Normally with other things in life you can choose whether you want to have a large quantity of something and sacrifice quality, OR get something high quality but not a lot of it.
Does this apply to running too???
Obviously I know the TRUE answer is that if you work hard you can have both, but my thoughts about MY running is I can't have both all the time.
This was brought to my attention the other day while at work. I was following up with a member who just so happened to have finished his first half marathon. I congratulated him and asked what was his final time. He said he was too embarrassed because I would probably "smoke him out of the water" (I'm not even fast) After a little coaxing he finally said he ran a 1:46 and change.
I told him it was a GREAT time, especially since he's new to running and this is his half mary.... also rest assured, I haven't broken into the 1:40s (YET) so hes the one smoking me. His response was something that I've been telling myself for quite some time and it was just hilarious to hear someone else say it:
"Really?!?! With all the races you do I thought you'd be faster" haha thanks
He immediately explained what he meant and apologized.
He brought up a good point though, why aren't I faster??? November marks when I started to get serious about running and adding more mileage. The answer is simple- and is summed up in 3 words
Do I run, yes. Do I have some short runs and some long runs, yes. Here's the catch- I do what I want, when I want. I don't have a plan, each run is whatever I have time for or what sounds good once I get into the run itself. I have a tendency to have the 'fly by the seat of my pants' mentality when it comes to many aspects of life, running is no different (except when planning races!)
So I know this about myself, but yet I continually do nothing about it, and aside from sheer laziness I wasn't able to really pinpoint why until the aforementioned phone call.
I'm coming up on a year of focusing just on quantity- 50 1/2s in 50 states- do I want to do well each race, sure, but at the same time I know I've got so many more to come that I don't worry about each individual race, just a few ones here and there. It's a whole different ball game when you spend months training for 1 specific race vs. doing several races within that same time frame.
With that being said, my routine has just been to do some maintenance runs during the week (3-5 miles) and then either a race on the weekend, or a longer (ish) run 6-9 miles on weekend. In a few weeks this may soon change.
Currently I'm getting ready for my double header this weekend, CT & RI, then the next few weekends are as follows:
Oct 21-22 Ragnar Vegas
Oct 30 potentially doing BIG HIT 1/2 in Louisville (haven't decided)
Nov 4-5 Ragnar Tennessee
After that I'm done for the year- nothing else planned- WOW.
So maybe its time to take advantage and focus on quality at that point.
Only problem- I don't know HOW to do it?!?! Its literally been since high school since I've done any programs and I feel like a fish out of water.
This is where YOU come in. Yes YOU.
Does this apply to running too???
Obviously I know the TRUE answer is that if you work hard you can have both, but my thoughts about MY running is I can't have both all the time.
This was brought to my attention the other day while at work. I was following up with a member who just so happened to have finished his first half marathon. I congratulated him and asked what was his final time. He said he was too embarrassed because I would probably "smoke him out of the water" (I'm not even fast) After a little coaxing he finally said he ran a 1:46 and change.
I told him it was a GREAT time, especially since he's new to running and this is his half mary.... also rest assured, I haven't broken into the 1:40s (YET) so hes the one smoking me. His response was something that I've been telling myself for quite some time and it was just hilarious to hear someone else say it:
"Really?!?! With all the races you do I thought you'd be faster" haha thanks
He immediately explained what he meant and apologized.
He brought up a good point though, why aren't I faster??? November marks when I started to get serious about running and adding more mileage. The answer is simple- and is summed up in 3 words
I - DON'T - TRAIN
Do I run, yes. Do I have some short runs and some long runs, yes. Here's the catch- I do what I want, when I want. I don't have a plan, each run is whatever I have time for or what sounds good once I get into the run itself. I have a tendency to have the 'fly by the seat of my pants' mentality when it comes to many aspects of life, running is no different (except when planning races!)
So I know this about myself, but yet I continually do nothing about it, and aside from sheer laziness I wasn't able to really pinpoint why until the aforementioned phone call.
I'm coming up on a year of focusing just on quantity- 50 1/2s in 50 states- do I want to do well each race, sure, but at the same time I know I've got so many more to come that I don't worry about each individual race, just a few ones here and there. It's a whole different ball game when you spend months training for 1 specific race vs. doing several races within that same time frame.
With that being said, my routine has just been to do some maintenance runs during the week (3-5 miles) and then either a race on the weekend, or a longer (ish) run 6-9 miles on weekend. In a few weeks this may soon change.
Currently I'm getting ready for my double header this weekend, CT & RI, then the next few weekends are as follows:
Oct 21-22 Ragnar Vegas
Oct 30 potentially doing BIG HIT 1/2 in Louisville (haven't decided)
Nov 4-5 Ragnar Tennessee
After that I'm done for the year- nothing else planned- WOW.
So maybe its time to take advantage and focus on quality at that point.
Only problem- I don't know HOW to do it?!?! Its literally been since high school since I've done any programs and I feel like a fish out of water.
This is where YOU come in. Yes YOU.
What suggestions do you have for transforming this 'go as she pleases' girl to a more 'determined and disciplined" runner?!?!
