When I think back to this year and my racing: it wasn’t a good year but it wasn’t a bad year either. I set a big goal and attempted my first (and second) BQ. I didn’t think going from a 3:43 marathon PR to a 3:35 would be that tough. But it was. I was happy with my finish in New Jersey back in March. I didn’t BQ and I ran a 3:44 but I got first in my age group. Something I never achieved before in a race. Read more about that race here. As you read here, I am extremely disappointed with the outcome of my second BQ attempt. It has taken me a while to get over the disappointment of the Marine Corps Marathon but it was also a wake-up call for me. I did some soul searching. I talked a lot with Deb and Chris. I now realize I race much better in spring races. I have to “break up” with my coach. While his training philosophy is a good one and is used by many other coaches and would probably be successful for other runners: it is not for me (or my body). I over trained. There. I said it. I burnt myself out. Both my body and my mind were just “done” probably even before I ran Marine Cops but I didn't want to believe the signs. The year started off great and in March I ran the marathon upbeat and healthy and finished with my head held high. I took a month off from all running and just cross-trained. I ran Ragnar Richmond for fun in April. I ran the half marathon in Cleveland in May for fun. Training for Marine Corps Marathon began in June and I kicked it off by running Ragnar Pennsylvania for fun. Noticing a pattern here? Training was going well but it also started to feel like a grind. At times I felt as if I was just going through the motions and just getting the mileage in. I didn’t think of anything else other than running, eating right, working out and recovering. I let things at home slide. I lost focus at work. I got irritated easily. There were times during my long runs I lost focus, lost confidence, couldn’t catch my breath, felt overwhelmed and just had to stop and walk to gather myself. That never happened before. The injuries just came one right after another. My knee didn’t get worse but hurt off and on. In August, after Ragnar WV (where I had fun), my foot started to hurt. And two weeks before Marine Corps, my back got sprained. My body was not recovering the way it used to. Another “red flag” for me was Ragnar DC. You know how much I love Ragnar and the fun I have. This year’s DC race was a grind for me. I didn’t enjoy it. It wasn’t my teammates or anything to do with the race. It was me. I think I was so damn tired from training and worried about my current injuries that I couldn’t enjoy myself. I actually couldn’t wait for it to be over. I took my 26 days off from running after Marine Corps and on day 27 I ran the Annapolis Class Half Marathon with Tim. We took it easy and set out at a decent pace. But around mile 7 my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. It was beating so fast. I started walking and I told Tim to go on ahead. I started running again but then around mile 10 it happened again. I ended up finishing at 1:57. I wasn’t trying to beat last years 1:45 but it was in the back of my mind! My heart settled down after the finish but I have to admit: I was a little worried.
I have not ran in a week. Just Spinning, rowing and weight lifting. I am running the Fairfax Four Miler New Year’s Eve. As for 2018 and running…I am not running any marathons. Can’t believe I just typed that. No 26.2 for me. Part of me wants to put my name in the lottery for the Marine Corps Marathon and see if I get in and try to at least run it in 4-hours but I will resist. My body needs a break from 26.2 and the rigorous training. I will be running in the following: Healthy Strides 10K (April) St Michaels Running Festival Half (May 19th) Ragnar Niagara (June 1-2) Ragnar WV (August) Ragnar DC (September) Other races will pop up I’m sure and I will do them for fun. I plan on running a few races for Ainsley’s Angels because I love their charity. I will do weekly fun runs with local running groups: Pacers, Summit 2 Soul, PRR, Trottin Oxen and Shake Shack. I will still be an ambassador for Reebok Ragnar because that is one organization I am truly passionate about. I won't follow a specific training schedule. Just run. I am also going to get back to other things I used to make time for: yoga, headstand practice and Pilates. Chris and I are even taking a much needed “just the two of us” vacation in November. First thing though: I am getting my foot checked out (there is still a bump on the top of it at the base of my second toe) and I am getting a complete physical done. Both my body and mind need time to rest and recharge. I took on a lot this past year and I need a break. This break from 26.2 will allow me to refocus, re-evaluate and come back healthier and with more purpose. So when will I run 26.2 again? March 2019. I’ll head back to Myrtle Beach and run the marathon like I did in 2016. Spring race. Flat course. 3rd BQ attempt. I am going to go through major FOMO watching my running friends train for their 2018 marathons but I know my body will thank me in the end. And hey…if a much needed break worked for Shalane Flanagan maybe it will work for me!
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