"Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired." - George S. Patton

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Confessions of a Burned Out Runner..

Ugh. Such a sad title for this blog. I think that all of the momentum after crossing my first half-marathon finish line caught up with me. I tried. I really tried to get out there and take advantage of the endurance I built up leading to the Rock and Roll Seattle back in (gasp!)June, but I really couldn't find the hunger inside for the longest time. I planned to run the Seattle half-marathon this coming Sunday, but to be perfectly honest, I didn't train nearly enough and decided it would be a bad idea.

Over the last few months I just kept making excuses not to run. It was hot, it was cold, it was wet outside, I really needed to bake cupcakes with my kids... all night, my favorite show was on, my knee hurt, my elbows were dry, etc. Well then naturally, the guilt started kicking in and thoughts were running through my head that sounded a lot like " You suck. You've reached an amazing goal, found something you love and you are ruining it all!". So then I would ease my internal pain with a brownie or four.

What happened people?!

Well anyway, what's done is done. I haven't run further than 5 miles since June. I was secretly starting to think in the back of my head that I would never want to get out there and train for another race. Laziness and negative thoughts were clouding my formerly oh-so-ambitious mind. That is, until I started reading facebook posts and instant messages from friends that are preparing to run the Seattle Marathon this weekend. Now my mind is filled with jealousy and envy.

Here's what I'm doing (and I'm sticking to it); I'm running 26.2 miles on June 25th, 2011. You heard me. I'm going to attempt to push myself beyond any limits I have ever set for myself and I'm running the full marathon at the Rock and Roll Seattle 2011. But seriously. I am.

This means I have to start building up my endurance now. I'm going to get myself back up to a point in which I can run 6 miles non-stop (the length of my first long run). I'm going with the Hal Higdon novice program because frankly, ol' Hal got me through the 13.1 and for that, I like the guy.

The good Lord knows I will need a lot of support and advice (and most likely a shrink) to get through this training, so stick with me! It's going to be a wild ride!

...And I'm really going to do it.

5 comments:

  1. Oh, Kristina, I do know how you feel. I've been a wee bit burned out myself since my half in October. I haven't stopped running completely, but I haven't gone more than 2.5 miles since the race, and that's with taking walk breaks. I still like to run, but after pushing and pushing and pushing for so long, I'm TIRED, and I don't want the pressure right now. Its so strange that you're going to do the full marathon in June. That's a year after your half, and I'd already decided to do my first full in November next year- a year after mine. Seems I'm eternally fated to be four months behind you! I'm glad you're back. You're gonna do great.

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  2. You WILL do it! I'm going to do it too, so we can go on some runs together!

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  3. Awesome! you can do it! it's never too late to start a good thing :)

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  4. How exciting!! I'm running my very first half June 5 (the North Olympic Discovery ~ from Sequim to Port Angeles), BUT it's always been my dream to run the Seattle R&R Half. The problem is, its exactly 20 days later....
    Sssooo, I've decided to do BOTH.
    It looks like I'll be right there on the shrink's couch with you!
    I guess I'll see you in June, huh? LOL!!

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  5. Jessica! That is so cool! I have heard of people doing a marathon in two days... so two half-marathons back to back. It sounds crazy to me! This shall be a mighty fun journey!

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