As I alluded to on Monday, my mental mojo this training cycle went into hiding. I feel great physically…so now I have (less than) 2 weeks to find my mojo and whip it into shape.
I can’t be surprised by the mental burnout. Let me explain…
I took a year off marathoning in 2009 to get married, buy a house, and go on a long honeymoon. I ran a few HMs but mainly ran for fun and enjoyment. I had 5 marathons under my belt but my training for them wouldn’t be what I considered “intense”.
Fast forward to January 2010 – I register for marathons #6 and 7, ramp up my training intensity and mileage, and try to slowly chip away at my PR in an effort to get closer to qualifying for Boston.
September 11, 2011…I finally BQ after 2 years of hard work. Marathons 6 through 9 were essentially back-to-back…Spring, Fall, Spring, Fall. One training cycle after another. And in between cycles, trying not to lose the speed that I had built up.
While training for Boston, I begin to grow weary of the intensity. I just want to run! Not worry about pace! Two plus years of training for a PR and pressuring myself to PR has left me fried mentally.
Of course I want to PR in Boston. But I also want to have fun and put no pressure on myself whatsoever.
So what does all this rambling mean? Besides I’m a complete headcase and desperately need a break from racing post-Boston?
My Boston goal:
Enjoy the race while running as fast as you can that day 🙂
Pretty different from my “sub-3:40 or bust” goal a few months ago, huh? “That day” being the key words. Sometimes you have a good day, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you can turn a race that is headed south into a good race and sometimes you can’t.
But whatever I feel on April 16 – good or bad – doesn’t matter. I will have fun no matter what and I’m hoping that by removing the pressure to PR, I may actually PR. Reverse running psychology, right?
Tell me your best I-can’t-believe-I-PR’d stories! It can be any distance. I tend to PR unexpectedly in 10-milers. That’s a good thing, considering I’m running one 3 weeks after Boston (yes, 1 more race!).