2018 – What are your training goals? (it’s not always marathons)
I have been running marathons since 2005- and since then I have run over 40 – marathon or greater distances which averages to over 3 a year. This is what my body craves, this is what I’m used to. It hasn’t always been easy and as I have gotten faster and fitter, I have pushed myself more and then I’ve had my issues along the way. I have never had any stress fracture bone sort of injuries, but I have been over trained, and that was when I was training at my fastest but maybe not my strongest?
2018 will be the first year – since 2005 I will not run a marathon or greater distance. It’s kind of hard for me to swallow that in some ways- but then I look at the reason why. I’m having a baby. In my first doctor appointment I asked the doctor- can I run a marathon in the second trimester? I could tell- she’s a bit newer of a doctor and so she wasn’t fully sure how to answer the question, but she asked me if it’s always been easy for me- and the response is “no” and I’m not sure if anyone who runs marathons would ever say “yes” but my husband chimed in about how I have been overtrained. So she said “No marathons” I can understand and respect her professional judgement, but I also respected and hung onto her every word when she said I could keep training as long as it felt fine. The way I see it and later confirmed by another doctor is- in a race- you are less likely to listen to your body when it’s time to stop than you are in a training run. So why put the carrot in front of me to lead me to that place?
For me- I re-focused my training. I am an athlete- I have an athlete mentality- so I still like goals- and that goal is now to keep up with my health, my athletic abilities under the conditions of also providing a healthy environment for my baby to grow.
Mentally, I broke 2018 into 5 parts- I might not hit all 5 but here they are:
1) The 1st trimester- where you have fatigue and sickness and all that other fun stuff. Your body slows and the energy isn’t there for the long miles so- maybe you run maybe you don’t. I found that for the most part- running helped with any sickness. I was running more 3 mile runs at a 10 minute pace- and this wasn’t me forcing the slow- it was me not able to run any faster without feeling good. Throughout the weekends were either nothing, 10 miles or 12 miles. Near the end I did get 15 miles in. Because I was pregnant and it was winter- the daredevil- okay with falling – person in me- was subdued- no running in dark or bad conditions such as any sort of roads that weren’t cleared (I considered it and then realized- that was just dumb).
Now- this is where- my body would tell me when the next section began but I labeled it the 2nd trimester. I didn’t know I was there because I was at week 14 – I knew I was there because of the speed that came back.
2) The 2nd trimester- when I had the first sub 9 minute 4 mile run- just naturally- since I became pregnant. The body is an AMAZING thing- I mean- I wasn’t trying for times, I wasn’t doing anything but putting one foot in front of the other. And many days I couldn’t run faster than a 10 minute mile in part 1. And I still remember- I was tired before I started the run that made me realize- I was in part 2- in some ways that tired was just fear- I had an amazing 15 mile run- but then sluggish runs for a week after- I was ready for what I knew was coming- the 2nd trimester energy- and I just feared the runs like- maybe I wasn’t the norm and maybe I was just going to be slow. Then I went out- and it just happened. So now- energy is back- mileage is up- and when I say this- I also say- as I add the miles- because it’s more miles- I made the decision to start slower and just enjoy the runs. The long runs were more of a mentality of- well I have 3-4 hours blocked- maybe I will run up to 20 miles maybe I won’t. And actually the first 20 miler I ran- I thought – 18 would be great- but I ran with friends I was laughing and feeling good and I thought- well- what if- this is the last week my body and baby let me run long- and if I’m feeling good- why not just go for the 20- and that’s what I did.
So as I write this- I’m in my 20th week, I’ve run two 20 milers – every long run has felt good- I haven’t had to cut back. And I reflect on WHY these have felt good. I’m running for the love of running again. No pressure on anything- just go out and enjoy myself. And this is a GREAT thing. I tried to explain it to my husband and this is the best way I can explain it- I have this pure joy that I have this gift and ability – that I can get out there and do what I Love. I’m very blessed for this and thankful for my health. My recent doctor appointment with another doctor- we discussed in great detail- my distance- the 20 miles and consistently high. She has over 30 years of experience and was so confident in how she spoke- I walked out of there standing a little taller. She said an athlete’s mindset is so supporting to everything that comes with motherhood- starting with carrying the child through that delivery. She actually got me excited for what I’m training for – and it comes between parts 3 and 4 of my 2018 training- the Delivery. WHAT!? That’s right- who is excited for delivery? I know it will be tough- to the point I can’t even imagine right now how tough it’s going to be because whatever I imagine – it’s going to be harder- but I know what I’m made of. Thank you God for my gift of being an endurance athlete – to help me through my life.
