Wife Mother Runner #MCMTraining Archives

I Have a Decision To Make

September 13, 2016

I have come to a point in my running life where I need to make a difficult decision. This decision is based around the Marine Corps Marathon. I entered the lottery for the marathon this year as a way of tossing my fate out to the universe, and I was chosen. So I accepted the fact that I was chosen and I have been training for it. I am coming to the point in the training where longer runs are required and these runs are intertwining with my family’s busy schedule of Fall softball season and back to school events, along with Fall activities.

If you read my blog you will remember that last year I had a very difficult race for the Marine Corps Marathon. This year, during my training I have been analyzing my stats from last year’s race and mapping out training runs against the elevation map of the existing course map. So I am preparing myself. Also, major changes have been made to the race course this year because of the changes going on with the Metro construction. If there ever is a year to do this race with a lot of leeway, this is the year. BUT, I am just not feeling it in my heart. If I am not feeling it in my heart now, what is going to happen on race day? I already feel like I am setting myself up for failure.

Last year Dimity McDowell, from Another Mother Runner’s spoke at a seminar for Girl’s Night Out during Hartford Marathon weekend. She mentioned that there are sometimes things that happen in our life that get in the way of our training, or can cause a shift in our focus. Changes in work, changes in family, health, etc. I did just start a new job this past summer and my husband has been struggling with pain lately. So there is a lot on my mind.

I finally vocalized my fear of this race to my husband today and told him I am considering deferring my registration this year. He supports my decision either way; but did tell me that sometimes we get burnt out with things we do. And that maybe I would benefit from the time off, or less pressure of getting in the marathon before my third Dopey challenge in January. I believe I will feel a big weight off of my shoulders if I defer this race; but then I will also feel some guilt because of all years to get a “redo” of last year’s race, this is the year to do it.

I have shifted a lot of my efforts and focus this past summer on getting healthier. I am eating better, working out differently and running casually. I wanted to enjoy running and not have it become a chore, which it has now become. When I trained for my first marathon, I enjoyed the training because it was leading me towards something I never did before. As much as I would love to do this race this year; I want to do it when I am strong and looking forward to it. Not as another, get it done for the sake of doing it. Yes, it is a race for redemption to make up for my horrible experience last year; but I want to cross that line having the feeling that I was prepared. Just like I felt after I finished my first marathon.

So I guess I made my decision. Now I have to work on the paperwork. Having said this out loud and writing about it; I can now also focus on getting some better half marathons under my belt as training runs. I have been struggling with those races. They used to be my favorite distance and I would like to also enjoy that distance again.

Marine Corp Marathon Training – 14 miles

August 1, 2015

After my whining and complaining the other day on my blog, I followed through on my promise to myself and woke up when my alarm went off (6:30 on a weekend morning), made my oatmeal and tea, mapped out a route, and loaded up my ipod. I was on the road by 7:30. I hadn’t checked the temperature; but it wasn’t as humid as it was during the week. It was still warm though. I’d take a guess that it was still around 70 degrees at 7:30 this morning.

To help make this easier for me I reached out to my Mickey Miler friends and learned that I was not alone. My friend Kristie Green was heading out to do 18 miles at 1:30 in the morning in Texas! If she was doing that, then my little 14 miler was nothing. Others were also having a hard time with putting in some more miles lately and we are thinking the heat may be to blame.

To help me mentally prepare I began gathering up my running gear during the day and laying it out so I would see it and start to embrace the fact that I WAS going on this run and I AM picking up my training mileage. Summer is here, and yes it’s harder to get in the longer miles during the summer months, but I knew the worst that could happen would be that I may need to walk more of it. I also made sure to make my water bottles and freeze them as well as mix up some Nuun to make sure I am properly hydrating with electrolytes during the warm warming run.

I set my alarm for 6:30 and was very good about getting up as soon as it went off. I didn’t want to wake up my husband and I knew that I had to get up at that moment or else I could possibly back out or delay it even longer. I am very good at sticking to my plan; but with the way I have been thinking lately I didn’t want to leave any opportunity to fail.

It took me a few miles to get into the game. I walked the first 1/2 mile to warm up my mind and body (or stay cool) and then once I was in the shade I began my 30/30 intervals. After around mile 3 I was starting to get into a little groove; I was also on a shady road so it was helping me feel more comfortable and not overheated. The first 2 miles had a lot of sun on it and it was starting to concern me.

Miles 1-2

As I approached mile 4.5 I had to walk up some beastly hills. It was tough. Then I was in a lot of sun again. So as I finished around mile 6 I decided that I would stop at my house to get some ice and refresh my water bottles with ice and water. It was too hot and I didn’t want to take any chances of getting sick from the heat. My stomach was also growling so I grabbed a few pretzels. I think my pit stop was for about 15 minutes and then I was back out on the road to finish the last 6 miles. I decided to take a different route than originally planned and ran again on one of the shadier roads.

Mile 3

Mile 4.5

Picture never make hills look as bad as they are!

Mile 5

For the last 2 miles I did a lot more walking than running. But I wasn’t too hard on myself. I knew I was getting back into it again both mentally and physically and the fact that I was out there still in the heat and being smart about it made me feel ok about my pace. When increasing my mileage the last 3 newer miles I tack on since my previous long run are always the hardest. So since my last long run was Chicago 2 weeks ago I knew I’d be ok.

Mile 13

Now to keep up the positive momentum and continue onward toward the Marine Corp Marathon and the 2016 Dopey Challenge!

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I Have a Decision To Make

Marine Corp Marathon Training – 14 miles