Sport Today

Hi folks, I thought I needed to get this off my chest.. having run off
and on for about the past five years or so, I decided that this was the
year to start training for a marathon. I plan to run the National Capital
Marathon in Ottawa in May 2002, so to prepare I did some research on the
internet and bought Hal Higdon's "Marathon The Ultimate Training Guide."

Reviewing the resources I had available, I developed a training plan for
the spring marathon that basically outlined what I would do each day from
now until the race in May.

It's only been about four weeks or so that I've been following this
schedule, and this week, I've missed two days out of the five that I'd
scheduled to run. I ran 13 km in 1:17 on sunday as my long run, then rested
monday. Then 6.5 km in 33:09 on Tuesday, noting that my left shin was a bit
sore and my right foot was sore between the inner ankle and the heel. The
shin soreness didn't concern me, as it wasn't serious, but the ankle
soreness was something that I hadn't felt before. I iced it that night, but
on Wednesday it still bothered me, so I took the day off (I'd scheduled a
9.5 km run). On Thursday, I scheduled a 6.5 km run, which I did on a
treadmill in the gym due to my busy school schedule and my dislike of
running in the dark after school. Friday was another scheduled rest day,
even though my class schedule is rather light on fridays.

This brings me to Saturday, which is where I have my problem. We were
obliged to attend an all-day seminar on military ethics (FYI I'm a cadet at
the Royal Military College of Canada, which is more or less Canada's West
Point) and by the time the seminar ended at 1630, I was in no mood to run
my scheduled 6.5 km run. That means that I've missed two runs out of the
five that I'd scheduled for this week. As much as I enjoy running, I find
it very difficult at times to motivate myself to go out and do a scheduled
run, especially with the cold weather coming. Like I'd mentioned in a
previous post, I used to be a biathlete, so I used to train during the
winter, but this is my first winter where I'lll be running full time.

I guess what I'm asking is two-fold: first, what do you folks do to
motivater yourselves to run in the face of a busy schedule (and less-than-
ideal weather), and second, what negative impact do these missed runs have
on my training, bearing in mind that the race is still about six months
away.

I appreciate everyone's input,
TDV
Mathew

I'm just a casual runner, not a marathoner, so I won't answer your second
question.  I can answer the first, however.  Kick yourself in the butt, cadet!
My schedule is much busier than yours (I can only imagine getting off at 4:30)
and I have a family.  The best thing that I do to get myself outside is not to
think of what I am going to do.  Don't think of the cold or the wet or how
tired and cranky you are.  Just schedule the run into your day, then lace up
your shoes and go do it.  I can think of a million excuses not to run - the
baby kept me up most of the night, my back is achey, it's -5 and windy outside
- but I know I will feel better if I run and it's in the schedule, so, with
apologies to Nike, I just go and do it.

AndreaD

    Training for a marathon is a long hard job.  You need to want it really
bad or you are going to find it really hard.  My suggestion for anyone who
can't find the time, to admit that they don't have the need.

    We all have personal choices in our life.  Seldom is a choice simple
since most choices involve giving up one thing for another.  You chose to
find the time, at the expense of time for other things.

    For me it has not been hard.  I really enjoy running.  It is a time I
get to get away from the stress of the day.  It works my body that does not
get work during the day and rest my mind that does not get a rest during the
rest of the day.

    You on the other hand may have a different set of needs.  If they don't
fit a marathon now, then decide now not to do that marathon and take the
pressure off.  Later when your needs change do it then.

    In the mean time find some shorter local races and work for them (5K to
half marathons) the training needed is a lot less and they can be both fun
and motivating.

    My father told me I could do anything I wanted if I really wanted to do
it.  I have found I only needed to understand I can't do everything I want
to find a lot of happens.  Not doing everything is not a failure, it is a
decision.

Good Luck and don't stop running.

--
Dia 's Muire duit

Joseph E. Meehan

My life would overtake me if I didn't run when I do - first thing in the
day.  Yes, it means I'm up pretty early (between 4 and 5am during marathon
training, 5:30 am otherwise) but getting the run done before the rest of the
world (or my wife and kids) wakes up is critical.  This allows me to meet
the obligations of the day without worrying about how to fit in the run.  
The only potential drawback is the time you have to get to sleep in order
for this to work - generally if I'm not in the sack with lights out by 9:45,
the next day is a little tougher.

And I live in Edmonton, and I do this year round.  So yes, 4 am in January
when it is -20C and blowing snow - that's a badge of honour for the Canuck
runner.

It will have no impact, assuming you get back on your schedule.  If this
becomes a pattern, where you are weekly missing a couple of runs, then
you're cooked.  But no single run or two is going to make a difference over
6 months of training.  Part of the art of training is realizing which runs
are crucial and which are not.  Judging from Higdon's programs, clearly the
long run build ups are the focal point of the training.  Keep those up as a
priority and you'll do well.

--
Lorne Sundby

The busy schedule is one that you just have to deal with.  Generally
on any given day I have an hour or two that I can use any way I choose.
That usually means getting up early to run.  For some people that
works, for others it does not.  I found myself getting up on Saturdays
at 4-4:30 am to get that long run done.  On those Saturdays that I had
plans, or family things to do, I would plan ahead and do the run on
Friday.

On those days that you are leg weary, sore etc.  Don't beat yourself
up for taking an extra day off or cutting the run short.  Your body
knows when it needs to heal.  Hit it again the next morning.

Less then ideal conditions....buy the proper clothes and go for it.

I kept a couple motivators taped to my desk for a year.  Every day
I saw them and knew if I did not stay with the program I would never
reach that goal.

I also read this NG nearly everyday.  Listening to someone reach
a long term goal and seeing the joy as they wrote about it helped.

Good luck.

L

I think that Joseph's post is full of wisdom. Think hard about that.
If you love running, just do it whenever you can. Schedule it in, and
just do it (to coin a phrase :)

On the other hand, if a marathon is what you really really want, then
it's a goal to shoot for and will keep you on track, even on the
crappy days. Personally, I realized I had a lot of time on my hands
and decided that this past year was the year to train for a half, and
then a full, marathon. Even though I came up against some injuries
along the way, I found that time was rarely an issue. Training in
winter - in Ottawa - means there are other variables, like weather, to
contend with. But only the worst blizzard or ice should keep you off
the roads. If you really want this, you can do it. Motivate yourself
by posting your training schedule in a few places around the house. I
kept mine on the bedroom closet door and on the fridge. One to get me
up and out on the roads each morn, and the other to remind me that
eating terribly wasn't going to help me reach my goal.

Best of luck,

Cam (from Ottawa too)

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