A few weeks ago as I saw the beginning of Boston Marathon training approaching, I began to get nervous. I was excited, but something was still holding me back from really feeling ready to begin this next training cycle.

I have dreamed for years about being able to train and run the Boston Marathon. When my dream came true in December of 2014 I was beyond excited. I couldn’t wait to get to that start line. I still cannot wait to step foot on that start line on April 18th, but something in me just feels different this time around.

After Chicago, I really felt burn out. I had taken every last piece of what I had left and put it into that race. Mentally and physically I had given it everything that I had left. It took a while after that for me to be in a place where I was ready to really push hard again.

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I want this place to be somewhere I can share honestly how I am feeling. The truth, I am not really sure what is going to happen on April 18th.

There is a part of me that wants to push myself to new limits and hit some great new goals. Then there is a part of me that just wants to enjoy the moment and just have fun! Racing can be fun and it is fun, but when I set a big goal I often feel pressure to perform.

 

Regardless of what I decide or what happens on April 18th, there are a few things I am going to focus on this time around throughout my marathon training.

Quit Stressing

There were moments during my Chicago training where I would stress or worry about a workout a week in advance. Why!? Looking back I realize how stupid it was but it began to take over my life and my mind.

Regardless on the ultimate goal I set for myself in Boston, I am determined to not let it take over my life. I can’t lose the joy. I’m not naïve, I know that sometimes when training it gets stressful and not all runs are fun, but when every day become stressful it makes it really hard to improve.

 

Take Care of Myself

Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t reverted back to old habits or anything like that but during my last training session I wasn’t paying attention to the signs my body was giving me.

I knew that I was heading for a burn out but for some reason I just kept pushing forward and ignoring all those warning signs. It was stupid. I won’t do that to my body again. There is no race or training cycle that is worth it.

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Trust and Believe in ME

I’m sure you’ve heard it said many times that you know your body the best. You know what it is and isn’t capable of. Just like I sometimes forget to listen to my body I often forget to really believe in what I can do.

My husband reminds me often that I talk down my accomplishments. He has to put into perspective just how far I’ve come and how far I could go. My focus during this training cycle is to believe in myself even when the paces, runs, or distances may seem terrifying.

 

These may seem like simple tasks, but if I had just followed these last time around then I believe I would have had much greater success. Going into Boston I know I have a coach in my corner and a wonderful support system behind me. I also know though that there are some sacrifices I am not willing to make this time around.

I know this isn’t the most absolute “this is my goal for Boston” type post but it’s the truth about where I am right now. I’d love to hit my stretch goal of a sub-3:20 in Boston, but I also know that for me right now it’s not worth running myself into the ground. I’ve had an amazing 2 years of PR’s, but that has also meant 2 years of running hard.

That being said, I look forward to sharing this journey with you! I’m going to go out there and give it everything I’ve got, and see where that takes me. I’m going to have fun this training cycle! I’ve got so many years ahead and have really big goals I want to accomplish. Sometimes accomplishing those goals also requires knowing when not to push yourself beyond your limits.

 

That being said, I am ready for another crazy journey! I’ve dreamed of running Boston for years and I can promise you I will enjoy every single minute.

Here we go! Hang on and enjoy the ride!

 

Have you ever had trouble determining your goals?

How do you focus on keeping yourself physically and mentally healthy?

 

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