I love running… but sometimes running sucks. Yup. I said it. I think I am at that point in my training cycle where I am just ready to be done. I have tried my hardest to keep running fun, carefree, and all about just covering the miles. But sometimes the miles are boring. BORING.
Sometimes running sucks. It is hard. It is a struggle. Mentally. Physically. Everything just doesn’t want to go. I just want to quit.
Life is a juggle. Running and training is a juggle. A juggle for time. Time is a precious gift that we need to make good use of. I love how my friend, Carla, shares how she views TIME as her MOST VALUABLE commodity.
Juggling schedules with soccer games, practice, work, church, friends and more. This past weekend I was supposed to run my first of two long runs for the training cycle. Because of our schedule, the only time I was able to sneak away for my 16-20 miler was after church.
I had set out to do 20 miles. Yet, by mile 4 I wanted to quit. I was bored. I was tired. I was mentally not in the run.
I found myself doing a lot of run/walk. During my walking breaks I would eat (I love that part about running) and check facebook or text friends. Yes. I was bored. I needed all the mental breaks and moral boosters I could get.
The views were stunning. The frogs were croaking. The fishermen were on the lake fishing. There were lots of people on the trails biking, hiking, walking and running. Yet… here I was running and walking… and struggling.
While I am out running and attempting to get in my long run for my marathon training… my husband is out making memories with the boys. Fishing at the lake.
Granted, I do not like fishing… but the whole concept and thought the boys were out making memories (time) together while I was out pounding miles on the trail wasn’t making me happy. I wanted to be with them… making memories with them. Spending my TIME with them.
I love running. But sometimes it just sucks… my time, my energy, my emotions, my happy.
The final miles of my run I broke down and called my good friend, Yvonne. I missed her friendship and voice. I knew that she could talk me through my last few miles of my run. So she did. I ran and walked while we talked. I am thankful for her friendship and miss my best running friends.
My run wasn’t pretty. It was hard. It sucked. The time spent away from my family was the hardest… and is the hardest part of marathon training. I love running… but sometimes it just sucks.
Smitha www.runningwithsdmom.com says
I totally agree. Sometimes, especially during training, I feel like it is a chore but I ALWAYS love the run as soon as I am done!
Tiffany says
Good job for sticking to it in the low points! I hope you can get some new running buddies soon or God blesses you with some miraculous mid-run joy the next time you’re out for a long one. 🙂
katie says
AMEN Mama! But you did it and that’s fan-freaking-tastic!!
Janice @ Fitness Cheerleader says
Sometimes running sucks, sometimes life sucks. Sometimes running is great, sometimes life is great. Good job on powering through it even though you didn’t want to!
Lucie Palka says
Yeah, sometimes I”m not into it at first, but I put one foot in front of the other, listen to upbeat music and before I know it, I’m into it again! It’s often difficult when you are a mom to find time or not feel guilty about taking time for yourself. I take my lunch hour at work to workout, and usually once during the weekend to workout!
Alexis@FItnancials says
I feel like I’m always going through some sort of changing experience on every run I go into.
Jill Will Run says
Oh Rachel… I SOOOOOO get this! The long training miles away from my kid are the hardest. I just feel guilty for being out there, even if I try to start my long runs super early in the morning so she’s asleep for part of it. And I had an AWFUL run a couple weekends ago. My head wasn’t in it and I felt crummy… yet even looking back on it now, I hated running then yet I still love it. Maybe I’m mentally ill! 🙂