I am going to run a half marathon. I say this with more confidence than I should, since I gave up on my five mile run this morning before I reached four miles. From the start it wasn’t going well, as my legs were feeling week even before I started running. I had to coax myself to two miles and then finally to three. Normally when this happens I can squeeze out five, but this time it wasn’t happening. My legs were shaking. This was a new phenomenon (bop beee bedeedee! – sorry couldn’t help myself). So at 3.77 I called it and walked home. I was hot, my back was aching and my legs were shaking.
I know that I didn’t set out to do what I wanted, but I don’t feel as much like a failure as I normally would. Why? Because I know I can do it and although this is another in a string of crappy and hard runs, it will pass. I know I have been eating poorly for about three weeks, and I know that I have peri-menopausal pms (sorry if it is too much information) and I know that I hate to run in the heat. Although honestly, this morning it wasn’t so hot and the humidity was lower than it has been in days. But add some hot flashes and, well, it’s hot.
And two out of three of these things is not really going to change. So what makes me think I can run a half? Well, first of all I started a Pinterest Board and nothing screams commitment like a new Pinterest Board. Second, and maybe more important, I am excited about it. I haven’t been excited about training for anything in a really long time. And finally, I am gong to be realistic, well try anyway. For instance, I chose to follow the training plan for people running their first half as opposed to following the plan for runners who want to complete it in under 2:30. Because it is my first half, and the other training plan just made me tired. Which isn’t to say I don’t want to finish in under 2:30. I am going to add some speed workouts to this one. But hey! why not try to rock the easier one as opposed to dying in the more challenging? And by the time I get to the longer runs, it isn’t going to seem so easy.
Hot Flash 