Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Liar, Liar, Running Shorts on Fire

Well, readers, I'm not sure I can do it. I'm not sure I can run 13.1 miles in 2 hours.

And of course, I had to shoot my mouth off about it to everyone and their uncle's dog, which means that if I stumble across the finish line at 2:05, I'm still gonna feel like a complete failure.

What was I thinking?! Who in their right mind decides to shave 47 seconds off their mile in eight weeks?

Yesterday my training plan said to run five miles. So I hopped merrily on the treadmill at the gym, armed with a new running playlist on my iPod, and decided to run the first two miles at 6.5 miles an hour (a 9:10 mile, what I need to run the half), and thereafter to do whatever pace I could. Well, I did the first two miles but then was so beat that I had to slow to a run/walk, and quit after five minutes of that.

I don't think I've ever just up and quit halfway through a workout. I honestly wanted to cry, I was so dejected. If I'm totally beat after two miles, how on God's green earth am I going to run 13.1?!

And seriously, the worst part is that I've told everyone I'm going to do this. Not just finish a half, not just improve on my last time, but run the damn thing in two hours. I am such an idiot. And, it would seem, a liar, running shorts all a-flame.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

You can still run a half in under 2 hours, just perhaps not in 8 weeks. Your goal on the left column didn't have a time line so give yourself a break.

That aside - you could have just had a bad workout. Happens all the time. Is it "that time?" Did you get a bad night's sleep? Did you eat enough carbs? Were you stressed? Anything can throw you off your game.

Keep at it. It's not impossible, just takes work. Try ramping up the pace more slowly and adding the speed to the end of the run rather than the beginning. Also, interval workouts are great (i.e. 2 min hard, 2 easy).

Love,
Sis

Machelle said...

Indeed. One incidence does not a trend make.

Anonymous said...

I'm in the same boat, am training, etc. Is this your first half? I would aim for 2:30. That is a realistic goal. I have been running since I was 15 and am 37 now... My time last Sunday was 2:30:29 and I was really upset (I've been training for the marathon for 3 months). Honestly, it's good to set goals, but just set a goal to run it in 2:30. Trust me, if it's your first one, you'll add most of your time just getting through people, water stations, etc. The logistics adds the most time, so maybe do 2:00 next half.