Rebuilding the Running Base
My running plan for the fall has changed a bit. I have been forced to cancel my New York City Marathon entry; I’m instead focusing on the much more reasonable goal (given my fitness level at the moment) of a 10K. Targeted is the Rockville 10K, held on the same day as the marathon. So I won’t be going anywhere that weekend, but I will be racing. I do hope that 2009 holds better running fortunes; I’m really trying to use the Forerunner 405 (which continues to rock in all its wonderful glory) and the 10K as a springboard to better training. IP points out that training for the marathon while planning the wedding might be a bit too much; I still haven’t determined that as of yet, but my initial impression is that it’s manageable, especially if I use the marathon training as stress relief from the planning.
I would like to return to a strong running base, complemented by strength and flexibility training. My goals for the hazy future include the Rim Rock Run at the Colorado National Monument and the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon (dream big, WordNerd!). I don’t know when I’ll get around to tackling those (although it might be best to live at altitude for a years before I do so), but they are dreams that loom in the back of my running mind. I still remember when the marathon was still a hazy goal, mentioned on this blog: it came true, and it’s possible to get that level fitness back.
As I follow the training plan for the 10K (modified from Hal Higdon’s novice training plan – I’m far from a novice but I can’t start where I used to be), I am trying to rediscover the joy of just running. Running was always an enjoyable activity until it began to feel like a task – an hour-long task in order to burn enough calories so I could have that slice of pizza from NYPD in Ann Arbor. I forgot the simple joy of just basking in the outdoors, listening to the stomp-stomp of my feet at they hit the ground, the stress relief I felt when imagining my adversaries’ faces beneath my commanding stride (yes, I do have some pent-up rage, why do you ask?). The sense of accomplishment was gone as my weekly mileage diminished thanks to work – where was my discipline, the ease of getting up early in order to squeeze in a run before the day’s activities, what happened to my cardio endurance, and why wasn’t I pleased with the runs that I did manage to do? I felt like a failure, and that consequently sucked any joy from any run that I happened to do.
Lately, though, I feel like it’s coming back. I’ve removed pressure from myself to always do a certain mileage, to always do it at a certain pace. What I’ve mistaken for quality is now being exchanged for actual quality and quantity. Sure, I’ll do just a three-miler, but it’ll be a good one, and no, I won’t pressure myself to do it at the pace I can’t maintain at the moment. My running equivalent of Rome wasn’t built in a day, why should I regain it in a day? It is possible to get back to where I was, but I need to not rush it. It’s finally clicked that I can’t do my 30 – 40 mile weeks just yet; maybe one day (dependent on time and wanting to balance running with strength training), but not right now. And that’s all right.
So my four-miler the other night that crossed into Ray’s Meadow Park? Done at a relaxed paced that allowed me to tackle the last hill up East-West Highway without stopping. And my pace was pretty damn good for someone who just wanted to run. (The Forerunner 405 performed wonderfully, not losing the satellite signal even as the woods which easily conquered my Forerunner 201 closed over me.) The 30 minutes of cross training I did this morning, which I originally thought was going to be another three-miler? Well, I wasn’t feeling up to it, so it was three miles on the elliptical at a moderate pace (about 65 – 70% my maximum heart rate) – and I don’t feel guilty for following the plan instead of putting in more running. I’ll get to the point where running will be something I can do everyday, just like before, but I’ll be smart this time around by complementing it with some cross training.
I do think I need new running shoes, though. The New Balance 859 is out; anyone have the 858 in stock?
Actually, I think you’ll be able to handle marathon training and the buildup to the wedding just fine. At worst you might miss or have to reschedule one or two of your long runs.
One thing totally missing from your post, though, was that before the NYC Marathon you never strength trained. Since then, you’ve been strength training pretty seriously, which takes time and effort that you might otherwise have devoted to running (with the time you spend lifting, you could probably run another 10 or so miles each week). So, given that you work full-time, have a significant commute, and have some other stuff in your life, it’s not surprising this led to less time spent running.
Now you’re transitioning back into running (while still maintaining some strength training) and I think it’s happening just as it should. I think being a little more flexible with yourself is also the way to go. I’m sure you’ll do great in the 10K, and after that you’ll be raring to go for more.
Aww, thanks, hon. I definitely don’t want to lose the base I’ve built with strength training — that has actually been an asset as I try to build the running base again. They definitely complement one another, I just have to balance them out as best I can.
The 10K’s probably the best way to start off again — long enough to be challenging, short enough to make me want to do more.