Marathon training officially begins one week from today, and I'm still somewhat in disbelief that I'm really going to embark on this journey. After what I went through with the injury and PT and super-slow comeback at the end of last year and beginning of this year, I never thought I'd find myself here so soon.
But I've been smart, and I've trained safely, and I've done everything I was supposed to do, so here I am!
And here is a very good place to be. My mileage has been hovering right around the 30-mile mark for a while now, and I've been loosely adhering to the "Run Less, Run Faster" plan, running only three times a week, but making them all quality workouts. And I'm running longer runs than I've run in years, and faster race times than I've run EVER.
I'm tempted beyond belief to sign up for so many more races than I have planned for the summer, but I'm forcing myself to stick with my already-full schedule. The races I have planned will fit nicely into my training, and I don't want to end up overdoing it, so although it's tough, I'm exercising a lot of restraint. Not easy to do when I'm setting PRs left and right, and wanting to see how many more I can pull off. But there will be time enough for that in the fall, after the marathon is complete.
I've only done one speed workout so far, but as of tomorrow, it'll be a weekly occurrence. And on the advice of a wise friend, I went back and checked my goal paces for my workouts to ensure that they're on par with my current level of fitness (based on recent race times), rather than being based solely on my goal time for the marathon. And I'm happy to report that they are. Glad to have been given the advice to confirm that, though! It doesn't mean that those track workouts aren't going to hurt - because I know they are! - but it'll be a good kind of hurt. The kind of hurt that's going to result in progress, and not injury (knock on wood).
As you can see, I still harbor some injury-related paranoia, but I'm no longer freaking out about every little ache and twinge I feel. Running 30 miles a week takes a toll on your body, especially when 16 of those miles are covered in a single run. There's bound to be some aches and pains. But I feel pretty confident that I've learned the difference between a normal post-run achiness and an ache that's the precursor to injury. And as long as I pay attention and heed any signals my body's sending me, I know I'll be fine.
The plan doesn't officially kick in until next week, but I'm going to start up with speedwork this week. I know I can use all the practice I can get, so I'd rather just dive right in! That'll be followed by my tempo run on Thursday, and a 16- or 17-miler on Saturday.
It's amazing to me that a 16-mile run now feels like a normal run. I'm so glad that I've taken this time to work up to this level, because it's given me SO much confidence that I can complete this training program.
When I ran the marathon 3 years ago, I only ran one 20-miler, and it loomed large for me during the preceding months. It didn't hurt nearly as much as I thought it would, but mentally, it was a tough obstacle to overcome.
But now that I've already run a few 15- and 16-milers, I am not the least bit intimidated by running 20. It's really just going to feel like another long run. Which is good, because I'm scheduled to run five of them!
I've pored over the training plan countless times, and it's taken up a prominent space on our refrigerator, where I can glance at it several times a day. I'm a little obsessed, and not ashamed to admit it. I want this really badly, and I know I can get it. I just have to stay focused and work hard, and I know I'll get there.
I know I sound incredibly optimistic, and for the most part I am, but I do still have moments where I freak out a little. Particularly when I look at the final entry on the training plan - 26.2 miles, 8:24 pace. Yikes! My heart skips a beat when I see it in writing like that.
But when I'm not standing there staring at the numbers, when I'm out on the road running, and hitting paces I never dreamed I'd run so comfortably - that's when my confidence soars.
When I'm out there flying down the road, watching my feet hit the pavement one after another, feeling my heart pumping, seeing the miles click by on my Garmin - I know that parts of it will be easy, and parts of it will suck really, really bad, but never once do I doubt that I'll be able to do it.
My Michelle/Mommy/Wife/Friend/Daughter/Sister self may occasionally have doubts, but my Runner self does not. And right now, all bets are on her : )
Train smarter, not harder! the fitness will come. My marathon training plan wants me to run a 3:41 marathon. *snicker* I don't think so. and I'm already obsessing about next year! GAH! :-)
Posted by: Wes | June 22, 2011 at 10:41 AM