I'm Sick of Running...

At least thats what I was going to post about, but now that the 1/2 marathon is getting close and I'm starting to taper - there is an element of excitement creeping in....

Up until last Friday - this was my catch phrase - I'm sick of running, I don't want to do it anymore, why have I entered this race? I just want to throw it in and forget about it! The weekly long runs make be anxious and fearful as to how hard they will be/will I be able to do it, and I get stressed about trying to fit in the weekly runs and what will happen if I don't do them. On the other hand, I know I can't withdraw from the race now, because if I do, then all the pain and effort I have been though to get to this point would be wasted. So I just have to push on and get it over with.

On a more positive note, I did my last long training run on Saturday, and managed the full 21kms. It was hard, but I did it, and there is a sense of relief that the next time I put myself through this it will be the actual race. And there is some excitement starting build about it coming closer. As I'm starting to reduce my running over the next two weeks, I'm also able to start thinking about my next goals/training plans and this creates a sense of release and excitement/anticipation. I'm thinking of working on the ultrafit program that I bought a book on a few months ago, but felt I couldn't follow it cause it interfered with my running too much, or doing some more work on low heart rate training, or even doing short treadmill workouts focussing on speed. Don't know, but ending this current training cycle gives me lots of possibilities!

Just one last running reflection - i was talking to hubby about why the runs don't seem to be getting any easier, and then I reflected on the fact that there are different types of "hard" when you are running. The first few kms often feel hard because you feel all the aches and pains because your muscles are warmed up yet - like stiff calves/quads etc. So if you feel this when you run and causes you to stop - keep going! because it passes. Then there's the pain I feel around the 10 km mark ( or earlier) when I realise this is just hard work and I'm tired and wouldn't stopping be nice. (This is not a good time to contemplate that I'm not even half way through!) But add a couple of short walk breaks in as incentives to keep going (just run 2 more kms and you can walk for a min and have a drink) seem to help. And then there's the pain of the 15 - 18km plus times which are really a result of lactic acid build up when the legs stop moving freely, feel tight, stiff and sore, and you know you just have to keep the momentum going or you might never start again! I guess this is really the point that you want to keep pushing out further distance wise with the training - making this happen later and later in the mileage, as this is really the difficult time, and the time you are prone to injury. So I might keep notes on the types of pain/hard work and at what distances, and see if I can improve on when they occur and for how long.

Well that's my running soap box for today.
Will have to post again soon about my eating and weight next time