My running dilemma

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
My running dilemma
24
Mon, 08-22-2005 - 6:44pm

Most of you are familiar with my love/hate relationship with running. Thanks to Jean's idea, I did the couch to 5K program last spring and actually ran an 8K in May. When I scheduled my surgery, I started to run less and less and then just stopped altogether (plus, it got really hot here and I had to practically get up in the middle of the night to run and I just didn't have the desire to do that).

So, I'm almost two months post-op and getting much stronger. I made it through a killer step class on Friday and I'm about to do another step class tonight. I can tell my CV capacity is improving and my muscles are definitely coming back. I wouldn't yet say I'm 100% yet because I'm trying to force myself not to do too much too soon (which is hard for me because I am way too ambitious and competitive with myself).

Pre-surgery, I really had designs on running a half-marathon in January. After surgery, I promised myself that I'd need to make a decision by September because I'd probably need to start training in September. I had kind of sort of decided that I didn't really want to start running again. And then, a friend from the gym (another trainer) said she was going to run the half-marathon this year (we walked it together last year). My competitive streak arose and I immediately thought "I want to run it too." Blah. :P

Running kicks my butt and even though I proved I could physically run an 8K, I'm just not sure if I want to put my body through that. Running really wiped me out, my knees were achey a lot, and it didn't leave me a lot of energy for other things (it really forced me to prioritize because I just couldn't do all my regular stuff AND run). BUT, I did love the sense of accomplishment knowing that I'd done something that I hadn't previously been able to do.

So, I'm kind of at a crossroads here and I think I need to decide what's more important. I would love to be able to say that I ran a half-marathon (and I honestly think I'd just do it once ~ it's the sort of thing I could do once and be satisfied) but I just don't know that I'm ready to commit to the training involved. I have no problem committing to exercise 5 days a week, but these runs would definitely be time consuming. On top of that, we're going to LA in September, Missouri in October, and our cruise is in December. I think I'd have to train while I was out of town and that could get difficult.

I think I'm talking myself out of it.. what do you all think? :)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-22-2005 - 7:31pm

Keep in mind running is one of my great loves...


I would pass this year.


I decided I wanted to run a half marathon several years ago and started training for it further out than you are looking at.

~Kiervin~

Co-author of:  MONSTER'S INK HORROR ANTHOLOGY By Cyber-Pulp Press

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Mon, 08-22-2005 - 9:55pm
It sounds like you've put a self-imposed deadline of September.





iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2003
Mon, 08-22-2005 - 10:45pm

You gotta want it 100% or you wont stick to it. Sounds like you are more like 40% which will only get you to your first vacation where you will not run and decide that it is nice not running. I am bias in that I HATE running. I was forced to run from the time I was 10 until I graduated high school. I had a lot of natural ability (the whole energizer bunny thing was in my favor), and I was always in the top 25 in the state for cross country, but I hated running so much that my heart wasn't in it. I could have easily been one of the best in the state, and I knew it, but because I didn't want it 100% I easily got distracted from my training. I ended up with two knee surgeries because of something that I hated, talk about being resentful. Don't force yourself to do it if you don't want to, find something else that you can work towards a goal.

I guess what I am trying to say is that running is hard on your body, and it is not worth the trouble, and time, training for a marathon/halfmarathon if you do not really really want it.

Paula

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Mon, 08-22-2005 - 11:00pm
i agree. running is hard on the body, and there are other ways of pushing or challenging yourself that are a lot less hard on the body, so i agree that there is no point in pushing yourself to do a half marathon if you don't want to do it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
Tue, 08-23-2005 - 8:00am
I think you should do it!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 08-23-2005 - 8:30am

Rereading the whole thing the next morning...


I'm not for pushing yourself to do anything like this that you hate doing, esp. if it's not better for your body.






iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 08-23-2005 - 8:42am
Hey, I'm still out here running, too!





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Tue, 08-23-2005 - 9:54am

Thanks for everyone's thoughtful and insightful replies. You guys rock! *hugs*

One of the things I have to keep in mind is my extremely competitive and ambitious attitude. I often take a very drill-sergeant approach with how I train myself and I could definitely see myself overdoing it in an effort to be better, faster, stronger. I actually think that's kind of how I got burned out on running last spring.

I think at this point in time, my priorities (exercise-wise) do not include running. I am still hitting my strength training program hard to keep gaining strength. I've also been getting into doing my dance videos at home and that's been fun. The weather ought to break soon and that will mean I can get back into hiking and hopefully soon, I can take out my bike that I only got to ride twice before surgery. My knees are not in great shape from years of carrying excess weight and I find that when I run, I have such a hard time doing basic leg exercises like squats, lunges, etc. Seeing as how I probably won't be going to a gym on a regular basis anymore, I need to be able to do bodyweight exercises like squats and lunges since I'll be training pretty much exclusively at home.

I have been really hard on myself for a long time and I'm in the process of learning that I don't need to be the best/fastest/strongest at everything. I think I'm at peace with deciding not to do the half-marathon and if the times comes when I decide I am ready to tackle it, there are lots of opportunities.

Thanks again, guys. :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 08-23-2005 - 10:53am

It's a good sign that you're at peace with your decision.






iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2003
Tue, 08-23-2005 - 11:21am

Hey, I just remembered that there is a quiz on ivillage that asks you a bunch of questions and then comes up with a list of sports/activities that you would enjoy. I can't remember the name of the quiz, but i think it is under quizes. I'll try to find it later.

Paula

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