Crazy as it (doesn't) sound, 36 y/o father of 2 hasn't allocated as much time for this training as 31 y/o guy without any kids did for my marathon back in 2008.
Back then, I was really focused on the accomplishment of running 26.2 miles. I needed to run. I needed to finish that race. Becoming a marathon runner meant something to me, like somehow I needed the achievement as part of my personal portfolio.
Now? Eh.....I don't need it anywhere near as much.
Don't get me wrong. I want to run. I still enjoy running very much. I want to run this race. I want the accomplishment. I want the feeling of achievement that comes with it.
But, my self image, my feeling of self worth, it isn't tied to running these distances any more.
Some of it probably has to do with the "been there, done that" aspect. I've already run 2 halves, one in Las Vegas. I've already run a full marathon. This isn't new.
Some of it probably has to do with TheKids also. On one hand, they just make everything more difficult. It's much harder to get out of the house for a couple hours to go run when they are stuck on me like stink on a homeless person as soon as I get home. It is really hard to justify, at least in my head, doing something that is unnecessary for myself when I could be taking TheKids to the park or going on a bike ride with TheBoy.
At this point, I'm still committed to finishing this project, but I'm not half-crazed about it.
I'm curious to see how I'll feel in the few days leading up to the race. Will I be excited about it? Will I just be wishing for it to be over?
I guess we'll see.
***********************************************************************************
Since my adventure in the wilds of Farwell, MI back on Labor Day weekend, I've been running twice a week, but it has mostly been inside on the treadmill. Not the best way to train, but at least it is something.
The weekend of the 7th, I had TheKids while TheWife was in Kentucky for a wedding. As such, getting out for an outdoor run was not going to be in the cards. I planned on going to the gym on both Saturday and Sunday morning, running each time.
On Friday night, after the kids went to bed, I sat at the kitchen table and worked for a little bit. When I got up from the table, I had a shooting pain down my right leg from my groin-ish area to my knee. It flared with each step. It's not something I've had before and I have no idea what would have brought it on. I had taken the kids to the park, but I hadn't bounced around at all. Saturday morning, I was wincing with each step.
At the gym, I did a bunch of extra stretching, rode the bike for 20 minutes, and loosened up the leg on the treadmill by walking up a pretty good incline. After it finally felt OK, I did an easy 5k. Not exactly the training I planned. And no more shooting pains. Weird.
On Sunday, I came into some football tickets at the last minute and took TheKids to their first Lions game with Grandpa and LaLa.
So, no running on Sunday either. Lions won, though.
By the way, I told TheBoy about how sometimes it's hard to get into the bathroom quickly at a profootball game and that he should tell us he has to go potty before it becomes an emergency and he pees his pants. He really took that to heart. He peed before we left the house. Then again at Grandpa's house. Then at a port-a-john outside the stadium. Then 5 more times in the stadium before halftime was over. Then, one last time as we walked out of the stadium. No accidents, so there's that.
On Tuesday the 10th, it was 90+ degrees and TheWife took TheKids to TheAunt's house to go swimming. Guess who got a free night? Went to the gym and ran. And sweated. And sweated some more. It was f'ing HUMID in there. Did 6 miles on the treadmill and had an awesomely disgusting puddle to clean up when I was done.
The weekend of the 14th, I mixed it up a bit. Ran from my home to the gym, then did an hour on the treadmill, then ran home. Altogether, that was about 10.5 miles with 4.5 being outside. My thought being this would be easier on my knees. And I was right. Didn't have anywhere near the discomfort I normally do if I did all 10.5 outside.
This weekend, TheWife is out of town again for another Kentucky wedding. She's never gone to Kentucky before in her first 33 years on the planet, then has 2 Kentucky weddings in 16 days. So, I stayed home with the kids which means I'm running on the treadmill. This morning, I did 80 minutes. Trying to do something different again, I ran the entire 80 minutes on a 5% incline, but at a slower pace of only 5mph. So, the distance wasn't as much as I'd normally cover in that amount of time, but I still burned just under 1000 calories. Tomorrow morning, I think I'll do the same thing.
Next weekend, being the last weekend before the race, I'm planning on getting outside for maybe a quick 6 or 8 miles. Nothing crazy.
Anybody interested in joining me for the race on Oct 5th? Plenty of spots available.
http://heroesonhines.com/#
$59 for a half marathon is a heck of a deal and the proceeds go to a worthwhile cause.
See ya.
No comments:
Post a Comment