It's Monday, otherwise known as the day after long-run Sunday. All I can think is WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?
Let me explain. For the past three years, my "race season" has ended with a marathon in January. Not only a marathon, but the Goofy Challenge in 2013 and Dopey Challenge in 2014. That's a whole lot of miles, and in turn, a whole lot of training that goes into completing these races. I have gone into each of these marathons+ well-trained with high weekly mileage and long runs in the area of 20+ miles on Sundays. Normal people would not want to just throw away all that training. Normal people would cut back a little, but maintain a substantial base so that the months leading up to those big races did not go to waste. Normal people would use training for the Dopey as a springboard for future PRs. But not me. I'm not normal. There is something wrong with me...
Since January, I've laced up my sneakers a few times. I've run around the neighborhood a few Sundays. I even ran on the treadmill a few times. I followed no program. I logged not one run (in fact, my Dopey training plan is still hanging on my fridge). And yesterday, now that I'm "officially" in training for the 2014 Dumbo Double Dare, I strapped on my Garmin, laced up my shoes, and headed out for a quick 8 miles. It hurt. I was tired. My pace slowed at the end. All I could think was "What's wrong with me?" I did it again. Every year I say I won't waste this huge base I built up. I will maintain a base of 10-14 miles. I will work on speed so I can run fast this fall. Yet again, for the third year in a row, I have failed and I'm starting from (relatively) scratch.
So there you have it. There must be something wrong with me. And now I need to pay the piper! Am I alone? Anyone else out there experience post-race ruts? Or beyond post-race ruts? What are your tips? And really...what IS wrong with me?
I go through down times now and then. After doing the WDW half and then Tinkerbell the next weekend in January, I did a grand total of 21 miles in February. Sometimes you just need a break. I like to try to do 10 miles every other Saturday to keep the base up, but sometimes you just need a break. You'll build it up within a few weeks again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the vote of confidence Jennifer! I almost think it's more mental than physical sometimes. And yes, after Dopey, you NEED a break! Now, off to set some goals for these next races! :)
Deletemy daughter just finished her first marathon and she was repeatedly told "take 3 days off and then do your taper in reverse...use this time to cross train and let your body recover" I think it's a normal cycle for marathoners (other than those crazy elite people)... hang in there! you will find your pace again!
ReplyDeleteI like that "reverse taper" idea! It gives you a "plan" (I do well with plans...) and some structure!
DeleteI've had a weird mental block since I ran my last Nike Women's in 2013. I go so far as to get dressed, open the door, and just turn around and go back to bed. Its a weird mental thing, and I know it. I also think I overtrained at some point and lost my spark. I can still do a decent size run (5-10 miles) and feel great afterward, but mostly can't even get started. Maybe its time to focus on other fitness interests for a while and come back to it when you feel ready and motivated. Its not a defeat, and its not quitting. Its called listening to your body! :-)
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