Rebooting

I ran again yesterday but wasn't able to get my goals. In fact, I ran about 3/4 of what I did on Monday. I've been thinking about what Barefoot Fresca had commented on from Monday's post.

How do I want to do this 5K?

Why do I want to do it?

And why, after 4 months of running, can't I go 1/2 mile yet? Am I really that out of shape, or is it a mental block?

Why?
I'll answer the 2nd first. I don't really want to do the 5K. I really only want to run one, if I can run one. And before I started running, the 5K was the only thing I really knew about to test yourself. But without a goal to motivate me, I won't have a driving reason to be consistent and push myself. However, I'm wondering if running itself has become a habit enough without a 5K motivator. I've thought about dropping out of the race, or seeing if they'd let me run one in the spring instead.

How?
If I do run this, how? On my last run, I thought that it's ridiculous to have the goal of running 3/4 mile increments in 3 weeks when I can't quite do 1/2 mile yet. So, why not go in 1/2 mile increments? I'm very close to being there, within 1-2 tenth. Run 1/2 mile, walk for a couple minutes, repeat. It may mean that I'll be the very last person to finish, but if that's what needs to happen, then so be it.

The Elusive 1/2 Mile
Finally, why can't I do 1/2 mile yet? I'm not sure. I do seem to be inching up in progress each week I go out. However, whenever I make out new running plans I don't attain them. I sat down Wednesday and did the math on this last plan I put together. There's an adage where you're only supposed to add 10% to your training each week. Well, I was adding 10% 3 times a week! No wonder I was so exhausted.

For now, I'm going to take a break and not run until Monday. My body is still a little sore and I'm unusually cranky and short fused. Both signs of overtraining, or so I've read. How I feel on Monday will really decide how I race. Or not.

Comments

I ran/walked a 5K last year. I had a lot of fun and I didn't come in last. I think I came in 16th from last. I used run-a-minute, walk-a-minute for the entire race. I enjoyed it very much and had a great sense of accomplishment at the finish.

The only bad thing was that I was pushing a case of plantar fasciitis (as you've probably heard me tell) and it got worse after the race. So, maybe it was all wrong.

Don't let the pressure of this 5K make you think the work you've done so far isn't any good. You're doing great! It all sounds so do-able when we make our plans, but the reality of achieving it can be different and take longer.