1) The 1st trimester- where you have fatigue and sickness and all that other fun stuff. Your body slows and the energy isn’t there for the long miles so- maybe you run maybe you don’t. I found that for the most part- running helped with any sickness. I was running more 3 mile runs at a 10 minute pace- and this wasn’t me forcing the slow- it was me not able to run any faster without feeling good. Throughout the weekends were either nothing, 10 miles or 12 miles. Near the end I did get 15 miles in. Because I was pregnant and it was winter- the daredevil- okay with falling – person in me- was subdued- no running in dark or bad conditions such as any sort of roads that weren’t cleared (I considered it and then realized- that was just dumb).
Now- this is where- my body would tell me when the next section began but I labeled it the 2nd trimester. I didn’t know I was there because I was at week 14 – I knew I was there because of the speed that came back.
2) The 2nd trimester- when I had the first sub 9 minute 4 mile run- just naturally- since I became pregnant. The body is an AMAZING thing- I mean- I wasn’t trying for times, I wasn’t doing anything but putting one foot in front of the other. And many days I couldn’t run faster than a 10 minute mile in part 1. And I still remember- I was tired before I started the run that made me realize- I was in part 2- in some ways that tired was just fear- I had an amazing 15 mile run- but then sluggish runs for a week after- I was ready for what I knew was coming- the 2nd trimester energy- and I just feared the runs like- maybe I wasn’t the norm and maybe I was just going to be slow. Then I went out- and it just happened. So now- energy is back- mileage is up- and when I say this- I also say- as I add the miles- because it’s more miles- I made the decision to start slower and just enjoy the runs. The long runs were more of a mentality of- well I have 3-4 hours blocked- maybe I will run up to 20 miles maybe I won’t. And actually the first 20 miler I ran- I thought – 18 would be great- but I ran with friends I was laughing and feeling good and I thought- well- what if- this is the last week my body and baby let me run long- and if I’m feeling good- why not just go for the 20- and that’s what I did.
So as I write this- I’m in my 20th week, I’ve run two 20 milers – every long run has felt good- I haven’t had to cut back. And I reflect on WHY these have felt good. I’m running for the love of running again. No pressure on anything- just go out and enjoy myself. And this is a GREAT thing. I tried to explain it to my husband and this is the best way I can explain it- I have this pure joy that I have this gift and ability – that I can get out there and do what I Love. I’m very blessed for this and thankful for my health. My recent doctor appointment with another doctor- we discussed in great detail- my distance- the 20 miles and consistently high. She has over 30 years of experience and was so confident in how she spoke- I walked out of there standing a little taller. She said an athlete’s mindset is so supporting to everything that comes with motherhood- starting with carrying the child through that delivery. She actually got me excited for what I’m training for – and it comes between parts 3 and 4 of my 2018 training- the Delivery. WHAT!? That’s right- who is excited for delivery? I know it will be tough- to the point I can’t even imagine right now how tough it’s going to be because whatever I imagine – it’s going to be harder- but I know what I’m made of. Thank you God for my gift of being an endurance athlete – to help me through my life.
This blog entry is to be continued to follow my journey as I’m still somewhere in part 2 (or maybe this weekend I will learn I’ve crossed over to part 3. But here are the remaining parts as I’ve defined it:
3) I am defining as the 3rd trimester- but really… It’s just going to be- when I can’t run the long distance anymore, and have to start to back off because that’s what my body is telling me it’s time for. I know it will happen.
4) Is AFTER the delivery. I know there will be a period where I won’t be able to workout period. I hope to have a natural birth but I know that might not happen. If I have a c-section that will prolong the workouts even longer. So- this part is determined part by how my delivery goes, and part by Doctor clearance and the rest of how I feel. I know my body and I’ve always had to work to get to where I am- I know I’m not a 100% natural like some. Time off = it’s like I have to start all over. Then add fatigue of being a new parent, lack of sleep (which if I don’t get enough sleep I put sleep over runs/workouts- since I’ve hit 30- that’s something I’ve found to be so important) and just being able to find the time. Part 4 will start with no workouts at all to slowly building back up to knowing my body and new schedule of being a mom is ready to get back to the distance.
4) Is AFTER the delivery. I know there will be a period where I won’t be able to workout period. I hope to have a natural birth but I know that might not happen. If I have a c-section that will prolong the workouts even longer. So- this part is determined part by how my delivery goes, and part by Doctor clearance and the rest of how I feel. I know my body and I’ve always had to work to get to where I am- I know I’m not a 100% natural like some. Time off = it’s like I have to start all over. Then add fatigue of being a new parent, lack of sleep (which if I don’t get enough sleep I put sleep over runs/workouts- since I’ve hit 30- that’s something I’ve found to be so important) and just being able to find the time. Part 4 will start with no workouts at all to slowly building back up to knowing my body and new schedule of being a mom is ready to get back to the distance.
5) This is why Part 5 may or may not happen in 2018. It’s the time I know I’m ready to soar again and schedule my next marathon race.
To be continued….
To be continued….
