I’m #keepingitreal today.
This week and next week are “pre-marathon” training weeks. The only goal of these 2 weeks are to add some speed work back in and acclimate (reacquaint?) myself to higher intensity workouts. After that I’m doing a traditional 16-week plan.
I should be excited. I’m always excited to begin training for a marathon.
I’m scared instead. Add in anxious and doubtful too.
My last marathon was December 2012. Ages ago. Pre-Fiona and during the best Fall racing season I ever had. I look at my training log from 2012 with my mouth wide open. I really did all that?
So, in no particular order, these are my scared, anxious, and doubtful concerns:
And now I have a kid
Yes, lots of people with children train and run marathons (i.e., most of my clients). Totally doable. I’m more worried about being tired all the time. I’m already tired with regular training and running around after Fiona. I don’t want to be a zombie. Not really looking for a magic answer here other than suck it up. Everyone does it. And everyone is tired. Right?
MAF training – the land of happy, low intensity
MAF training was awesome. I build a solid base and got faster. And before MAF training, I spent all of 2014 base building. My base is built. The foundation is solid. But I’ve become very comfortable with low intensity training. Other than a few half marathons last year, I’ve spent very little time in the pain cave. I fear the pain cave. (If I can think of any drawbacks to MAF training, this would be it.)
How should I go about this?
Obviously, I want to PR at the Via Marathon (September) or Monster Mash Marathon (October). That’s the goal. But without a recent half marathon time, I’m kinda lost on an exact goal time. (My PR is 3:41.)
The only thing I figured out so far is how I want to approach marathon training. I mentioned using a (modified) Pfitz plan but decided against it. What I need is the exact opposite of what I have been doing. No more base building. Instead, it’s track work and tempos. Every week. Simple and uncomplicated (but tough). It worked wonderfully for me in the past. And I’m really hoping that layering in these speed workouts on top of a solid base brings me to that PR. If nothing else, I’ll spend time in the pain cave and build some mental toughness. Gulp.
Or maybe I should shut down all this thinking and analyzing and Just Do It?!
Fiona enjoys the track…with snacks, of course.
She is so stinking cute! I think you are simply going through that rough reentry to speed work. It’s hard after MAF training and our bodies talk back. Maybe start w/ one day/week for a couple of weeks instead of two? Just an idea. But you’ll get there and it will become second nature again!
What a cutie! Learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable. This is something my own running coach has told me. And know that anything worth going after takes hard work and with running…some pain. In the end, you’ll be a stronger and better runner! You totally got this!!!
I anticipated training with a kid being hard but I had no idea. I’ve been doing the bare minimum, maybe less, to train for a ten miler and it has solidified there is NO chance of a marathon for me. Definitely not until weaning and more likely not until I can win the lottery and stop working. But you are way tougher than me! You’ve got this!
You are awesome and will do great but I think these cute little ones enhance our training by having to run and then chase them afterwards…..you will do great!
It has definitely been an adjustment to train after having kids, but it’s not impossible. Being a mom is tiring and marathon training is tiring, so you’ll be tired 🙂 But I also really love the time to get out of the house by myself and when I come home, I can’t wait to play with the boys. One thing that has been a huge adjustment is being on my feet all day and being more active than I’m used to after long runs, but I think it helps me recover better. I think you know this, but I have a sitter two mornings a week so I can run outside without the stroller and it’s the best use of money, I highly recommend that if it is an option.
I’m sure getting back into speed work will be tough after MAF training, but maybe you’ll love the change too and love being able to open it up a little.
Good luck with getting back into marathon training! Remember to enjoy it & not put too much pressure on yourself. After all, your life is a lot different than the last time you trained for a marathon. I agree with Beth’s comment that having to be active & moving around is definitely good for recovery!
Fiona is such a little cutie!!!