Aloha Off Season
| February 2, 2013 | Posted by Emily under Uncategorized |
Yesterday was the end of my (forced) off season. Sure, Mondays, and not Saturdays, typically mark the start of almost all official 16 week training plans (yup, I am actually using one of those this time…kind of) but with 18 miles planned for my Saturday Long Run, it feels like yesterday was the last real day for the next four months when I won’t be in marathon training.
While I was sweating it out in spin class (sweating slash dying…word of advice: don’t expect to retain an ounce of cycling fitness if you don’t touch a bike for three months) I was thinking about how I want to say goodbye to my months away from official training. “PEACE OUT, SEE YOU NEVER” was the first thing that came to mind. “GOODBYE F#C@ER YOU WON’T BE MISSED” or simply just flipping off my time being injured were two of the other top candidates.
But then I stepped away from the rage, took a deep breath (actually several deep pants…still on the spin bike) and calmed down a little.
While I was injured, one of the things I did to fill my sidelined days was read and watch all things running. It was a slightly torturous and painful activity when I couldn’t actually run myself, but it helped fuel my desire to get healthy as fast as possible.
One book that I rush shipped to my doorstep was (Jack) Daniels’ Running Formula
(another book I reread), and she’s an all around work hard/play hard bad ass runner. According to Jenn, her strategy with ultras was to just run a lot. When she decided to chase down a qualifying time for marathon trials, she abandoned her not-plan for a plan: one written by Coach Daniels. As a fellow plan-resistant runner, facing the harsh reality that my lofty goal might actually require some structure, I decided to order the book and see if I prefer to keep my JD on the rocks or the road.
It turns out, Mr. Daniels knows his stuff. And not just stuff about a scientific approach to working hard and running fast. One passage about his thoughts on injuries really hit home for me:
“It’s best to look at setback optimistically; try to view them as career prolongers. As a setback-induced break ends, a runner’s enthusiasm for running is renewed…
Wiser, better rested, and more determined, the runner is actually in position to have a longer career because of imposed breaks.
Setbacks can be terribly disappointing, but they also have a way of keeping us hungry.
Temporary training stalemates can actually rekindle competitive fires, revitalize worn and tired body parts, and minimize the chance of burnout that occurs more often in other sports.”
A-freaking-men.
While I know you all probably think I spend every day counting down the seconds until my next run, sometimes that’s just not the case. And before I got injured, ‘sometimes’ was most of the times.
Pre-rib injury, I was hungry (ish), but I wasn’t ravenous. I was standing in the kitchen an hour after lunch, eyeing the bin of peanut butter pretzels, thinking “I won’t say no to a handful of these” but not actually needing or craving the sustenance. My attitude toward running was similar, sure, I would take a marathon PR but I wasn’t chasing after it with passion.
I turned into a total wimp about the weather, spending at least an hour each morning delaying that first step out the door into the harsh cold. And “harsh cold” was really just the 30s (and maybe sometimes 40s).
I was frustrated with my workouts. Angry if my paces weren’t where I wanted them to be, not respecting that a training cycle is set up to foster improvement, not to be at goal fitness level from day one.
But now? After an unacceptable number of weeks on the couch?
I’m fucking starving.
I am ecstatic that I can sweat and run again. And (for the most part) I don’t struggle to get out the door or to the gym. I look at each workout as something I get to do and not something I have to do. I’m giddy to be doing speed work and long runs and recovery runs and running with scary fast friends and I even get excited about things like stretching and lifting weights. Or, at least more excited.
As for all of those other lifestyle changes that I know I need to make to nail my goal?
I’m actually fucking starving for them too.
After three straight months of going out nearly every night (my liver hurts just typing that), I’m ready to back off a lot.
You know that feeling you get at the end of a really tough training cycle? When you just can’t wait to get your goal race over so you can throw your running shoes into the back of a closet and spend a lot of quality time bonding with the couch, your DVR and a pint of Ben and Jerrys?
Well, that’s kind of where I’m at with bars and beer and drinking in general. I’ve trained really hard for the last three months and put myself into burnout territory both physically and mentally.
I’m pumped for a much-needed off season from things that come in a pint glass or with a bouncer at the door.
So last night, I said aloha to one off season.
And this morning, I’m heading out the door to run 18 miles and say aloha to another.
