It is hard to pinpoint exactly what the problem was, but my half marathon Saturday DID NOT GO WELL. It could have been any or all of the reasons I am listing here:
1. Didn’t eat dinner the night before. 2. Didn’t train for 90 degree weather. 3. Didn’t sleep the night before. 4. Ran another half three weeks before. 5. Hadn’t properly trained for the first one, let alone the second of these half marathons. 6. It is stupid to enter races that don’t show elevation maps because they are probably trying to trick you.
Let me just cut to the chase and save you the suspense … I dropped out at mile 6. That has to be one of the most embarrassing statements I have ever uttered or typed. I am not a quitter.
But, as embarrassing as it is for me to admit that I quit a race (and as interesting an anecdote as the whole story is), I also stand by my decision. The day of, in addition to feeling pretty badly most of the day, I was really hard on myself emotionally. Everyone around me kept saying that they were proud of me for listening to my body but I just kept wondering if I could have pushed harder. But honestly, I couldn’t. I felt like I was going to pass out. I was no where near prepared and I was only in mile six.
All of which lead me to this conclusion. I WILL NEVER NOT TRAIN FOR A RACE AGAIN. You can hold me to that, and please do! It’s not that I didn’t want to train, but shin splints and a busy schedule kept me from getting long runs in. Which is when I should have decided that there are other races out there and not run. I should have been patient. But of course, we all think we are invincible (especially us twenty somethings). And after all, I had completed one just weeks before with little training and all that I had sacrificed was a good time. But, that was my problem. Along with the other five.
Train properly. There are plenty of free resources on the web for creating customized training logs. Follow them. It is like a part time job, training for a marathon. But in order to avert injury or risk to general health you have to follow the schedule. Long runs on a regular basis and properly building stamina are the only ways to succeed and there is just no way around that. Lesson learned. I beg you to take my word for it.
So, as I set my sights ahead to a fall race, I have twenty weeks until the Greenville Spinx marathon on October 21st of this year. I need to find a training schedule and follow it. I will keep you updated on my progress. This will be my first time training for a full by myself, without a support system of running buddies to pull those long hours with me. But, I know I have it in me. I have done it before and I miss the feeling of running for several hours and not feeling the pain. Being in that kind of shape is thrilling and I can’t wait to be there again.
* I have to post-edit this entry and thank Scott for pointing out that the Greenville Spinxfest full marathon has been canceled this year. After hearing about some of last years experiences, I don’t think I am missing out on much. I am looking at new marathons to run. Don’t worry, I am setting a new goal and so should you!*
Tags: half marathon, pride, quitting, Running
um…maybe you won’t have to start training as soon as you thought. Does this mean what I think it means?
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090418/SPORTS03/904180303/1002/ARCHIVE
[...] anjasmith added an interesting post today on A lesson in pride « Anja SmithHere’s a small readingRan another half three weeks before. 5. Hadn’t properly trained for the first one, let alone the second of these half marathons. 6. It is stupid to enter races that don’t show elevation maps because they are probably trying to trick you … [...]