You know what I miss? The days when I could race at least once a month, easily. It's kind of funny because when I first began running, I didn't even know that road races existed! I was just running for myself and for fun.
Once I discovered races, I became pretty addicted to the atmosphere. I feel like I race less often now, but looking back at my race recaps, I can see that that's actually not accurate. However, my races have shifted dramatically in distance; I barely did three 5ks in 2015, compared to eight in 2012, when I started my blog.
I used to live for 5ks, and now I feel like they're barely worth it. It just feels hard to justify spending the money and getting up really early on a Saturday to go run a mere 3.1 miles. This is a mindset I need to reset; it's time to get excited about short races again!
Once I discovered races, I became pretty addicted to the atmosphere. I feel like I race less often now, but looking back at my race recaps, I can see that that's actually not accurate. However, my races have shifted dramatically in distance; I barely did three 5ks in 2015, compared to eight in 2012, when I started my blog.
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| My eight 5ks in 2012...I had no clue what I was doing. |
By the same token, I need to get used to the idea of running shorter in general. The other night I did 2.5 miles total - one warm-up mile and six .25-mile repeats. It was really hard work and I felt exhausted and beat up at the end of it, which proves it was a good workout. But seeing such a small number on my Nike+ at the end made me feel like the workout almost didn't exist or something!
I know eventually my speed work mileage will be longer and I'm looking to run approximately 25 miles a week, but I'm not quite there yet. I've only just started this plan; I need to be patient.
I'm proud of myself for forcing a little bit of evolution in my running. This is the first time that I've had a more obscure, general goal, rather than a goal for a single race. I think that this shift is really important. But it's definitely going to take some getting used to!
How has your perspective on racing and distances changed since you first started running?
ABK
How has your perspective on racing and distances changed since you first started running?
ABK
It definitely is a perspective change! I still have that mindset for 5ks and 10ks like- if I am not trying to PR, what's the point of getting up early and spending all that money!? If I run a marathon this fall I am going to have to shift my perspective that 8-10 miles does NOT equal a long run anymore haha. Because right now, when I run 10 I am like DANG I ran LONG today haha.
ReplyDeleteEven though 10 miles IS long, it's a good example of how perspective needs to shift when you take on the marathon. Pretty soon you'll be like, "oh, ONLY 10 miles? Easy."
DeleteI remember when I first started running. I ran races just to run races. Since I had just started it was like every race was a PR and I could see the improvement. Now, I don't care about all of that. I want to have goals for specific races and run without spending money all the time.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's nice to finally not care about racing as much because it does save money. I never thought I'd get to this point!
DeleteHehe. I haven't run a 5K in two years. I'm forcing myself to do one next weekend. When I started running, I would just sign up for whatever. No matter how it fit in with my "training", a term I use loosely because it was just miles. Whatever I felt each day. No plan. I had no clue what tempo runs or fartleks were. Strides? Hill repeats? Those are a thing? Oh, how the times have changed.
ReplyDeleteI didn't really HAVE a training schedule so any race was a good race to run! I liked signing up for things because it gave me some kind of motivation, but I still didn't "train". I did recently reread a race recap I wrote about a 5k, and I talked about "training" for it and I had to laugh because to me back then, training meant "have I run 3 miles recently".
DeleteI also got addicted to the racing environment when I first started. I think a lot of it also has to do with what a commenter above me said: there is also an addiction to the constant improvement that comes with being a new runner/racer at first. I PR'd at the first 5 half marathons I ran. That's 5 PRs in a row. Now that I'm out of the auto-PR stage of running, it's hard to muster up the same enthusiasm for races, let alone shell out the exorbitant amount of money most of them charge these days. I do miss racing now that I don't do it as often but at the same time, racing just isn't the same for me now that I'm not new to it anymore.
ReplyDeleteI think it will take your mind a while to get used to the shorter mileage mentality, but you'll get there. Personally, I don't race 5Ks simply because I don't like them. I don't like running that fast and shorter distance races freak me out. I'm not motivated to train for one because I just don't care all that much about being super speedy at short distances.
I never had an auto-PR stage! I'm jealous of those who did!
DeleteI think it's so interesting that more seasoned runners - many of them WAY faster than I am - aren't big fans of 5ks because they're painful or difficult. I kind of hope my training this year gets me to the point that I'm running so hard for 3.1 that I, too, feel they're painful and difficult!
