Just One Marathon

Imaginary Problems

Good news! My crappy running performance is already paying off – in life lessons. For the last couple of days, I’ve been really disheartened about the fact that I’m so much slower than I was last fall. That feeling has not helped my mental outlook or running abilities.

 

So I’ve been thinking about it, and I’ve realized that I can divide my worries into two categories: real problems and imaginary problems. Here’s the breakdown, for example, when I consider my recent running effort:

 

Imaginary problems:

- I’m not a “real runner” if I’m not going fast.

- Completing the half-marathon or any other running event somehow won’t be as much of an accomplishment if I finish one or two minutes slower.

- I’ll never get my speed back.

- I think I might be a lazy slacker.

 

Real problems:

- I’m not feeling as energetic as I once did on my runs. I often feel tired, sluggish and out of breath

- I’m not running as many kilometres as I used to run because work and school are much more demanding.

 

Some of my imaginary problems might end up being real problems – I might never get my speed back. But dwelling on my “imaginary” problems does me no good at all. It just turns running into a big source of guilt and frustration, which is the opposite of what running normally does for me.

 

The “real” problems I have can be addressed. To feel more energetic, I can make an effort to get more rest, get my iron levels checked, pay more attention to my eating habits, or just count on the healing powers of time as I gradually recover from a recent cold. As for running more kilometres, I can either work really hard to carve out more running time, or just accept the fact that I’m giving what I can right now. 

 

Also, listing my real problems reminds me of all the real problems I don’t have. For example, I’m not injured, I am perfectly able to complete the required distances, and I am recovering really quickly from my long runs. 

 

And a big reality check here: in the grand scheme of things, running a little slower is not any kind of problem – real or imaginary. For that, I am grateful.

All of the Above

Here’s a multiple choice question for you. You have packed up your gym bag in preparation for a run or a workout during your lunch break. Which of the following would you rather forget?

 

A. A towel. (Giving you the option of air-drying – not really viable if you’ve got to put on panty-hose or another similarly body-hugging garment afterwards – or using those nasty rash-producing brown paper towels from the bathroom dispenser.)

B. Running socks. (This is the worst piece of running gear to forget, because it simply does not provide an adequate excuse to skip your run. You must run anyways, shoving your bare feet into what are probably the smelliest two items you possess. If you have to forget running gear, forget the shoes – a definitive run-stopper.)

C. Your Garmin. (If you go for a run in the forest, and there’s no Garmin to record it, did you really run at all?)

D. Post-run clean underwear. (A situation which forces you to decide on whether to forgo the extra layer between your naughty bits and the elements during your run, or go about your post-run business in a skivvie-deprived state … a problem you can’t really share with anyone except your friends in the blog world, because telling people you’re not wearing underpants at an afternoon meeting likely qualifies as harassment. There’s a reason they’re called “unmentionables”.)

Me, I can’t decide. So I’ll probably just go on forgetting one or the other every couple of weeks until I come up with the correct answer. Dammit.

...And Then What?

"Beginning Monday 19 May, you will enter the final phase of your pre-race taper. Some of you will feel very heavy, and your usual sunny disposition won’t be quite so sunny. Warn those close to you and be aware that your mood may be off. This is a normal reaction to the reduction in your training mileage.” – Words of wisdom from Tom, our marathon clinic leader

Why wait until Monday? Despite being early into a gradual two-week reduction of miles, I’m already feeling a bit blue. The reason – and I feel stupid admitting this – is that this marathon training roller coaster will soon be over. Yes, there have been cold mornings, sore muscles and bloody toes. But there’s also been the excitement of preparing to do something I never thought I’d do. What will I do without the constant planning, worry and underlying excitement of preparing for race day? What’s next? 

My post-marathon plan-of-record is to quit and never run again. But who am I kidding? I’ve gotten used to this fit new body I’ve been building. I like feeling strong and powerful. And I love having a goal that excites me.

Nonetheless, another marathon is out of the question right now. I have already put too many other things on hold to do this. Plus, I am really, really, really starting to bore my friends and family, who have endured (with remarkable patience) endless one-sided conversations that must sound something like this: “Blah, blah, blah MARATHON, blah, blah, blah, BLISTERS, blah, blah, blah, GROIN PULL.” Um, sorry guys. And thanks.

So now I feel downright panicky about not having another motivating running goal on the horizon – something that will get my butt out the door on hot (and eventually) cold days. Something to visualize while I’m out there on the 10th kilometre of a 20+K run.

It feels like there’s a big, empty void, looming just beyond race day. Is this normal? And how do I make the feeling go away?

Can't Stand the Heat

Variety is the spice of life. So, every week, I like to come up with a different excuse for my slow running pace.

This week’s excuse: it’s too warm.

This is a radical departure from my slow-running rationalizations for the past few months (too much snow or ice, poor pavement conditions, high winds), which all pretty much boil down to the same thing: it’s too cold.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the warm weather and I’m thoroughly enjoying dry pavement and sunlight early in the morning and late into the evenings. But while my spirit is revelling in the spring weather, this northern runner’s body is taking a little while to adjust.

Still, as problems go, it’s a pretty nice one to have. So I’m not complaining – much.