I have a huge runfession to make. Huge.
I really don’t want to run any more long runs. I’m just over it.
A month from now, I’ll be lining up at the start line for the 40th running of the Marine Corps Marathon. When I decided to run it, I was riding high on my training for two marathons in one weekend. I was also enamored of the idea of running a “special” year. (Because, you know, years like 15, 20, 40, etc. are more important years to run than regular years. Or not.)
So, yeah, my decision to run MCM again was nearly as poorly thought out as the first time I decided to run it. Of course, I knew I’d be running 6 half marathons in 6 days, so I knew I needed to train this summer anyways. Why not throw a marathon into the mix? Totally makes sense, right?
Until it no longer makes sense.
Somehow I always forget how crazy September and October are around here. I mean, I know my life isn’t any busier than anyone else, but fitting in marathon training is hard when you want to do it. Training when you are over it? Yeah, not so great.
I know a big piece of my problem is that I’m still tired from last week and I have a cough that just won’t quit. Perhaps finally getting a night of sleep that doesn’t involve waking myself up coughing will help me. I’ve got two more long runs pencilled in on my calendar and that plus last week’s adventure should allow me to complete the marathon. There will be no PR, but sometimes you just have to accept that things don’t always go as planned.
How do you find your “give a d@$n” when you just don’t care about a race anymore?
And since it’s Friday Five, here are five things that helped me survive last week’s adventure:
- Rice krispy treats – for some reason, my stomach was having nothing to do with all of the awesome foods that Mainly Marathons provides its runners. I could have chosen anything from pickles to cookies to hard boiled eggs (and on some days, breakfast pasta, quesadillas, or pancakes if Norm wasn’t running). But no, my body decided the only acceptable sustenance during the race was rice krispy treats. Guess what I’ll be cutting up and taking with me for MCM – yep.
- Glide – I only use Glide for one thing – my feet. The bottoms of my feet get super sensitive after the first half marathon and Glide rubbed all over the sides and bottoms keeps me running mostly pain free.
- Skirt Sports skirts – I actually did not wear any bottoms other than Skirt Sports for the entire week we were out there. I saved packing space by wearing a skirt as casual wear and then running in it a day or two later.
- Epsom salt baths – Some days I took these right away, but a couple of days I had to wait until evening. Either way, I managed to get one most days and I found that they really helped to loosen up my calves and hips, which were constantly trying to rebel on me.
- Massages – This was totally the best thing I could have done and I highly recommend it if you ever do a series. It felt amazing to have the aches and pains from a race worked out and I swear that’s why I felt so good in the later days!
Bonus: The people! Beer Geek drove me everywhere (seriously, I think I drove 15 minutes the whole trip). The Mainly Marathons crew kept me fed and cheered me every time I came through the aid station. The other runners, well, they were just awesome. Imagine a race where every couple of minutes, someone is cheering you on, or high fiving you, or running and chatting with you for a bit. It was NEVER lonely on the course. And that’s why I keep running these crazy series. I start going through withdrawal from my running family! That’s why I’ll be heading to 7 half marathons in 7 days in May of 2016!
I’m linking up with Cynthia, Mar, and Courtney for Friday Five. The topic today was Favorite Fall Activities but I wrote about my fall favorites in DC last year. I’m also linking up with Marcia for Runfessions.
wow wow wow that’s a lot of running! 2 marathons in one weekend- 6 half marathons in 6 days -then 7 in 7! If I were you I’d be living in that Epsom bath! I love what you did with the skirts – good planning. I do that with my running shorts too since that’s what I live in. I hope you end up totally enjoying your MCM!! Happy Fall!!
I can relate big time to the “being over it” on the long runs. After 30+ marathons and ultras, I decided to take a big break from super long stuff after my last 24 hour race. It may be forever, it may not, but for now I just don’t want to go out for 6 hours on a weekend lol. Thanks for writing this post you ROCK
Congratulations on finishing all those races. Maybe you just need a little break to recover and you’ll feel better about the marathon coming up soon. I love Epsom salt baths. They are so relaxing. I have been wanting to get a massage. I am so overdue.
I can’t imagine all those half marathons in such a short period of time. I once did 7 marathons in 9 months and I thought that was a lot! Maybe you just need a little rest to get your MCM mojo back. Good luck!
