Marathon doubts/second thoughts?

[noisemaker2]

For all of you racers out there, do you ever start on a training plan and then start to ask yourself why?  I'm 5 weeks into my 18 week marathon training plan and this past week I started asking myself, why am I doing this again?  My answer for myself is that I do take some sick joy out of the training plan--crossing off each workout as I complete it, testing my body, etc.  And I also want "redemption" in February.  Last year was my first marathon and it didn't go as I'd hoped.  I know I have a better 26.2 in me and want to reach it.  That said, I had trouble getting out the door for a few runs this week and found myself wondering why...normal?  or am I in for a long road to Feb?  I don't remember this from last year's training cycle. 

I should note that I'm asking this the day after an inexplicably tough long run.  I know better runs will follow, but...thoughts or advice for me? 

[cinco]

I don't really care for long runs! Funny coming from someone that enjoys marathons and running. It's definitely normal to have days where you don't feel like it, but if you aren't enjoying yourself when you are out there most of the time, or are dreading every single run, I might reevaluate. No decisions should be made after a bad run though! There would be no runners left.

[runaways]

I have thoughts. I started training in June for Chicago, and it was kind of miserable. I straight up dreaded a lot of my long runs. I finally had a come to Jesus talk with myself a couple miles into one of them - it was like 5:30 am, pre-daw, humid, gross. And I was like, "Look, self. You don't have to do this if you don't want to. You can turn around and walk home and decide that you don't want to run the race. Sure you'll be out some money, but there is not one thing FORCING you to keep going. You can go explore Chicago and cheer for the racers and enjoy a weekend away. Or you can half-ass this training and walk half of the race. And in the end, it's actually really OKAY to decide to do that. So, you know, get over yourself and make up your mind."

So I don't know if that's remotely helpful, but I think it's good to remember that when it comes down to it, it's mostly for fun. Even though most of us take it pretty seriously. And that even if you make the decision to push yourself and keep going, you do in fact have a real option not to and that doesn't make you a terrible person.

[al320]

Yes, absolutely. I have a bad run, im tired, i feel like its taking over my life and i question why i do this to myself. Then, a few days later, ill be in a better mood, have a good run, and change my mind. Theres nothing wrong eith being fickle and theres also nothing wrong with changing your mind. Its a big time suck. Id say, give it a few more weeks, if you still feel that way, you have decisions to make. Dont iverthink it, this is supposed to be fun, when it stops being fun, you can stop and no one will think any less of you.

[clseale]

It would not be a training cycle if I didn't feel that way at least once. Lol It's a lot , and it's not fun every single second. I have trouble with the smaller runs. Like, I'll happily go out & rock a 20 miler , but screw that stupid 5 miler the next day. I almost always dread those. I agree with the others. Give it a few more weeks. You're not going to love every run, but if your heart really isn't in it, there's nothing wrong with changing your mind.

[Wines Not Whines]

I questioned myself a lot this fall, like why am I putting so much effort into preparing/training for something that will only be ~4 hours long? And it's not like I'm training to win it or anything, just to finish and PR. I asked myself several times if it was really worth it. I love running marathons though (the races themselves, not the training), and I wanted to enjoy the race as opposed to it being a death slog where I hated life, so yeah, I had to train. I really wanted to do the race though. If I was meh on doing the actual race, I'm not sure I could've made myself train so hard.

[emuni04]

LOL, I start questioning it after day one! I'm like you - I get such satisfaction at crossing things off a list. Plus, I remember how awesome it feels to cross the finish line. That always keeps me motivated!

[grk2012]

I've had those thoughts for all of my marathons, as well as some shorter races. In the end, it comes down to "I'm doing this because I like it, the feeling of accomplishment at the end is awesome, I like my 26.2 sticker, and I get a freaking MEDAL! Plus, I like to eat many many things and dieting is not for me."

[clseale]

Nov 18, 2013 8:22:47 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

 I really wanted to do the race though. If I was meh on doing the actual race, I'm not sure I could've made myself train so hard.

I think this is a really good point. I made it through the suck of summer training knowing that I was running Chicago and I was also getting a really awesome trip out of the whole thing. It was all about the experience. If I was training for a small local race that I wasn't excited about, it would have been more difficult. 

Now for my January full, I'm not jumping up & down, ecstatic for the actual race, but the BQ goal is driving me. I think you have to find one thing that makes you really want it. 

[noisemaker2]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone! It's nice to know I'm not alone, and also good to think about the whys of it all sometimes. Here's to hoping for a better mental place this week.