2.20 miles
Week 7 is in the books after today’s recovery walking miles. I can feel some slight soreness in my hips so I’ll be paying more attention to them this week.
I think I’m still trying to process what happened to my mindset during yesterday’s long run. Physically I felt fine, but it was around mile 5 or 6 when all of a sudden my mental game flipped.
There is this pressure I place on myself because I’m wanting to train well and be smart about it and make sure my body feels strong and I’m doing everything possible to make it to that start line and ultimately, reach the finish line.
When I said before I was going back to the basics it was true. I am starting anew and learning everything again which means I am feeling uncertain as if never having done a long-distance race before.
But marathons are not new to me. Chicago will mark the third time I’m running it, and it will mark my 27th marathon. I’ve even trained for and completed numerous ultramarathons. I don’t say this to be braggadocious by any means, but I know deep down I’m capable of completing long distances.
However, it’s easy to dip into the dangerous pool of comparison. Comparing yourself to someone else, or to a former self when you may have felt more physically fit and/or faster. A time when running felt easier. That self-doubt crept in and not feeling as physically strong as I once was, and I wasn’t even fast to begin with.
But that is not the road I want to be on. That road will take away the pure joy I have for running no matter how slow. That road will remove the excitement and gratitude I have for the opportunity to go to Chicago again. That road will guarantee more long runs like I had yesterday where even though I finished my miles, I mentally struggled through them.
While the physical portions of the training are important, the mental aspects are crucial. And going forward that is my main focus because that is what will carry me through the rest of these hot summer training days, and when all the physical training is completed, that is what will carry me through the marathon.
There are going to be more challenges ahead but I’m excited heading into Week 8!
Thank you for reading my daily post on my Chicago Marathon training.