Just a 10K

It's funny, 10 years ago, if you'd said that running 6.2 miles was a long distance, I would have agreed whole heartedly. Today, however, as I prepare for my first marathon in a month, it's just a 10K.

It was actually a great 10K. I ran the entire distance except for water breaks, because if I run and drink, I don't actually get the liquid in my mouth, more like all over my face. Many people would find a 10K in 1:17:02 to be a bad time, but for me, someone who could barely run a solid 3 miles just a year ago, that's a great time.

Some how in one year, I've learned to really love running. Now, if only I'd learn to really love my bike then I'd have a true love for triathlon.

Self Doubt

My marathon is in six weeks, which means I have four weeks of training left. I have run 16 miles to date. Which is fantastic. It's further than I've ever run before. But is it enough? I ran it in less than 4 hours which was approximately 14:45 min/mile. That's really good for me, but to finish the race in the required 6.5 hours I need to run the entire 26.2 miles with an average of 14:53. That's scary for me. I mean that means I have about 8 seconds per mile to give up.

I know I'm a financial analyst and I'm just analyzing the numbers WAY too much, but I'm scared that I won't finish. I've told so many people that I'm doing this race. I already didn't finish my first triathlon when I did it, and granted I've now finished 4 triathlons. I just hate to fail again. To this day, I'm bound and determined to go prove to myself I can finish that triathlon. I don't want to have another thing that I have to prove I can finish.

It's like this little tiny seed of self doubt that I had just a couple of weeks ago has totally invaded my brain. It makes me want to just go out an run the total 26.2 miles just to prove to myself I can complete the distance, but I know that will just mess with my training. There is a reason I am working from a training schedule. I just feel like I should be running more or doing something different. I don't know how to get back the confidence that I had when I started this crazy quest to finish a marathon. I originally gave myself plenty of time and worked from a plan which took me from 6 miles to 26.2 miles. But my legs just gave out last week, I couldn't complete the 16 miles on my plan so then it was last weekend for 16 miles which means I'm a bit behind in my plan.

I have tons of self doubt, doubt about whether I can even run 26.2 miles. Especially if I have troubles with 16 miles. I know I'm in the minority that I've even run 16 miles at one time. But I have bigger dreams than the majority. I have to finish the 26.2 miles and I want the medal so I have to do it in 6.5 hours, but right now that is really scary.

Gardening Hurts

That sounds really weird coming from someone that has done 4 triathlons and is training for a marathon, but I hurt more have gardening than after running. First, we dug up the plants in the back yard planted against the foundation. They were ugly. And we replaced them with the over growing ones from the front yard. Of course, instead of using a shovel, I decided to dig the up with my hands so I wouldn't destroy their roots. We also replanted our herb garden in a window box planter so they would have some extra room. Then, I weeded 2/3 of the front yard, skipping the part where the bees were hanging out. Lastly, I replaced the over grown plants with some annuals which will hold me out until spring. This all sounds lovely, but I did it all without gloves, and obviously without balance because while trying to actually use the shovel, I fell over and landed in a rose bush. Both me and the rose bush survived, but it was probably a scene for America's funniest home video's if we'd caught it on video. I'm glad we did not.

I've decided that maybe holiday weekends are more dangerous than just going to work.