This is NOT the time for me to lose my motivation
. Ugh...the weather got crappy, I've been getting way to much work at work (like never getting out on time!) and I cannot get rid of this stupid nasal congestion/drainage
. All of that has combined to give me zero motivation to go out and run. I haven't run in a week and last week's run was only 3.5 miles
. I can run today and Thursday this week. I was worried about doing a long run (7-10 miles) today because I haven't gone that distance in over 2 weeks. OTOH, if I did a short run today, then I will be forced to do a longer one on Thursday, regardless of the weather or the family plans (kids have no school and DH and I are both off
).
I got motivated today and decided to run for about an hour and see how I felt. I started out a little later than I'd planned so I was looking at being able to go an hour and a half, at most. I focused hard on thinking "keep it slow and steady" because I did not want to overdo it too fast. It's only 45 degrees out with a bit of a breeze so I didn't want to stress my freezing cold muscles. I did one of my regular routes and I found that I was neither in pain/discomfort or out of breath at any time. I did a totally new interval today...walk 4/run 10...and I really liked it. I wasn't too fond of the HUGE uphill climb (I believe it is 150' over a 1/2 mile
) that I hit about 3 minutes into the 10-minute run interval, but other than that, I found it rather easy and relaxing.
At the 1 hour mark, I had a choice of heading home or doing a different loop which would have been another 3-3.5 miles. Since I was feeling pretty good, I didn't want to ruin it so I decided to call it good. I finished 5.03 miles in 1:02.38 for a 12:27 pace
. I hit my target time and my target pace so I am happy. I am not sore or tired so all is good. I am not sure if I want to try for 8-10 on Thursday. I *really* think I need to get in at least one more run (if not 2) that are in the 9-12 mile range. I have only done 12 three times (and felt pretty crappy after all of them), but I know that I will be able to finish the 13.1.
I think that is why my motivation is starting to dry up a bit. When I started training, the concept of being able to complete 13.1 miles seemed completely crazy. My goal all along has been to build up my endurance and keep a pace at or below 13:00/mile. I have succeeded in going 12 miles at a 12:30 pace so I am 100% sure that I will be able to complete the race ahead of the sweepers. Because of that, I am starting to lose motivation to keep running. I already know I can do it at my target goal. It's too late in the game to change that goal now. I don't want to set a time goal because I don't want any disappointment. I want to feel like I have achieved something when I cross that finish line and not have any feelings of falling short of a goal. The goal is to finish...that's it!
Time to get cracking on the packing. Only 16 days until we leave
.