other considerations!)
Comment by Tom — October 27, 2007 @ 8:22 pm
I’d agree with Aquaasho, to be honest. While it’d be good to do a marathon, they’ll be there still in years to come.
Whereas doing one too early, and either damaging something or losing motivation would be infinitely less smart. Keep doing the running you can, and/or the tough guy stuff, and aim for the same marathon but in 12 month’s time, so that you’re ready for it and have been preparing for longer.
Mind you, if you did the marathon this year and knackered something, it’d give you time in bed to do the writing stuff instead…
Although downside of it would be a distinct lessening of the earning potential, which is never a good thing.
So yeah, best to wait ’til ’08s running season. Sad, but true.
Comment by Lyle — October 28, 2007 @ 11:00 am
Seconding your other respondents: don’t be too hard on yourself. Its good to have goals and intentions but not when they can turn into (temporarily) unrealistic ones, especially if they could do you harm.
Look after you and yours: its not as if you’re giving up running - just the most urgently scheduled running events for which you were preparing. There will be others.
Cheers
Lisax
Comment by Rullsenberg — October 28, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
I think if you can’t enjoy something, instead do it because you feel pressured to do it (even if it’s your own good self putting the pressure) it can’t be good for you.
I volunteered today, handed out water and then cleaned up after LOL. It was very inspiring, people running competitively and other walking and chatting away, a true wide spectrum of participants.
Were you planning to compete as part of elite athlete group or just run all the way through without competing with others, as in racing?
Either way, I don’t think you need to feel bad at all. There were guys running like mad, probably in their 50ies or older! You have many years in you to do this.
Comment by gaye — October 29, 2007 @ 7:18 pm