Hardcore Chicken

Labor Day, 2012

The ADT marathon is only two weekends away, and I’m getting butterflies just thinking about it! EEEK! In all honesty, I should start by saying that I did not follow my marvelous plan—at all. Although, I can also honestly say that I tried! I was feeling so low after Colfax, I thought the perfect salve would be a rigid training plan. Unfortunately, as a new marathon runner, I really don’t think I allowed myself the time I needed to recover. You know how the story ends. I didn’t listen to my body, I overtrained, and I derailed my own progress.

Feeling lower than ever sometime in July, I began to seriously question whether or not I had any business trying to run two marathons in a year. It’s been such a mental battle. I still love running, but I have truly developed some type of emotional block. I’m not sure where it stems from, but I don’t like it. It’s just not “me.” (Will a real sports psychologist please stand up?) Anyway, before I delve too deeply into the feel-good, I have to tell you that I’ll be darned if this gets the best of me. Interpretation? I am just crazy enough to run that silly little jog on Labor Day. Truthfully, all credit for this decision should go to my husband, for keeping me going when I couldn’t muster the nerve.

Old Friends

Spouses tend know each other better than anyone else on the planet. And so, when I announced my defeat to the marathon, along with my revised plan to run the marathon RELAY, he didn’t say anything. (This is good because I was still in love-struck stupor over my newest brilliant plan, and I wouldn’t have listened to a word he said anyway.) Later, when I wasn’t expecting it, he made his own announcement; “You’re going to run that marathon,” he said. I was so startled I couldn’t help but laugh! Next, he said something that I really couldn’t argue with: “If you chicken out, you’ll be depressed, and I’m not going to let that happen.”  He pegged me. I had no words. In fact, I think I was so relieved to have someone other than me pushing me that I probably smiled a little.

I have someone else to push me. I think this is the biggest mistake that I made all summer. I was feeling self-conscious, and so I tried to do everything by myself. Sure, I’m disciplined, but without friends, it’s hard to find consistent motivation—especially when you’re burnt out. We all have bad days, and your fellow runners can really make a difference. Also, if you lose touch with your community of runners, it becomes all too easy to be self-satisfied. For example, I was feeling pretty proud of myself for running to work a couple of times (8 miles point-to-point) until I read about another lady on Facebook. She was polishing off NINETEEN miles before work. Inspiring, much??!!

All in all, it’s turning out to be a win-win situation. I didn’t run the volume I had planned, and as a result, I won’t likely have the incredible PB I was hoping to capture; however, I have captured some incredible memories this summer, while learning some very important lessons. I guess some of us just have to learn everything the hard way. There won’t be much “hay in the barn” when I toe that line, but I’ll be there, I’ll be smiling, and I’ll finish. Sounds like a decent plan after all! ;)

**P.S.This is my second year running, and I have to recommend the event! Not only is it well-organized, fun, and affordable, but it also benefits some great organizations within the outdoor/active community!

 http://www.trailsandopenspaces.org/          http://www.pprrun.org/