Knowing the second I step out the door the heat and humidity are there to greet me makes it very difficult to want to step out the door, but when you choose to run a fall marathon there is no escaping the glorious adventures of summer running.
This past week the reality that our cool gloomy days are over hit me. The heat and humidity are here, and summer has officially arrived. And after all the cold rainy days we’ve had this year, I’m feeling like the heat is going to stick around longer. I hope I’m wrong.
Now it’s a matter of accepting, adjusting, and settling in because there is no way around it.
Some people love running in the heat. Some runners thrive in it. Some runners have perfectly nailed down hydration and fueling even when the temperature outside allows you to bake cookies on the dashboard of your car.
I don’t think I’ll ever be that type of runner, but I would happily enjoy those cookies.
At the beginning of training, I was thinking I’d approach it a little differently and so I asked myself: How do I want this experience to feel?
It’s a question I’ve never asked myself before and I’m not surprised it was a little difficult for me to answer because I know what my experiences have been in the past and it’s difficult to override what I already know.
I’d love for this training cycle to feel effortless and easy but I know it won’t be. Summer running has never been effortless and easy for me and yet it brings me back time and time again because what else am I going to do? It’s summer and I signed up for a fall marathon, so…yeah.
If anything I’d want this training experience to feel enjoyable, and what would help make this training cycle more enjoyable?
Well, to start:
- Not getting injured
- Remaining consistent and yet flexible with my training schedule and adjusting the plan as needed
- Remembering nobody cares what I do or do not do
- Hitting daily, weekly, and/or monthly goals that I set
- Remembering if I don’t reach those daily, weekly, and/or monthly goals it doesn’t diminish my awesomeness, and of course, nobody cares
But even in the enjoyment, I know I will have my struggles. I also know it’s in those struggles that we find the strength and courage to move forward and keep going. It’s in the difficulties and challenges where we learn our greatest lessons and I’m sure there will be new lessons. There always are.
Week 3 – 24.35 miles
