Over the course of the last week I started finding myself thinking of back up plans for Phoenix. I started wondering if I could even run a marathon feasibly in 6 weeks let alone qualify for Boston. The more these thoughts entered my mind, the more right they sounded. The more I thought about throwing in the towel and picking a Spring marathon to run instead, the more I wanted to do that.
If I’m honest with myself and my readers, I don’t want to try another marathon unless I think I can qualify for Boston. I don’t want to go out there and “see what happens.” I trained hard for a race last year and was so confident that it would happen and it didn’t. Therefore, my brain is now convinced that the perfect circumstances must be present in order to get that BQ. But, luckily, my brain isn’t always right.
Yes, perfect circumstances would be great going into a goal race. But when does that happen? When does training go 100% as planned with no setbacks? When does race morning arrive and you are fully rested, perfectly carboloaded (but not bloated), delightfully caffeinated, with light and fresh legs and a weather forecast showing 50 degrees and gloomy with zero winds? If you’ve experienced this training and race ju-ju please let me know, because I doubt any of us have. Life is imperfect and so is our training. We can’t control everything but what we can control is our minds.
So, although I already felt like I may be cutting my training close going into this race and although I sprained my ankle, I’m making the best of it. I’m lucky to have such a supportive and amazing husband who sees right through my fears and isn’t afraid to tell me so. This morning over coffee he called me out – told me that I need to stop saying “if I run Phoenix,” or “If I don’t qualify at Phoenix” and just believe that I WILL run Phoenix and I WILL qualify for Boston.
The mind is so powerful and if you let the doubts crawl in, it’ll ruin everything. Mike reminded me that although I haven’t been running much in the last 12 days (breaking news, I did run 1 mile without pain on Friday and 30 minutes on Saturday!), I’m still training hard (lots and lots of biking, some aqua jogging, strength, and elliptical) and smart. He reminded me that I’m practically in the best shape of my life and that I just ran a great 10k hours after a 10 mile run and then nearly a half marathon PR a week later after an unrestful week. Although I might be running less mileage than I was a year ago while training for Eugene, I’m more fit now. I am stronger and I have more experience. I am a smarter athlete.
No matter what the facts are, I won’t ever qualify for Boston unless I believe I can. So it’s time to believe.
Thanks for this post! I have been really struggling with the mind games recently. I have been working so hard to improve my speed and I am not where I would like to be but I have definitely improved. I too need to believe that I will get there. I just need to keep going. So thanks.
Way to go, mike! I fully agree with everything he said. You just need to believe it!
And yay for running!!
Definitely do not underestimate the cross training you have been doing while injured! Last fall I started with very little running base and was focused on swimming and biking. Just when I started building the mileage for NYC, I got injured. I cross trained through it and to supplement running and was shocked by my time at NYC, on a tough course. I never ran a long run over 18 miles and even that was only once 8 weeks before the race!! I would have never thought the cross training was so huge until that happened. You can still do this!!! And you will!!!
This makes me feel so much better!!! Thank you!
I’m glad your ankle is feeling better and that you’re back at running. I think you’re exactly right about the importance of believing that it’s going to happen. I think you’re also right about the idea that no training cycle is perfect. I would also like to know anyone that has had that perfect taper/race day period. They just never work out exactly like you plan they will. I’m excited that you’re recommitting to Phoenix and thinking positively. I know you’re going to do great and am excited to continue following along!
The mind is huge!! Especially going into races! You have to have the mental toughness! I did a race yesterday that I was not mentally ready for. I tried to stay positive and it went ok but my mind took over at about mile 19! 🙁
I am glad that your ankle is feeling better. Sometimes a “little” break from running can do wonders for your race!! Keep positive! Keep believing and you have that BQ soon enough!!
I’m not sure where you are or how you are feeling about HR training. I started running using HR in December and was feeling that I would never run fast – fast for me – again in my life (seriously!). But I just raced over the weekend and could not believe how strong I felt running. Fore me, I had no sense of how fast I could or should go after weeks and weeks of barely breaking a 10:00 minute mile, but I am now a believer.
Also, I think that being injured can do a number on the mind, but it’s great that other people are reminding you of the importance of cross-training. Good luck with the mental part these next few weeks!
Thanks! The HR training is actually growing on me – my paces have dropped and I also experienced faster than expected race paces at two races in December. Maybe the HR training will work its magic on race day- actually wait, IT WILL! 😉 (gotta think positive right!!?)
You can do it!!! I believe too!!!
I’m glad you get to run again!! I hope you continue to heal quickly!
That’s exciting. Are you still using the Forerunner® 910XT for your training?
Yes I use it – love it! Do you use it too?
Trust your body and not your mind.
I do the same thing in my head with long distance swimming and rock climbing new routes. Ignore yourself and just listen to your body. Overthinking will just take the fun out of the process.