Garbage In....Garbage Out (aka You Reap What You Sow)

And my disclosure now, is that these are my opinions, and I dont mean to hurt anyones feelings, but again, just my opinion.  And its a long drawn out post...sorry about that too.  And I'm sorry if this post makes me unpopular :)

I have often said and still believe, that for the most part, most people can do a marathon (or just about any endurance event (sans a Ironman or ultra over 50K; I dont think anyone could pull that off without training, unless you are a freak of nature).  It might not be pretty or fast, and maybe not even in the time allotted to be considered a 'legal' completion, but it can be done. 

However most people don't care to now, or ever, complete a marathon.  But its becoming the 'popular' thing on 'bucket lists' all over the place, but thats just it.  One and done.  Kinda like Vanilla Ice.

 

Lyrical poet indeed... :O) 

Anyway, as I was saying, to me, at the end of the day if a person sets their mind to doing a marathon, chances are they are going to complete it.  Some way or the other, admirable or not.

No really, its ok to stop to poop...

To me, doing a marathon is not that hard (lie. It is really)...but what is hard(er) is the traaaaaaining....which is where this post was originally supposed to go ...

OK, so right off the bat, I will admit I am what I suppose most consider (and I have to agree) a hard core serious training kind of person.  I take my schedule seriously, I take the act of getting in the miles I am supposed to and the workouts as best as I can (although like now in this heat and such, and at Coachs suggestion, sometimes just doing the miles is all that needs to be done) seriously as well. 

I am of the mindset that anything worth doing is worth doing well (or your best).  I dont tend to be the type to half ass anything, unless its something like 'cleaning' the house.  :O)

Now I am not saying that all the training I do makes me better at the marathon than anyone else obviously, but I know that when I go out there, regardless of what the day offers me, I am prepared to do my best.  And that I know that I did everything I could, and yes sacrificed a lot for the sake of training.  And of course there are days when I just dont want to run for whatever reason, generally something weird my body is signaling me (like today), and yeah, I take a day off or whatever, or shorten the distance (many times this happens in summer!)...but you get my point.  Once I sign up for something, I am going to give it my best shot.  And by best shot, I dont mean training when I feel like it and calling that 'the best I got..'...

There is a sort of pride I take in knowing that I worked my ass off when yeah, its much easier to be lazy (or to go do that fun thing with your friends or SO)...  AND a sense of pride that I take in seeing others do things that are difficult, uncomfortable and sometimes unpopular (missing out on something fun because 'you have a long run in the morning')...

Here is my point...2 occasions:

1. I have a friend who is training for Chicago.  She is having some issues with the way training is going.  She misses her last years group and Coach.  Its hotter now, training for a Fall marathon therefore its harder to do the kinds of distances she needs to at a pace she wants to be able to do them in.  Not really the pace but feeling out of sorts because she's 'slower' than everyone else.  She's last in her group most times I suppose.   But what she doesnt realize is the amount of respect I have for her, for getting out there and getting it done, even if it takes you longer and longer than anyone else (um I had a rotten run on Saturday, resorting to run/walking and yeah talk about feeling slow!)...Doing the training is the HARD part....and there is probably a good chance that on race day, you wont be last :O)  But even if you are, it wont be because you didnt do the work...it'll be because you had a bad day, or something like that...finishing training is so much more than the actual marathon.  I think that medals should be given to those that complete training for a marathon ... it truly is the most exciting part for me.  Speed is relative, just remember that.  There will always be someone slower or faster than we are out there.  And remember, there are some that wish they were as 'fast' as you are girl!!!  Keep on truckin!!!  Dont skip workouts due to feeling like there is no point!!!  You might not get faster, but chances are YOU WILL!!!  Training pays off in some form or fashion!!!
1. I also know a lot of people that half ass their training.  Either because they have natural talent, or more than likely just because they are lazy (and dont give me the BS that you dont have the time.  If you dont have the time to train (excuse), then dont sign up for the event over and over and over...especially when you say this time I am so going to train!!  I have way too many friends of the latter to even mention, and I wouldnt anyway...but repeatedly I see them never improving at any distance for that matter.  Heres the thing, if all you do is run races (slow or fast), and I never see you put any more effort into it (say like, oh I dont know, running during the week) then dont call yourself a runner.   And honestly, all those folks I know/speak of...I laugh, and roll my eyes every time I hear them say (or write) I'm a runner, I'm a marathoner, I'm a triathlete.  While that may be true, I just don't see it...not when you are too lazy to put the work in.  Training, even if badly and even if its just running 3-4 times a week, is so much more admirable than just finishing...if you do more than just finish (like win/place AG), then guess what?  You were lucky that no one else showed up.  Probably because they were lazy.  Lazy does not describe my BFF Reese!!!  :O)

I do...just LOVE her...and what I would call a true runner...girl is always running and racing

I draw most of my inspiration from the many blogs I read of the not always fast kind (there are a couple of those), but they train dammit!!!  And they even have fun doing it!!!  I tend to NOT read the blogs of those that slacka-lacka-lacka...they eventually fall off my reading list.

ok...so then...

               2. When asked if I wanted to go to a free yoga session tonight in honor of the Summer Soltice, I sent back the message that I couldnt, to which I received a :( back.  Not that I owed an explanation, but I just simply texted back "need to get my miles in.  will work in yoga as I can along the way".  To which I received "ooooh...serious runner..."  Why yes...I am training for a marathon (to where I have goals other than to just finish), so yeah, I tend to run what I need to run...so if that makes me worthy of an ooooh, serious runner comment so be it...Different mindsets I suppose.  Absolutely looooooooove her but could do without the comments from the peanut gallery.  Sure I would love to work in more time for yoga, but I find it hard enough physically to get my weights/HIIT workouts in, and at the end of the day, the weights/HIIT are going to benefit me more on race day than yoga...

And sooooooooooooooo after all that, this chick (me, not Reese) might be taking an URD today because all day long I have had a sharp shooting pain through/near my left hip flexor every time I stand up and walk.  I dont know if somehow I pulled it unknowingly or if its just a weird thing going on today.  Once I get home, get these high heels off and relax until the sun is no longer going to be beating down on me (although its cloudy right now but the heat index is 101deg), then I can see if that makes it feel better and give the run the old college try!

One thing I won't do is train through the pain ... if its soreness yes, run it out...pain?  No.  Hopefully my run today will be going down the 'winning' road and not the 'loser' road...

Which road do you choose?

Are you a slacka lacka lacka?  A fly by the seat of your pants kinda event trainee?   Do you know one that is your friend and bugs you?  Do you think training is dumb and only for those who are going to make money at it?  Or are you competitive with yourself (and others, even if its just that oooooooone girl/guy you want to beat)?  Do you set goals and try (really try) to meet them with the best of your ability?