This in interesting because I think I'll be in the same boat after my goal HM. I've actually been wanting to focus on short distances but haven't been able to fit in in. I feel like I have a lot of unfinished business with the 5K! While I won't be training this spring, I do plan to focus on shorter distances and speed, which are definitely tougher for me. I look forward to seeing how your year of shorter distances pans out!
ReplyDeleteIt will be nice to have another runner on my blog roll focusing on shorter/faster races! It kind of sucks to set aside distance, but I'm excited about the change.
DeleteI've actually never run a 5k. I walked one once (like 4-5 years ago with some friends)... but I've never run one. Since I did track and cross country in high school, running a 5k was never novel to me. I felt like I was wasting money on a short race. Lately, I've been kind of wanting to sign up for a few 5k's. Since I don't have a PR for the distance, I'd like to see what I can do and really push myself. I think as I tire over these crazy long distances with marathon training, running a 5K sounds a whole lot more fun.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see how your training translates for 5ks. I always think it's pretty interesting to see a distance runner who didn't start with 5ks and just jumped up to longer runs immediately! I needed to start with 5ks because long distance terrified me!
DeleteI haven't run a 5K in so long because I really can't justify getting up early for such a short race. Especially one that I'm not feeling particularly well trained for. I secretly hope to run one at the end of May to see how well my spring training paid off. Although by then I know it's going to be pretty warm out which isn't ideal for any kind of race, but especially not a short one where I'm going to feel overheated from about 2 minutes in! haha
ReplyDeleteLast night my speedwork was only 3 miles (including a .5 warmup and .5 cooldown) and I thought about this post a lot. It feels weird to run hard for a really short period, but it's definitely best to ease into these things to avoid injury. It'll be fun to see our speedwork build over the next couple of months! You are off to a fiery start!
Yes, exactly!! Speed work really takes a toll on our legs and lungs and we need to ease in; a short speed workout is often MORE strenuous than a long, easy run. I need to remember than short, hard runs count as workouts just as much as a two-hour run!
DeleteI've always shifted a lot this year b/c like you, I like the race atmosphere! I rarely did 5ks though because I don't like how fast it required me to run, jaja!! BUT, it coming back from my injury, I dedicated a lot of time to strength training and saw that I was doing my shorter runs, faster--and that got me excited. So I did a 5k recently and snagged a PR! 5ks are a different challenge than say a 1/2 but they're fun in its own way. That shorter distance has actually helped build confidence in me and helped me mentally with my recent half.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing your speed work pay off!
I definitely will be adding strength into my workouts, at least 2x a week. I know it's a GREAT way to get faster and I need to commit to it; I'm just not sure where to start or what KIND of workouts to do!
DeleteAnd yes, that's why I'm focusing on short for now - confidence. I need to get used to running hard again and it's less scary to do that at a short distance than for 13.1 miles or something. I know that for me, starting small and building up will really help me be successful.
I always am grateful I CAN run. I can still remember when I couldn't run a mile!
ReplyDeleteI like to race, but not as much as some people. Racing is hard!
I remember that too. I honestly couldn't run a quarter mile when I first began running. I don't take anything for granted; it's funny that now anything under 4 miles seems "short".
DeleteI used to run a 5k, then a 10k a month my first year, then moved up to halfs, then the two full marathons last year. I decided to work toward PR'ing my half this year and then blew out my back two weeks ago. I guess my body is getting the break it needed. Hope to be able to work back up to that PR is possible, but also realize I prefer running on trails more than anything and that includes an irrational desire to run a 50k trail race. I think it's okay to change perspective now and then. We don't have to only be one thing - go with what feels good.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree - sometimes it's alright to step away and try something new. I think my body is ready for a change, and my mind DEFINITELY is.
DeleteI hope your back feels better!
Also, the technicality of trails freaks me out, but they're SO much prettier than when I usually run.
OMG I used to race all the time too when I first started my blog! My body quickly told me to stop that!!!! My perspective has also changed and to be honest it changes throughout the year as I go from lower mileage to high mileage. I mean when a particular distance feels "long" at first and then a few months later it feels like no big deal.
ReplyDelete"Racing" was often just "running and hopefully not burning out" at first. I didn't know how to pace myself or what to aim for!
DeleteI think that it's good that your perspective changes fairly frequently. It keeps you fresh!