Why does running confidence seem to fade so fast? It takes such a long time to develop, and then it can disappear in no time.
Only 21 days ago, I ran 26.2 miles. That's a pretty long run, I did it in okay time, and I felt fine shortly after. That all adds up to running confidence. Now, just three weeks later, I'm somehow doubting I can run 6 miles. Why? Well, for starters, I haven't run more than 5 miles since the race. I had the lower mileage planned to give my legs a chance to recover and to be able to pick up the cross-training that I need for my triathlon season. Still, my sureness in my running ability has started to fritter away.
Another reason that I am doubting myself is that the little mileage that I am doing seems a lot harder. I've decided to blame the bike for this. On the bike, my heart rate stays low and I get to go fast. I'm just not good enough on the bike yet to really push myself to the max. Running is the exact opposite. It just seems a lot harder and I feel like I'm going so slow. The leg fatigue from the new bike training is playing a role, too. Since I'm a shuffler, I use my hip flexors a lot when I run. The hip flexors are getting quite a workout on the bike. Now when I run, my legs are feeling heavy.
Whine, whine, whine. The dumb thing is that my pace is actually okay. I'm running the pace that I should be and my heart rate is fine. It just seems so hard! I was going to do a brick workout tomorrow which would be 20+ miles on the bike and then just a 2 mile run. I think instead that I'll go out and conquer that 6 miles on a hilly course. I need to get my running chops back! Even though this triathlon stuff is fun, I still feel like I'm a runner first and foremost, so I want to make sure that doesn't slip away.
On Sunday I'll be volunteering at the finish line of the new Minneapolis Marathon and Half Marathon. Good luck to everyone running! I'll either be doing back-up timing or giving out medals. Hmm... which one sounds like more fun? Good luck to everyone that is racing this weekend!
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12 comments:
You're running confidence will snap-back soon enough.
I hope you get the job of handing out medals. Every person you give a medal to will have just accomplished something to be really proud of!
It must be fun handing out medals.
Oh so hoping to be there.
Don sometimes won his age group before he started taking cancer meds 16 months ago. Sunday he will be glad for a 5 hour finish.
I get this same feeling at times when i never fully recovered from my previous race before stepping it up. I found when I just took three days off from everything, enjoyed the easier side of life while monitoring my diet, I felt great when I started up again Recall, they say it take 26 days to recover from a hard run marathon.
Good luck...
Beth, you are an awesome athlete, it just takes some time to recover from a marathon both physically and mentally. Have a fun and safe trip!
That sounds normal. I have a few adjustment issues when I switch from one activity to another. And increasing mileage after a race is not always easy. You're doing great...and all the cross-training is definitely making you a strong person.
No worries, Beth. You are a dedicated athlete, and you will get your running mojo back in no time.
Have fun volunteering at the race tomorrow!
i handed out medals last year.. on my birthday, at a sprint duathlon that I had registered for, but was in an air cast with stress fractures instead. Still had a blast though. Have fun volunteering!
I agree with everyone above, I think the cycling will help your running, the mojo will be back :) have a great weekend!
Beth, there are lots of rules of thumb out there. Here's mine for recovering from a running race. Take the race distance in kilometers - 42 for the marathon - and cut that in half. That's the number of days it takes to recover from a race. So, 21 days for a marathon.
Of course, that doesn't take into account switching to tris. You may have to write your own rule of thumb for that one.
I'll remind you what you said to me: You'll feel like yourself again soon. I did and you will too!
Have fun at the Minneapolis Marathon. I wish I was running it.
I feel the same way. Have fun volunteering!
The heavey feeling in your legs while still running your normal pace - that is actually perfect tri training as that's how you'll feel coming off the bike!! Don't worry about it feeling hard right now - it's part marathon fatigue and part upping your biking - but in the long run the cross-training will make you so much stronger. Don't push the brick runs too much yet if you're not feeling it - the first mile off the bike is the most important - after that you'll find your stride and thanks to the marathon miles you'll have no problem zipping by a few of your age groupers :)
Hang in there. You will bounce back in no time at all. I end up getting the post marathon blahs everytime. Usually I just try and run through it while wondering how come I have suddenly forgotten how to run.
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