so i thought i would update you all on my training for the half-marathon in june. mainly b/c i could use some encouragement, esp from those who have trained for and completed one.
this week i seem to have hit a wall. i'm 8 weeks out from the race, and i've had two really crappy runs this week. one was a 3 miler, one a 2. today i did 4, which actually went well for the most part. the most i've done for a "long run" is 5 miles, and it sucked. i went with a friend, and i had trouble breathing the whole time. i'm considering going to the dr to actually get tested for exercise induced asthma, b/c the breathing thing is just not getting any easier the more that i run. it's really frustrating.
i'm starting to increase my weekly mileage, which i think is good b/c i need to get used to the motion of running for longer periods of time. even as i do this, 13 miles is seeming SO FAR. everyone talks about a half like it's no big deal, they're going for this or that time...but i can't figure out how i'm even going to get it done (and still, my goal is 2.5 hours). the one hope i have is that i have noticed that the first mile is usually a drag, i'm just trying to get into the groove of it...and by mile 3 i'm really crusing along. tonight with my 4 mile run i really could have kept going, but i was just beat down b/c i had been dealing with a full frontal wind assault. the weather is changing here and it's really windy...we're supposed to have another winter storm warning tomorrow, with more snow. i plan to take tomorrow off to strengthen and stretch...my yoga day. i enjoy those days.
anyway, these crappy runs (ahem, mature minds please) leave me feeling really defeated and demoralized, b/c i feel like by this point things should be getting better, not worse. and to be honest, when i run with other people i feel so guilty about how slow i am, that i can't concentrate on my own run i'm so worried about how i'm slowing them down. i've never been in it for speed, i learned at an early age that i am not a speed demon. it took me a long time to accept that and enjoy the runner that i am. but here i am again, struggling with the same things.
my other fear is the altitude for the race. it's nearly 3000 ft higher than where i am now, and i don't know how this is going to affect me. i'm thinking it will definitely have an effect, b/c even driving up into the poudre or thompson canyons makes my ears plug up and that isn't that much of a difference. i'm not too worried about the hills of the course, i'm training for that. but the altitude...not sure about that one.
any and all advice is appreciated!!!!
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Right. So I am not a runner. I cannot stand it. But here are my thoughts.
Having goals... good. For your first marathon, you do not have a benchmark to compare with this run. It is new. It is different. My fear would be setting a time goal. Sure if you meet it you'll feel great. But, if you don't meet it you may not look back fondly on your first half.
My suggestion... look at the completion of the half as your goal. Forget the time this time. At the start of your training, my bet is 13 miles seemed a ridiculously long way to run, and nearly impossible. Unfathomable. Now, you think you can do it. Soon, you will know you can do it. Then you will do it. Don't let a time dictate your feelings toward, or appreciation of, your first half. You never get another "first half" and, if you're anything like me, you'll want to look back with fond memories.
With eight weeks to train, I am certain you will persevere and think back to the few weeks during training where you had doubt.
Doubt is okay. Doubt means you're thinking about something with a passion. Doubt means you care. Channel that passion and look at the big picture.
You are running a half marathon - your first one. Shouldn't you enjoy the experience?
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