Friday morning was day three in a row of not wanting to run. Seriously, I wanted to go home from school drop offs and help myself to a cup of coffee with a little something extra *cough*Frangelico*cough* and a donut. Luckily, I had a running date planned. My twitter buddy from down the street and I were planning to do 4-5 miles. I didn’t want to and I may have given some attitude and whined a whole lot at the beginning (sorry, Bill), but I wasn’t going to stand up a friend. The first three miles involved a lot of complaining were mostly downhill and weren’t so bad. Unfortunately, it was not possible to stay at the bottom of the hill. So, we trudged (ok, he ran, I trudged) our way back up. Somewhere around mile 5, the endorphins kicked in and suddenly I wanted to run. So, we kept going. And going. Finally, at just over 7 miles, I ran out of time, so we sprinted back to my house. We ended up with 7.4 miles in about 1:15 and I could have easily run another few miles.
After our run, I started thinking that maybe it was time to train for a half marathon again. And that maybe my new friend should train with me. (I probably ought to ask his opinion of that). Then I really wanted to run on Sunday. I even squeezed it in, despite my cake making adventures for Jones’ birthday party that evening. I had an awesome 4.5 mile run. I did some quarter mile intervals at a 7:45 pace and about a mile at 8:45, with all the rest coming in at about 9:45.
Then Sunday at Jones’ party, one of my close mommy running friends mentioned a possible spring marathon. She has always run Boston and has decided not to in 2011. So, she was telling me about this laid back marathon in NJ that she might do in March. And how she might just run it easy and have fun. And somehow the words “would you want to pace me to a sub-4:30?” came out of my mouth.
No. I am not going there again. I’m not. Seriously. But is this how women manage to have big families? You forget the pain of childbirth and suddenly the hormones hit and you want another kid? Have I ALREADY forgotten how much I don’t like marathon training? Already? Seems like that memory really ought to last a bit longer.
I totally feel you….and my legs still hurt! It is really hard to find that balance between family and training.
haha. I know what you mean, it's so easy to get caught up in the excitement that you momentarily forget all the pain, suffering and time it takes! Congrats on getting out there and loving the run again! I don't think it's that uncommon for runners to go through spurts of low motivation. Hopefully the motivation sticks with you for a while now!
i think that you should do it! maybe there is something in your mind telling you that you are ready to get back to it! it is easy to get caught up in the moment with friends, as it happens to me all of the time.
DO it! 🙂
Okay – I must just be crazy! I did marathon training but didn't get registered in time. Decided to put off the marathon. Then, yesterday, decided to say screw it and signed up for a Feb marathon in Myrtle Beach and will train during upstate NY winter. I didn't even have the experience yet.You can do it if you want to!!
glad you found your running mojo again! :-)when you said never again after #2 i wasn't really convinced. I can see you going back for more! good luck with your decision!! 🙂
Which laid back marathon in NJ? Any chance it is the Ocean Drive marathon? If so, they do a 10 mile race too. I have done it the past two years.
I love this post! Go for it! The worst feeling is regret.
Do it! it'll give you something to keep you focused, and you'll have someone to pace you! (And, you're awesome and I know you'll rock it!)
uh oh. it won't be long now…. ;-p
Glad you're back in the running groove! I think something inside you is telling you you're ready to do this again – go for it!!
I say drink the koolaide and then modify your marathon training plan. Mine was way more relaxed than most and I didn't run any training runs that I didn't want to do.
I say do it, but totally do it for fun! Of course this is from someone who is hoping to tackle her first marathon this spring!! So what do I know!!
Do it! Getting motivated to run isn't going to get easier with winter coming, but a spring race on the schedule will keep you getting out there! (At least this is what I'm hoping for!)
Go for it!!!
I think you should do it! (said as my legs hurt a pain worse than I have ever felt) It's totally worth it!
LOL – I think you should do it… but then again, we KNOW I drink the Kool-aid.
Oooooohhhh, potentially another marathon next year? me likey!
Proud of you for getting out there! I like the idea of you running a sub 4:30, I know you can do it. But trust me, you have to have your heart in it and you can't force it. You have time to decide, I know you'll make the right choice.2011 is going to be the year of half's for me – I love that distance!
We can call it Marathon Amnesia. You might have hit it on the head with the comparison to child-bearing!
Funny last paragraph. You are totally right.
I so get where you're coming from. It's only been a week since my first marathon and already I'm saying silly things like "when I do my next one." The childbirth analogy is so accurate.
I know what you mean 🙂 it is seriously too easy to get caught up in it all!glad you were able to find your running mojo mid-run.
I am looking at next year already too! I would go ahead and do it….if your friend can pace you…bonus!! I have also been feeling the typical runners post marathon funk. I forced myself to go out on a 6 mile run last night:) I am so glad that I did…it was wonderful! There is absolutely nothing wrong with a little Kool-aid every now and then:)
Nice post! That marathon sounds perfect to me. Do it!
Ha ha, I missed this when you posted it…forget the half, we're going FULL, baby! 🙂 (I think)