I guess the good part is, based on my past runs, RunCoach estimates that I will complete the half-marathon in 2:58:00. The race officials give me 4 hours to complete the 13 mile course. That's an hour of padding, especially since the app hasn't tracked me for more than 5 miles at one time.
Why is it that I'm always at the beginning of something, and seem like completion is so far away?
Because I took "time off" from run training ("time off" being "injured my ass"), my RunCoach app has advised me to only run TWICE this week, not going past 2 miles on either run. By race day, the estimated schedule will have me running 7 miles in one stint. Pre-injury, I was already on 5 miles/2x a week and was on pace for the 13 miles 2 weeks before the actual race. Now, I'm maxing out at 7 miles the week before the race.Excuse me- the half marathon is 13 miles. Not 7.
I emailed the coaches behind the app with my concern and have been reassured that the schedule will change as my weeks progress and my time/distance improve.
| Love the app. Love the coach feedback. Hate the progress. |
I'm extremely frustrated with my (lack of) progress.
I need to get excited again, feel that rush of adrenaline and fear that I experienced when I first signed up for the half-marathon months ago. Now, I see running and fitness as a chore, and I can't seem to get back that feeling. I've been assured that as the date gets closer and the runs get longer, the excitement will return. And it's been suggested that I add a race or two in the meantime (which I did- Autumn Classic 8K in September). But I can't seem to muster up the thrill to run.
And let's not even get into me getting others excited for my run... I'm a shallow, external person. I need the constant affirmation from others that this feat is 1) awesome and 2) possiblefor me to accomplish. While the boy is supporting me by making sure I go to classes and do my runs, he's just convinced that I will finish and be successful, and that I need to be excited myself. He doesn't *get* that excited- then again, when's the last time I was excited for a friend to run a half-marathon or do something that huge? When was I last someone else's cheerleader?
He's right, you know. I need to get myself excited and not worry what others think. This is MY goal, not his or anyone elses.
But it would have been nice for my mom to remember the half-marathon sign up when I mentioned my training to her last night. Her words were, "what half marathon?" Mind you, a month ago, she offered up the house to stay at the night before the race..
So I'm trying to relearn strategies, get myself motivated, that kind of stuff. I'm back to walking on the treadmill at work a few times a week in addition to my regular cardio/run schedule. I'm about done with my online nutrition class where we learned that weight loss is possible, yet a slow process, best achieved by nutrution (80%) and fitness (20%). Duh.
And I made sure to do a "check-in" with my trainer, since we're still in the 6 week challenge period. That was kind of motivating- I've dropped 8lbs, 1.4 points on the BMI scale, dropped 1.3% of body fat, gained .5% of muscle, lowered my body age.
I'm on pace for success. Even though I don't really feel like it.
The boy and I talked about what I'm struggling with and, when I said that I don't look or feel like a half-marathoner, he retorted with "What exactly does a half-marathoner look like to you?" I said thin, muscular, generally in shape. He said he sees it as an average person, that someone with drive and a decent fitness level is a half-marathoner to him. And that person is me.
I still don't believe it. Hopefully I'll get there at some point, because race day is only 66 days away.
