I have a confession: there have been several times over the last few weeks I’ve felt like I was on the verge of a panic attack. I’ve had to calm myself down several times. I am 8 weeks away from Boston and I’m still healing from a fracture rib?! What the heck!
This is not how envisioned this to go. I had dreams of speed, finish lines, and strength for Boston. These are still my dreams but I’m learning quickly I have to change that vision in my head.
Wednesday was a big day for me. I attempted my first workout in two weeks. I should start this by saying; if I did not have a coach right now I would be lost. He has helped calm me down numerous times and reassured me that I still have a lot of fitness left in me (at least I hope so).
The workout on my schedule was one I had done before, and it was specifically designed for the treadmill. This was my best shot and seeing if my body could handle a workout yet. The treadmill allows me to control my movement much easier.
The workout was: 1.5 mile warm up, 2 x (0.10 M @ 6:53, 0.15 M easy), 4 x (0.5 M @ 7:45 pace at 3% incline, 0.5 M@ 7:45 pace at 0% incline), and just under a mile cool down.
The workout totaled 7 miles. It wasn’t the best, it wasn’t the worst, but in all honesty it gave me so many great feelings knowing that my body completed it.
That being said, lets talk about some of the feelings that went through my head through these 7 miles.
Mile 1: “Seriously, why do I always wake up so early? I was so pumped for this workout last night.”
Mile 1.25: “Ugh, time to pause the treadmill and run upstairs for a bathroom break.
Mile 1.5: “OK, let’s get this party started.” (feeling a little more ready to tackle the workout)
Mile 2: “That warm up didn’t feel as bad as I expected, there is no pain, I think this is going to be an awesome workout!”
Mile 3: “That first half mile at 3% incline wasn’t as bad as I was expecting.”
Mile 3.5: “Seriously, how can this be considered any kind of recovery from the 3% incline. 0% does NOT feel that much easier.”
Mile 4: “Let’s do this again…”
Mile 4.5: “Ok, I think I am getting more into this it isn’t quite as tough now” (I was finally able to get in a groove around mile 4-5).
Mile 5: “I’ve got 2 more of these? Ugh! OK! Let’s do it.”
Mile 5.5: “Ok, 1 more. I can DO THIS! At least the miles are passing by rather quickly.”
Mile 6: “I am dying. I don’t know how I am ever going to be able to run the Boston Marathon. Hills are awful”
Mile 6.5: “Thank goodness the hills are over! This last half mile really doesn’t feel that bad.”
Mile 7: “YESSSSS!!!!”
The workout wasn’t the worst one I’ve ever done, but I felt like I just completed the toughest workout of my life when I was finished. I was so incredibly happy to have done it pain free!
I don’t go through these workouts always thinking positive thoughts. There are moments in most workouts where I want to give up and quit, but I remember my goals and how the hard work pays off. The best thing about this was that it was done without any pain. Sure, I could feel a tightness in my side but compared to what it had been just a week ago there was incredible improvement!
It feels good to get back into the game a bit. Even though I’m obviously not racing Boston, workouts are still important so that I can go out there and give a really strong performance. Life can hand us a lot of different during this course of 12-18 weeks of a training cycle, but it is how we bounce back from it and continue on that really matters the most come race day!
What kind of thoughts go through your head during a workout?