HM Course Practice

Workout:  8.8 mile run in 1 hr 27 mins with SB

It was a tough one today.  I was quite the NegativeNancy when I started out on the run this morning with SB.  I felt like it was going to be a tough one the night before so I checked to see what SB was doing and our miles were similiar so I decided to join her.  I am glad I did, otherwise I would have ended it way before my 9 miles. 

I feel like I go through this slump at the beginning, middle, and end of my summer training.  This morning I was saying again, "This is my last half marathon - the training is so tough, I'm tired of it.."  I said that last year and I think the year before as well.  Yet here I am.   It is just a slump and I know I will come out of it, but sometimes I just wonder why I put my body through this each summer. 

I know, I know... it is for the challenge and that overwhelming sense of accomplishment when I am done - but that is so hard to remember and rationalize on days like today.  I think the heat has a lot to do with it, but it is still hard even when the temps do go down. 

Today we ran a part of the route that we will take when we run the half marathon in September.  That HM is going to be rough to say the least since a good chunk of it is all hills.  I am glad my first HM is all flat, that will be my confidence booster and hopefully goal setter.  The second one is going to be just for the experience.  I am not expecting anything great on that one.  Which is a good thing because based on today's run it is going to be back in the two hour range with all those hills.

Regardless todays run and all my runs are worth it.  It keeps me active, gets me outside and really does lighten my mood (eventually).  Here is a great quote that I always remember when I question why I do this,  from a long-time friend of mine:

"But why do I run? I ask myself this question often, especially on the longer runs where all you have is your mind. I'm not a particularly good runner; I'm certainly not built to run fast. I'm not really even built to run far. Yet I return to the sport - indeed to the experience - almost daily. And I participate in events with fervor. The reasons are not noble. I do not run to reach some nirvana, to lose weight or to face fear. Quite simply, I run because I can." ~Mark B.

Source

I think that sums it up perfectly for me.  But I still forget and grumble at myself occassional for putting myself through it again and again.  I know I'd miss it if I couldn't do it.  So a reminder to myself:  Treasure each and every run - in the sun, heat, snow, rain, sleet, and fog - the bad, the good, the ugly, the easy ones and the tough ones.  You Run Because You Can!

QOTD:  How are you doing with your runs?  Have you gotten into a slump lately?