A Goal or Not a Goal
This is supposed to be the post where I excitedly share my next new and exciting race goal. I've thought about starting this post many times, but I keep getting stuck. Why? Because at this moment in time, I'm not excited about the goal I've set for myself: attempting a marathon PR at The SF Marathon on July 31. I love the event and the course, and I'm not necessarily saying I don't want to run it at all. I'm just not sure if I want to make it a PR goal and focus on it for the next 3.5 months.
Now this might have been an easy issue to solve - don't do it, right? - except that I went one step farther and was planning to work with a running coach for the first time on this goal. At some point in the last few months, I started to want to get faster mostly because I love social running. I want to be able to keep up with people and talk to them, not be the girl always dragging behind just to arrive at the regroup spot as everyone leaves again.
Anyway, the desire to be faster coupled with the fact that I'd already been talked into signing up for SFM resulted in me designating it as my goal race. I was thinking a road race goal would be 'good for me' and I 'should' want to PR a marathon. I interviewed a couple of coaches, decided to work with Sarah, and talked to her about my races for this year. She set me up with a plan, starting with recovery from the 50K and then transitioning into SFM training. She's awesome, the plan looks solid, and she even has a decent number of trail runs included to keep me happy. Even so, now I sit here with Training Peaks in front of me...feeling frustrated.
I wish I could place the true source of my frustration. Am I nervous because I've never worked with a coach? A little. Am I scared of the workout and race paces? Maybe. Am I still on a trail running 50K race high that will pass? I'm likely on one, but it may never pass...
All in all, I think it comes down to this one question that plays over and over in my head: If I run SFM, am I wasting one of my long races for the year when I could pick another trail event?
Plenty of awesome runners, especially at SFRC, run both road and trail races. I'm sure it's beneficial to train both, and Sarah agrees. The difference I see is that they run A LOT of long distance events each year, and I only get to do say, 3 or 4 if I'm lucky.
So that's where I am with my next goal right now. I'm going to work on the current SFM plan for the next month or so, see how I'm feeling, and then evaluate. I was finally open with Sarah (I was initially afraid to admit it because she'd already done the work on my SFM plan) about my goal indecisiveness and she's willing to help me change it up if needed.
Any advice?
The marathon finish excitement that caused the early SFM race sign up.
Now this might have been an easy issue to solve - don't do it, right? - except that I went one step farther and was planning to work with a running coach for the first time on this goal. At some point in the last few months, I started to want to get faster mostly because I love social running. I want to be able to keep up with people and talk to them, not be the girl always dragging behind just to arrive at the regroup spot as everyone leaves again.
Anyway, the desire to be faster coupled with the fact that I'd already been talked into signing up for SFM resulted in me designating it as my goal race. I was thinking a road race goal would be 'good for me' and I 'should' want to PR a marathon. I interviewed a couple of coaches, decided to work with Sarah, and talked to her about my races for this year. She set me up with a plan, starting with recovery from the 50K and then transitioning into SFM training. She's awesome, the plan looks solid, and she even has a decent number of trail runs included to keep me happy. Even so, now I sit here with Training Peaks in front of me...feeling frustrated.
I wish I could place the true source of my frustration. Am I nervous because I've never worked with a coach? A little. Am I scared of the workout and race paces? Maybe. Am I still on a trail running 50K race high that will pass? I'm likely on one, but it may never pass...
All in all, I think it comes down to this one question that plays over and over in my head: If I run SFM, am I wasting one of my long races for the year when I could pick another trail event?
Plenty of awesome runners, especially at SFRC, run both road and trail races. I'm sure it's beneficial to train both, and Sarah agrees. The difference I see is that they run A LOT of long distance events each year, and I only get to do say, 3 or 4 if I'm lucky.
So that's where I am with my next goal right now. I'm going to work on the current SFM plan for the next month or so, see how I'm feeling, and then evaluate. I was finally open with Sarah (I was initially afraid to admit it because she'd already done the work on my SFM plan) about my goal indecisiveness and she's willing to help me change it up if needed.
Any advice?
Paulette, thanks for sharing this; I think that marathon training is daunting, no matter what, so I HAVE to be really motivated to take it on. There's no way I could even consider running a marathon before November (I don't do heat well; see Saturday's race for more info-hahaha!), yet I'm already thinking about whether I'm going to have a marathon training cycle in me by then. Um, obviously this comment doesn't really help with your situation-I'm sorry! :) I don't have much to offer, other than to say that it's a lot of time and effort and I think you are taking good care of yourself to pause and evaluate what it is that you really want and what makes you happy in your running. Either way, I'll be cheering you on!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tara. :) It does help even if a little different, because you are right about marathon training being a lot of time and effort. Gotta make sure it's worth it!
DeleteI think it may be that running 26.2 miles on the road is a lot of miles for someone who has stated her love and preference for trail running and racing. If your goal is to get faster for social runs it may be better to focus on a shorter distance road race like a half or 15k and get fast that way. A lot less miles on the road.
ReplyDeleteBut if you are already committed to the SF Marathon then you might as well train for it. And even if you don't hit the target paces in your workouts, you will get faster because you are working with a coach and following a plan.
Thanks Wendy! It's possible I'll run SFM because I'm already signed up, but not make it my overall goal. And hopefully you are right about getting faster anyway from following the plan!
DeleteI tend to follow my gut on this kind of stuff and ask myself how I think I'd feel once I made the decision. I usually know deep down if I'd feel relieved and "lighter", which usually means it's the right decision (whichever it might be). I just keep thinking that running is such a joy and a privilege that it seems a waste to focus energy on a goal race you're not feeling. If your coach is willing to change the plan, then you should 100% make sure you're planning for something you're genuinely excited for.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment - you are so right about not wasting energy on a goal that isn't exciting. I know where I sit deep down right now, and that may be the way to go. Although I did have a good track WO last night that is making me stick with this a little longer!
DeleteIf you have the whole plan, look at it as the current roadmap. A good coach should be able to have a continuous conversation with you and update the plan as things evolve. And they should also be able to talk you through some of the anxiety. This is what you're paying them for. :)
ReplyDeleteYes she is definitely willing to let it evolve, and since this post I'm feeling a little better after talking to her! Thanks for the support, Ali. :)
DeleteHow do you feel about running SFM easy and using it as a training run for a trail race? The nice thing about SFM is that it's rather hilly, so it sort of lends itself to aspects of trail running. Alternatively, can you drop down to the half?
ReplyDeleteMy sense is that you're not feeling SFM as a goal race, so I think training hard for it will be tough. Marathon (and ultra) cycles are draining (in so many ways), so go for something you're actually excited about!
You make a really good point that SFM lends itself to some aspects of trails! Running SFM easier and using it as training may be exactly what I decide to do, that's kind of what I've been thinking. That said, I had a good track workout last night so maybe there is room for this 'work on road speed' thing after all?
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