Well, I'm finishing up my 3rd week of training.
This training is completely different for lots of reasons...
The biggest difference has to be the time of year. Winter training is super hard. Finding the motivation to go is probably the biggest obstacle although once I get out there I'm fine....in fact I'm happier once I'm out there. I'm finding more runs have been inside than I'd like them to be. We've had the insanely cold temperatures this week so I haven't run outside at all (tho I do get outside every day for at least 15 minutes-usually a walk during my lunch)
Beyond the season of this training program I have also been struggling with focus. I just realized I was supposed to do 4 miles yesterday and I only did 3. Last week, on my long run, I didn't map it out until the morning of. I'm still very structured in eating, drinking, and days I'm working out/running but my focus is not at all where it was during my last training.
Injuries are worse it seems. I don't know if my injuries seem worse because they just are or they appear to be worse because of the seasons. I feel like the winter in general has everyone a little more lethargic. Whatever the reason I'm feeling the effects.
About injuries...it's safe to say I'll be seeing my "support team" quite frequently again. I saw my PT and chiro for the 1st time today (I like to think I brighten their day when I come in ha ha). I had been experiencing some foot pain since the 3rd week or so of December and it continued to get worse. The pain was similar to pain I had in high school when I broke a small bone in my foot. I worried I could have done that again so I've made an appointment with my orthopedist to get x-rays. I was instructed to stop running until the xray results are in, but 20 minutes after I was given that order I was on the treadmill doing another training run. While my rational brain knows that even a 3 mile training run could be doing more harm in the long run I also my irrational brain felt like it was only 3 miles I should just do it and THEN relax ha ha. My calendar says I have only 5 miles for my drop down long run this weekend...I can't lie my irrational brain will probably win that fight and I'll do it. Sometimes being so structured can be a bad thing. I lack the ability to deviate from the schedule I've set (I don't like change). Hopefully I don't have a stress fracture in my foot....If I do, I hope I'm able to accept the restrictions the doctor and/or my chiropractor/PT put on me/my training so my foot can heal properly. It's a crazy disconnect between my rational and irrational brains. I know running right now is bad for me, but I can't stop. It's similar to the way I knew I needed rest days during my 1st marathon training program, but my head told me rest was making me weak.
Differences between my two training programs will happen for no other reason than they ARE different-I'm different from then and now both mentally and physically. I may not be at the top of my game right now, but I'll get there. I had ups and downs in my last training and I know I will this time too. This isn't a sprint...it's a marathon!
Day by day and training run by training run I'm getting closer to my next race and my next goal...that's what I need to focus on! It's true what they say, running is a very mental sport.
“You have to train your mind like you train your body.” -Bruce Jenner
Xrays are Monday...check back to see what they say!
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