The rest of week three went well and again I felt better about the run every day. My pace was still lacking what I hope for, which hadn't really bothered me until today.
Today was the first day of week 4 of training. For this week I started to track distance along with time and that added to my anxiety that since my pacing is so slow I probably have not been running the recommended distances. Even as I carefully mapped out points at which I should walk and run per week four distance recommendations in order to keep up with the plan, keeping track of these points got hard, and I got too caught up in whether I was running the right amount.
I know, I know, I know. This is all very silly and I shouldn't worry about it, but I really don't want to finish the c25k program and realize that I have only been running two miles the whole time. I am a perfectionist. It is very stressful and annoying, but when it is something like this, something where I have set a challenging goal for myself that I feel is very important to accomplish, I can't help be get wrapped up in doing everything right in order to reach that goal.
I should also add, it is also stressful that I have so much to do all the time and rarely can find time to run at all. This is a bigger problem since daylight is getting shorter and I don't exactly live in the safest place for a small woman to go running all on her onesies after dark or before light (who does these days?).
Someone please tell me that I don't need to worry about this crap. Give me ways to avoid doing so. Also, I am worried about training inside for the winter. I will be on a flat track then. Would my runner friends suggest that I try to push my distance more so that I can build up more stamina, keeping in mind that the half marathon will NOT be a flat track. Or should I perhaps cross-train, doing the normal distances on the track and then maybe throwing in some elliptical or something? I'm at a loss. And I want to kick ass. Help me kick more ass, please.
as long as you're strengthening a part of your body that is necessary for running, you will do yourself good. the heart is one of those muscles, so being on an elliptical for longer than you would normally be running is still helpful. I would also suggest switching between going for distance and going for speed, some days maybe see how long you can elliptical for, other days do sprints on the track and such. as long as you are staying active and strengthening muscles you are going to get better. there will be time to train hills in the spring or when you have time when its light out, but if you can only train at night don't risk it, train inside, no need to add that extra stress.
ReplyDeletekeep running Emmi, you will thank yourself later
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