This past week was a tough one for training. April has brought about all kinds of challenges unrelated to running, but it also brought about a few things that made me loose some of my previous enthusiasm about marathon training.
Like any good journey, this one has had quite a few twists and turn. Coming off a less than inspired week of training, I pulled out my Believe I Am journal and got to writing.
I read a few of the goals I wrote for myself back and February and I realize how far I’ve come since then. I’ve been working diligently from week to week and have been cruising through those little goals one by one.
Right now, I think my biggest accomplishment this training cycle is not burning out after eighteen weeks of training without racing. I haven’t raced a race since I ran the Richmond Marathon in November, and I haven’t had a pr since I ran Rock’n’Roll Philly.
Here are my SIDI goals from now until marathon #5
- Work on my weaknesses: mental game + self confidence
- Focus on the good workouts and learn from the bad ones
- Try to relax more on the long runs
- Turn on the light (read this if you too are struggling with your mental game)
I refuse to let my thoughts sabotage my goals. (*cue Beastie Boys)
What about you? Do you need to look at goals unrelated to specific workouts this week the same way I do?
I agree that you need to stop sabotaging your efforts – you are such an awesome runner – you just need to believe that 🙂
I do have to keep looking at my “bigger picture.” A couple of months ago I came across triathletemind.com and decided to give the free “8 1/2 steps to making 2012 your best triathlon season ever” a shot. I watched the 8 videos and completed the workbook. It really helped sort things out, put things on a timeline, and lay out the big picture in simple steps. I’ve been on a wacky injury this year, so I find it hard to see where everything is going. Writing it down someplace helps so much more than just leaving it “in your head.” 🙂
I’ll have to check it out! Thanks!
That’s why writing goals down is so important. It can be an honest reminder of how far you’ve come!
Thanks for this! I’m obviously not making goals or training on the same level, but I have also been feeling frustrated and confused. And I think I need to start focusing on the mind game as well!
You better believe it! I actually wen out and bought a wellness journal because I’ve been so anxious lately, for unknown reasons, and I wanted to start recording my thoughts and how it effected my sleep and eating. So far I’ve learned….some things…. not much, but I’ll keep going. Journaling really helps.
Definitely love the idea of relaxing on long runs… That’s my time to chill and to think as well.
If you’re thrashing yourself over a long distance then you can’t take control of your mind as easily.
Plus, if you go hard and fast on a long run every week you’ll burn out earlier [in your life] that you would otherwise. Try to be one of those older runners one day who is still able to run because they took their time when they were young.
Thank you so much for this. That’s been my biggest struggle with my fitness goals is never writing them down! Ahh!
Now I’ve got my journal in hand and my goals in front of me. Feeling inspired 🙂
Sometimes we are our own worst enemy, but a journal can definitely help to fight back.