Happy long running and racing to everyone who is braving the cold to get some quality miles in this am. Stay hungry.
I always like reading your blog posts, but you’ve had a couple lately that are downright profound. This, and the untapped potential one. Good luck with this training cycle…I’m excited to see just what you can accomplish!
I agree with all of what JD said. I was blah about runs when I got hurt. And I am not super fast or training for any sort of distance. But coming off of the injury, I am thankful for every step I run pain-free and I am coming back stronger (thanks to the gym) and faster.
The Kidless Kronicles
What an exciting post! Get it girl!
So fun to see you out and at ‘em on this cold, cold morning (that was me in the hideous orange jacket yelling at you by Arlington Cemetery). I owe you for leading me to Dr. Awesome Doc, so thank you. Hope it was a great run (I am still thawing from 17 miles).
Thanks for saying hi! Sorry I was a spaz and tried to interrupt your workout to keep saying hi! And super glad you’re getting healed through Dr Awesome. Your blog is now added to my reader so I can follow along as you go from injured to awesomely healthy.
Word of caution: I am a plan-averse runner, too, and finally adopted a training plan this fall, for exactly the reasons you state. Well, instead of a 2:59:xx marathon I’m sitting here with a hamstring tear! Going from no plan to rigorous plan was hard, because I would blindly follow the day’s schedule instead of running by feel. I quickly ended up overtrained and promptly injured. Just be careful as you make the transition to still give yourself the freedom to adjust workouts based on feel. I’m sure you’re a smarter runner than I, but you might still be prone to my mistakes since you are not used to having a plan: I treated the prescribed workouts like the Ten Commandments; please don’t do the same thing! :)
Thank you for the word of caution. I’m also pretty prone to falling into this trap. It left me with a stress fracture during my first attempt to train for 26.2 miles so I am aware of the dangers of being a slave to the plan and not listening to your body. I promise my “plan” this time around is much more flexible and my mentality is much wiser. Heal quickly and get back out there for the 2:59!!
I’ve enjoyed following you through your injury imposed break from training (I have been in the same boat since early November and am now slowly coming back). While my goal for the Vermont City Marathon is slightly less lofty (break 3:40), your posts have helped me keep the faith that I don’t have to give up my goal of a BQ just because of one pesky injury. Happy training and keep writing!
Never give up goals for pesky injuries. Seriously, from my experience, coming back from them sets you up to attack training with more passion than ever before and then not just meet but exceed your goals. And VCM is the PERFECT place to do it! Good luck training and let me know how it goes!
This was just what I needed to read this am! I PRed at Houston and then a week later, fell down and sprained my foot in Target (at least it was before HH). I met up with my running buddies this am only to burst into tears over all I am missing. The reminder that the time off is a good thing, especially after a marathon, is so helpful. Enjoy your training!!
Time off is definitely a healthy thing (though also sucks because we both love to be running…let’s be real), but it’s good to appreciate the benefits you can gain from it. Also, crying is totally permissible during running injuries. Heal quickly!
You’re so right about the hunger. I had ravenous hunger for a half-marathon PR last Autumn and I got it. And since then, I’ve kind of been lukewarm about training. I need to get that hunger back!!
While I hope you get that hunger back real fast-I recommend avoiding the starvation by running injury route.
I had to back off for a few months at the end of last year and I agree it was refreshing and now I’m killing it. Hope your trainings is awesome as well.
did you see the new bondi b’s….dark grey and pink! mine arrive Monday! I am sure you will rock this training cycle! Love Jack Daniels Book!
YES I did! Can’t wait to get them!
Awesome.
I’m already looking forward to reading more.
JD is the man! His method has worked for me and I’m sure it is a great plan for you! Happy training!
I got excited for you just reading this!
ENJOY that long run, because you can! Happy Running!
Get it! I think we’re all feeling the same way as we’re in the beginning of February. Time to get on it and head out the door. Hello training! I too can’t wait. And I can’t wait to see what you do to the race course! GET IT!!!!
[...] is a small chance that the first weekend of official marathon training could have been [...]
I have that book too! I haven’t tried one of his plans yet though but I live his vdot formulas. I will have to read it again and see if I can do a plan for half marathon and marathon training coming up!
-Patty