Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature’s inexorable imperative.” ~ H. G. Wells
Today was day 214 of marathon training and it looked a lot different than day 214 of my training plan. Getting sick and the recovery required weren’t on the schedule. My runs the past two week have been hard and not even close to enjoyable. I was feeling not so great about this marathon. All the motivation I had left was because this is most likely my one chance at a marathon and I really want to finish. Thankfully, today’s run felt better. Maybe lowering the volume and intensity will pay off.
I do have some doubts. Volume and intensity have taken a big hit. I have accepted that they are what they are, but have some concern around how prepared I will be on the day. I think I hit my highest volume 3 weeks ago and that feels like it is way too early to peak. My current goal is to maintain. I know that 3 weeks ago I was able to do 16 miles, but I currently don’t know what my final long run will be. I’m hoping for 18 miles, but I don’t want to get to taper so beat up that I end up exhausted on the day.
The mental battle of this marathon is unquestionably the hardest thing I have chosen to do in a long time, maybe ever. Most of the time I feel like it’s a very solitary struggle. I run alone. I come up with my plan alone – with the help of google and Hal Higdon, oh and also Chat GPT. I do confer with my medical team. I share my struggles with family and friends and I make it accessible for anyone who has access to the internet. But when I walk out my front door for whatever run I aim to do that day it is just me. And it is hard.
A Heart for Hard Things 