I hit a wall this week. I’m getting sick of running. I’m starting to see the marathon (and more quickly, Around the Bay) looming in my future and I don’t feel ready. Not mentally, not physically.

I also started running in the morning this week. As spring arrives, I have more and more social events in the evening. I’ve never been much of a morning person, but it being light at 6:30, coupled with setting the alarm to go off an hour before I need to get out of bed (and hitting the snooze button 75 times) has helped. However, because I don’t have as much time in the morning (I refuse to wake up before 6am), my weekly runs were shorter this week. Tired all the time + lower mileage than I should have? No wonder I’m freaking out!

Monday: rest

I ran 25.1k the day before, and my muscles needed the break. In retrospect, I should have gone to yoga.

Tuesday: 7.2k

My first morning run in a million years! I headed up and back on the Don Valley trail. Easy stuff. Slow stuff.

Wednesday: rest

This was not supposed to be a rest day. I woke up with the distinct feeling I needed to run in the morning, but could not for the life of me remember why. At work, I realized: I had an event that night. No running for me.

Thursday: 8.6k

Another morning run! Yay me! This run started off in 15 degree weather and ended with sleets of rain coming down. Not fun. It was a struggle, but I made it home.

Friday: 7.0k

And the third morning run of the week, up and back on the Don Valley. I was exhausted during this run, and it didn’t feel productive, just painful.

Saturday: 9.5k

So, everyone I’ve talked to about Around the Bay told me to watch out for the hill at the 26k mark. This started to freak me out. I convinced my friend Kate to come to Hamilton with me so we could run the last 10k of the course together. It was cold and windy and the hill was as every bit as mean as everyone told me. I’m just glad I know what I’m in for.

Sunday: 3.2k

And this is where I hit a wall. Yes, that says 3.2k. Kate’s a lot faster than me and the Saturday run took more out of me than I realized. (I knew I needed more hill workouts in my life!) I headed out for what was supposed to be a 30k long run, and everything hurt. I tried to push through, but it wasn’t happening. Then I started freaking out about how I’m not ready for a marathon, and came home in tears. Gah!

 

So, that was the week that was. It wasn’t pretty. I want to do one more 30-ish km training run before ATB, and it’s looking like Wednesday night is the winner. Also, Matt and I booked a vacation the week before ATB, so I fly in the day before and head straight to Hamilton. Probably not the smartest move on my part.

So, experienced runners: if you have any tips about how to get through times like this, please let me know.