What will you sacrifice to accomplish your running goals?
Back from a long weekend away and feeling revived and ready to attack the week. It is, in fact, a race week for me. I am traveling to Kansas City this weekend to visit family and Coach Jerry and I will be running the Rock the Parkway Half Marathon. Like my recent New York City Marathon, I have not prepared for this race at all. I’ve been slowly getting back into running shape after my injury and am taking it very slowly. I’ve also been busy with a move and traveling so getting long consistent training runs scheduled has been difficult. So this weekend I’ll be excited to run another half and experience a new race with no expectations.
This weekend I was thinking about my upcoming half, my recent injury and what I need to do in the coming months to get back into PR shape. I started thinking how far off I was from my 1:30′s days and how much work I needed to do. I asked myself a simple question: How much am I willing to sacrifice to get back on top of my game? A benign question at first glance, but once you strip away the layers and get down to it the question becomes quite complicated.
My first quick answer? I will sacrifice everything and everything to get back into my top running form. Then the reality of the sacrifice takes shape- well, what about my new commuting schedule? What about the upcoming summer months and wanting to take it easy on the weekends? The excuses start to pile up and just like “that” a simple and easy question is turned into a complicated one where there are multiple moving parts.
As I write this post I am going through my head thinking of what can I do to get back on track. If planned correctly and with the right frame of mind there isn’t really much sacrifice that is needed. You, me and everyone else can reach their goal by just taking one day at a time. If I look ahead three months, sure it looks daunting, but taking a on day at a time approach and making healthy/smart decisions then the days of running PR’s will be right there for you and me.
One day at a time and enjoying the journey, this is my mantra going into the spring. The running year is still young and there are lots of miles and milestones to achieve for all of us.
What are you willing to sacrifice to get to your goals? What motivates you to keep you on track? What are the things that throw you off your game?
- Scott
I am currently selling our house in preparation for a move across country, I have my first ultra in early June and just started a fund raising project.. thank you for reminding me to take it one day at a time.. all too often I have been focused on the future and become very overwhelmed.. it’s like thinking about the finish line in a marathon… if you just dwell on the finish you will have a very long race.. important to focus on the steps in between.
Exciting, moving across the country! One step at at a time, such an important mantra for us runners. Good luck with everything.
Scott, you make a great point! It’s easy to say “I’ll make my training top priority” but life, work, kids, and other people have to be considered, too. Making training #1 requires dedication but it’s also a selfish endeavor and most of us just can’t be that way without affecting other people negatively. I try to schedule my training to have least impact on my family (early mornings, while kids are in school) so I can make it a priority without sacrificing too much else. It’s a very complicated balancing act…but worth it!
Such a balancing act, wondering how often your schedule gets screwed b/c of unforeseen issues.
Life usually gets in the way of my training. It is difficult to juggle everyting going on as well as getting all the miles in I need. I try not to worry about it too much and just run when I can.
I will also be running Rock The Parkway this weekend! It should be a good race, hopefully it doesn’t rain us out.
Good luck!
Nice, maybe we will see you out there! Should be a great race this weekend.
Time. Never enough time. Total game crusher.
You have the mindset of a Navy Seal. Take it one day at a time. Smaller goals will help you attain your bigger ones.
I can’t imagine how working parents train!
I know, working parents must have such a time crunch!
Great post Scott. I have two daughters, and I work two jobs, one part-time one full time. Factor in commuting, time w/my children, chores, hmmm sleep….and that’s the reason my alarm goes off at 3:30 am most days. I average 39-50 mile weeks, and I also cross train on top of that at least 3 times per week. Let’s see, I don’t have time for a relationship, that’s for sure! My kids (teens) are sleeping when I run, I do my best not to sacrifice THEIR time.
For me I’ll always gut it out in the wee dawn hours….that way no matter what life tosses me later in the day, my miles are already done. I make time for my training, no matter what. Added bonus, all those miles before breakfast? I’m 48 and totally rock a bikini
Wow, that is a heck of a schedule and sounds like you have it down pretty damn good. Continue to rock it!
Love your “get it done” attitude Terri – and that you are still rocking the bikini because of your training efforts!!
Great post. So nice to take a step back & put things into a clear mind….such a good approach. You will get there….
[...] What will you sacrifice to achieve running goals? [...]
The one day/one week at a time seems to be working for me too. Thinking or planning too much too far ahead can be paralyzing, and also disappointing because things never go exactly as you plan. I’ve got the “just run” mantra in my head because I got injured, was able to run my race, but then got confused as to where to go next. I registered for a marathon, but continued to flounder. With a couple months before serious training needed to kick in, I decided to *just* run – nothing too complicated – but to just get out there and run a few miles a few times a week. It’s helping me get over my paralysis and I’ll be in a better mindset heading into training.