Half Marathon Training Update.. 3 weeks to go!

If I walked into every Crossfit class and looked at the whiteboard thinking, “There is no way I can do that,” I probably wouldn’t have achieved a percent of what I have already. I go into each Crossfit class knowing that it is it not at all a matter of if I can or if I can’t do the WOD; you just do. You may have to scale and you may take longer than anyone else there, but there is no can’t.

I have been working on applying even just a fraction of that mentality to my half-marathon training. I lace up my shoes, tell myself I am going to have a happy, positive, optimistic run; I start to run and then let it all get to me. I let running win.

After I posted my mental struggles post, Kim of Busy Bod Blog wrote about her kryptonite, putting so much into words the same feelings that I feel. How running makes me feel inferior. But the biggest difference between running and Crossfit? I keep showing up for Crossfit. I keep putting in the work. I want so much to become a better Crossfitter that essentially has enveloped my life. And no matter what the workout is like, you keep going until you are finished, or keep going until time runs out.

Prior to mid-September, I was running once a week. Once in a while, twice, if you count various types of interval training in my Crossfit Endurance class. I would show up and do it, but I don’t put my heart into it. I talk about wanting to be a better runner, yet I refuse to run more.. Logical, isn’t it?

For the past two weeks, I have been adding more runs into my schedule, and putting Crossfit as a secondary focus (which is extremely difficult..). This past weekend was my longest run to date at 9 miles.

I started the day by waking up an hour later than planned, meaning if I wanted to be on time to the group run I would have to skip breakfast, or fun on a full stomach. I opted to just take my time and run an later. I knew any additional stressing out before the run was not going to be beneficial in any way! As I was on my way to the gym where I start my run, I was stuck for a never-ending train. More time to get in the zen moment, I suppose..

My goal of the run was to just do. I did not care how long it too me or if I had to walk or if I needed to cry, I was just going to cry. But the goal was to not think about anything other than being in the moment and doing.

It was slow. I had plenty of walk breaks. But with the focus was on just doing it however it needed to get done it made it a little less stressful. There was no focus on the struggles, the negativity, or the self-doubt. And you know what? It was only one of two training runs over 3 miles over the past couple months that I did not cry.. big deal for me, guys. I will not call it an easy run or a comfortable run, but I did not cry. Miles 7 and 9 I was running just over a 10:00 pace (my average pace was 11:45). I felt almost good at the end..

Is this a major breakthrough in my quest for peace with running? Have I finally started to find some solace in running?

This weekend’s run will be more telling as I battle with my longest long-run before the half..

Your turn..
At what point in a long run do you start to feel comfortable?
How do you clear your mind when you run?
If you are training for anything, is there anything else you would rather be doing?