Let’s see, where were we the last time we talked about my training goals…
Oh, yeah! Right! I was going to run both the Chicago and NYC Marathon this fall after seven weeks of not running. In a nutshell that’s not happening.
For the last three years (though I only ran 2 marathons due to injury) all I’ve focused on is the marathon. When you go from marathon to marathon to marathon there isn’t time for anything else except for marathons! Duh!
Focusing on another shorter distance can in fact improve marathon times and it can make you a better runner.
It’s easy to be blinded by the lure of the marathon.
Even after achieving my BQ dreams I was still narrow-mindedly focused on the marathon. After huffing and puffing my way through August trying to see if I could gain some of my cardiovascular conditioning back and having zero fun, I knew I needed to shift my focus.
I’ve got a ton of fall races on my calendar and I’m excited to run (and by run I mean not race) most all of them.
Goals for fall racing: Have fun, get fast and set some new non-marathon pr’s for a change.
Have you ever been so focused on the marathon that you forget about other distances? What’s your running goal this fall?
* I wrote this on Sunday prior to dropping a book on my toe. I’m 99% sure it is broken. I just can’t get out of my own way!
I definitely understand this. I have my goal marathon on 10/6 and can’t wait to spend the rest of the fall focusing on shorter distances. Definitely easy to get wrapped up in it all, but it has helped me grow to love the marathon more and more!
same here! Good luck in your race! Are you running WineGlass?
I can completely understand having tunnel vision with your large goals. I think this can apply not to just marathons but to any long race that demands a lot of attention and time. I recently completed a half ironman and that was all I could think about. I felt guilty working on skills that were not getting me to swim, bike and run long distances. It took some time to adjust to life after my goal race and figure out my next move.
Having tunnel vision can definitely lead to burnout.
When I got into racing I went straight for the marathon and did two 6 months apart. Now I’m focusing on shorter distances, giving me a chance to work on my speed (as well as other non-running related fitness goals). I love the half-marathon distance and can’t wait to race my first in November!
Wow! That’s impressive! Good luck with your first HM.
Thanks Jess!
LOVE the photo, miss you!
I miss you too! I can’t wait to hear what your big running news is!
Really hope it’s not broken!
This is such a great post. I think that social media has made lots and lots of runners focused on the marathon and the marathon only. I love other distances, the 10-miler in particular and I’ve found that I’ve run my best marathons in the years I have spent time doing the faster/shorter stuff earlier in the year. Enjoy the break, both physically and mentally!
I’ve been in marathon training mode since 2010 and its been exhausting. Just this week I decided to forego the Fall marathon I had been training for and focus on an upcoming half marathon instead. I thought I would feel awful about this decision but I think its the best decision I’ve made in a long time.
That’s a really long time to be in marathon training mode! I can imagine it’s been exhausting. Enjoy the break from marathon training.