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: 10-27-2003
Tue, 08-23-2005 - 11:16pm

You can always do martial arts, once you're a blackbelt you are always a blackbelt. LOL, you will always be proud of that.

Just a (bias) thought
Paula

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
Wed, 08-24-2005 - 7:43am

"Have you seen those competitive eating contests?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 08-24-2005 - 8:08am
That's a good idea for someone who's a goal setter.





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 08-24-2005 - 8:09am
Oops, sorry!





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