2 marathons in 2 days-6 half marathons in 6 days-amazing!! My body would have shut down on me!
The 40th got a lot of people 🙂 – 2 more long runs and you are home free-you got this!!
Epson salt baths are the truth! Thanks for the reminder!
Wow, that is a huge amount of running. I can understand why you might be a bit burnt out. Sometimes taking a bit of time off helps me get my mojo back.
I can see why you are over the long runs! That’s a lot especially with poor sleep thrown in. Yikes! I hope you feel better soon! Epsom salt baths are the cure for everything. I started soaking my injury plagued foot nightly and it’s made huge gains along with a new PT treatment. I’m convinced it works!
I don’t race that often, so I’m always excited about my races. Even when I’m sick, or injured.
I bet you get excited on race day, though!
I totally get why long runs have lost their appeal to you. Wait they’re not terribly appealing on the best days. It amazes me how well your body withstands this volume of running. A super power for sure!
I’m sure part of your blah feels are due to being physically tired and sick. Hopefully you’ll perk up at the starting line – then your legs will take it from there.
I think you will change your mind once you are rested and feel better. You did a fantastic job on that series, lady! Your mileage is already there and you’ll be fine at MCM. (Have you been to the doctor to get something to shake the nasty cough? Or to help you sleep?)
Great blog Erica! It is always nice seeing you at a Mainly Marathons series!
I think it’s totally normal for you to be feeling this way! And I can relate, too–I’m so over the marathon at this stage. So we can meet up at a fun half sometime next year, what do you say?
I can so see why you are over the long runs. Hopefully some much needed rest will help get you over the hump. Hang in there!
I cannot imagine running 6 half marathons in 6 days! Can’t even imagine doing 2 in 2 days. I’m starting to reach the “no more long runs” part of my training, but luckily I only have 1 more 16 miler before tapering down a bit. Hang in there!
i think getting some rest will be super helpful. but also, you’ve been training/running a LOT. i think it’s just that “over it” portion of the training…
First, this is an absolutely normal way to feel four weeks out of a marathon — and so soon after doing six half marathons in six days. You are simply tired! Get some rest and eat well; make sure you get enough iron-rich foods (so much endurance activity may have lowered or depleted your stores — well, at least this is what normally happens to me!) You don’t need to run a ton before a marathon, either. Six half marathons in six days prepared you plenty for the mileage and the feeling of running on tired legs! If you can get in a 20-miler about two weeks to 12 days before the race, great – if not, you’ll still do great!
I am totally in awe, and also thankful that you shared this post- I am 3 weekends away from my marathon and after my last long training run, I totally hated running- I think half marathons might be my new long-run now too! You are making me feel like I am NOT crazy! TY~
I admire that you run so many races back-to-back…totally understandable that there could be some burnout for marathon training! Hopefully you’ll be feeling better soon! I love training for races but I always worry about doing too much.
It’s important to remember that none of us are getting paid to run, so when something isn’t fun anymore… no need to keep doing it. It looks like Mainly Marathons was a TON of fun but that’s a lot of running in a few days. I hope you can get some rest and recovery and enjoy some rice krispy treats :).
Give yourself another week you will feel better! Yay for skirt sports, massages and amazing husbands 🙂
I think you will be fine for the marathon without a long run! All that running you’ve been doing has to count for something!
OMG I have been feeling similarly about my big race this November and the timing of the fall kicking into high gear. It has been hard to stay focused on it with the start of school and our concert season. I took a step back this week so I can rev back up for the big push to the finish. Your recent adventures were crazy! You will get to the end of the MCM!
Haha, I told myself I was going to do Paris and that would be it for the year. Until I realized it was the 40th MCM. Yep, I signed up because of the year 🙂
I know exactly how you’re feeling about long runs cause I’m feeling the same and my marathon is three weeks away. Luckily I’d scheduled a half marathon right in the middle of my peak weeks so that took me down to two 37 k-ers that I had to run. And then I tweaked a hamstring and my physio would only let me run 20 that day. But lining up to start yesterday’s one and only was a mental battle. It’s just been a long year!
I’ve actually started feeling this way about my marathon training runs for NYC. I’m excited about the race, but have one more long run next weekend that I’m looking forward to being done with.
Going to be doing half marathons for awhile after that. Need a break from 26.2.