This week has been a bust so far. I have to remind myself it's only Tuesday, because I feel like it's already mid-week and I haven't run yet.
It's because I've had four days off.
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| I feel like a fraud. |
I took Saturday off in order to fast, and spent Sunday hungry and exhausted as a result. I did some paddleboarding Sunday, but only to try some new boards; I was hardly on the water for an hour. I have no legitimate excuses for Monday or this morning.
The weather is finally nice here in the mornings (and, honestly, even in the evenings!) so I should be happy to be running. But of course, little wrenches in my plans have thrown off my schedule. Grocery shopping, dinner-cooking, and an earlier sunset have really made it hard to get on track again.
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| Perfection. |
Hopefully admitting this will set me back up for success this week! One thing marathon training has taught me: I enjoy too much OTHER stuff in life to dedicate myself to a training schedule. It kind of sucks, but that's just how I am.
So I need to learn to work around it and make it work, because I want to run this marathon, and I want to do it knowing I put my full effort behind it.
How do you get out of bed in the dark, cold morning hours?
Tell me to suck it up. I need it.
ABK
Today was so hard for me to get out of bed. It was pouring for the first time in MONTHS and I could have stayed in bed for another hour and a half and cuddled with the boyfriend. But I told myself the hardest part is getting up and getting dressed. All it took was standing up and I was ready to go. At the gym I told myself it was only an hour out of my entire day and I would feel better all day as a result. I got it done, and I do feel better. There's also something truly gratifying about getting a workout done before most people get out of bed.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are putting yourself before your training. That's very important so that you don't burn yourself out!
I know how much I love it once I get into the routine, but that first step is the hardest. I need to do what you do and just remind myself that the rest of the day will be better for it!
DeleteIf Ron could be willing to get knocked out by a giant chess piece to help Harry stop Voldemort from getting the SS then you can get up and go running in the morning! Seriously! I believe in you!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I was laughing so hard at this!! And it was seriously the BEST motivation!! Thank you!!
DeleteMy cat wakes me up at 5:00 or earlier sometimes. I don't "need" to get up until 5:40. I use those 40 minutes to pray and to paint. My day is always better when I suck it up and get up. Always.
ReplyDelete(And then I count it as a freebie when somehow I manage to not be woken up so early.)
The empty early-morning streets are perfect for reflection. I need to remember that those wee hours are a good time to make some spiritual connections. Thanks!
DeleteI'm always really bad at waking up - but hopefully once I am running again I will get up before school and go :)
ReplyDeleteYou'll be back at it sooner than you think!
DeleteWhen I read your opening sentence I immediately thought, "Is she reading my mind?" LOL. I'm having a tough time getting back into the routine as well with the new school year. I run in the evenings now and that is certainly an adjustment from this summer's freedom to run 'whenever I please.'
ReplyDeleteThe way I see it is 'If you really want this marathon, you'll make the training happen.' That's what I tell myself to get my butt out the door. ;)
Happy Running!
Changing to evening runs is so difficult...I miss the freedom. But I just need to grit my teeth and do it!
DeleteI know how you feel Ali!!!
ReplyDeleteSome weeks are just not your week for running! But it's okay, you just get back on track and do it!
Plus it helps that we will hold you accountable ;-) haha!!!!
Haha, I definitely need the accountability from you guys!!!
DeleteA great way to get up in those cold dark hours that you want to spend all snuggled up in blankets is to have an 8 month old who wakes up at 5am each morning. :)
ReplyDeleteDon't feel bad...sometimes a few days off are needed!
Kids sound better than alarm clocks!
DeleteSUCK IT UP!!! Haha... sometimes your body just needs a break!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU! I needed that. Yep, my run last night felt amazing. I think I was thinking it was already a lost week, but luckily it was only Tuesday and I still got the run in!
DeleteI had four days off last week due to various things happening in my life. It's hard! Good luck with the marathon! P.S. I have a hard time getting out of bed when it's cold and dark myself.
ReplyDeleteWork-life-workout balance is tricky! I'm obviously still learning haha.
DeleteAli, I've been struggling to get out there, too. After enough days off, I feel like I lose all momentum. It's a lot harder to get moving again than to just keep moving in the first place. Right now, my main motivation is that I have 5 races in the next four weeks. If I don't keep running, I'm going to hate myself after those events, particularly the RW Hat Trick. Maybe you can motivate yourself to complete this plan with a break afterward. Not that you won't run but that you won't use a training plan for a specific period of time.
ReplyDeleteIt's totally true that once the habit forms, it's WAY easier than if you're taking many days off. This training is coming off a long time of "just running for fun"...it's not that I'm not enjoying it; it's just that I'm lacking the discipline to follow a plan of this magnitude. It's my first LONG distance race, so it's definitely a heavier plan. I think my fear of the marathon is also what's getting in my way. I need to get out of my head and just do it!!
DeleteSuck it up Buttercup....maybe you need to get one of those shirts from gymdoll for some extra motivation ;)
DeleteSUCK IT UP!
ReplyDeleteOkay now I will add the smiley and tell you that it ALWAYS feels better to have it done before you go off to work... AND the sunrise is beautiful!
You're SO right that it feels way better for it to be over before I even go to work, especially because it makes the afternoons so carefree! But the sun doesn't come up until an hour after I have to be done with my run haha!!
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