Last night I was pulling the foam roller out from under the bed thinking about what a bad @$$ I am because I’m running hard enough to need to foam roll (need… as in, it actually changes how I feel afterwards). This thought about how awesome I am was interrupted by another thought: What the H#$* am I doing?!?!!
I’m 31, I am busy raising two small kids, I didn’t start running until age 28, and I am finishing races in the 66th percentile. I’m working pretty hard for someone so far from the front.
Why am I taking this so SERIOUSLY?! I’m proud that I now keep a foam roller under my bed? Really? What am I DOING?! I’m running my butt off to go from the 66th percentile to a goal time that would still be average at best! I EVEN HIRED A RUNNING COACH!
I mean, it’s funny, right? I’m working very, very hard, and very very seriously at being very, very mediocre at something.
Luckily, that’s not the point.
It’s fun to take something not-serious very seriously. (Professional sports are a great example. Go Sox!)
I love taking my progress seriously, feeling pride when I check things off my training list, feeling ecstatic when I have a run goes better than planned.
I love laughing at myself when I skip the second glass of wine because I’m “training”. I love getting up early in the summer to go for a hard run because it’s “important”. It’s fun. It adds meaning to workouts that I might otherwise be inclined to skip, but feel better for having done them.
So, yeah. There’s a foam roller under my bed. I’m a half marathon runner. I have a race coming up. It’s important. I’m training.
It’s FUN.
OMG, I have this exact same thought for EVERY HM. Usually mine occurs in the middle of a 9-mile training run (in the heat, uphill both ways, etc).
I have a HM in September that I’ve been really looking forward to. It’s year #2 of the very first HM I ever ran. Then recently I had a bout of kidney stones that knocked me on my butt for a few weeks. I’m slowly getting back my stamina and I emailed my friend that I think I can do it, but be prepared for ‘what am I thinking?’ emails. She replied, “Yay!!!! I’m ready. Send me your toughest “what am I thinking” emails. I can remind you.”
🙂
Good friends are amazing! She sounds awesome 🙂 And she’s right! I hope you keep recovering and training goes well. It’s really fun to run a half marathon you’ve already run before – there’s this “I’m still here” feeling that can’t be beat. Enjoy 🙂
I just ran my first 10K and am training for my first Half in November. I’m super slow (although improving) and that’s always my goal….to just keep improving. Who cares if I am not as fast as my friends or if I take walk breaks. I am still out there running the same race!
Yes! Exactly 🙂 I wish you the best on your first half! It’s really a special thing when you make it through your first.