Marathon Training Update!

Honestly, I feel like this whole pandemic has actually been similar to marathon training. It's been hard and rewarding with a lot of shifts and adaptations to achieve what I want to achieve. 

As I was thinking about sharing my marathon training experience, I wanted to write about it so it was relatable. Not everyone is actually training for a 26.2 mile race right now, but my assumption is that we are all up against some sort of challenge or our own race right now. So as you read this, consider your own race you're up against. 

By the time you read this, I'll be eleven weeks into training. Over these eleven weeks, it's been a consistent push-pull of going for it and wanting to sit down.

There's been self resistance and push-back. It shows up mostly in the morning during a mid-week long run or just before my long run on the weekend. The resistance shows up as bartering, self-loathing, what if's, and slight irritation. The questions come up as: "what if I didn't run today and did it tomorrow instead?" "Why do I keep putting myself through this?" "The marathon date is already pushed, it's not really necessary that I run 18 miles today." The excuses, what if's and self-induced peer pressure come flying at me to knock me off course. However, what I will say is this: no matter how tempting it is to shift my run or not do it, once I get running, I'm fine, in fact most of the time, I'm great. I have also found that once I'm done the distance, I'm grateful I did it and feel so empowered. 

I was talking to a client recently about this idea of being half-way up a mountain. Picture you're half-way up a mountain and feel completely depleted; mentally, emotionally and physically. At this half-way point, you're at a crossroads. You can keep going, or you can turn around and go back. How would you feel in each scenario? That's how I picture these training runs; if I didn't do it, I would feel like garbage and the irritation and frustration would probably be exemplified. However, if I did it, the elation, pride and empowerment would carry me through my day and completely lift my mood. 

Whatever race you're facing right now, whatever challenge is in front of you, take a minute and envision how it will feel when you overcome it or envision how it would feel if you quit pursuing it. Which scenario feels better to you? Whatever scenario feels better to you, do it. 

And maybe "quit" is a strong word, because honestly, sometimes the things we pursue are not actually in alignment with our essence. When you find yourself at a crossroad of to do or not to do, take a minute to tune in to your intuition and listen to your higher self. Figure out what is true for you, determine if it's a yes or a no and go with that. Ultimately, what I have found is if I stay in alignment with my truth, then there's no room for regret, guilt or shame. 

What sort of race are you facing right now?