I’m not sure what this is going to be about exactly but as I sit here writing I feel like I have hit a wall with my motivation to train. I don’t know if anyone else has felt this way but since March I have felt like I am on a roller coaster with my motivation. Overall it has been positive and I am definitely in great shape after some of my most consistent training in years. But about once every two to three weeks I just hit a wall and don’t feel like doing anything running related. Today is one of those days!
Each time I have felt like this has passed and I moved on just fine. Just a few days ago I was feeling more confident and excited about my training than I have in a long time. Currently I think the stress of school starting back up both for myself and the kids is what is pulling me down. Just not knowing what the fall is going to look like and having no way to anticipate what is coming makes it difficult some days. Anyone else feel like this?
On a positive note it has been a very productive summer for me with training. In May I ran a 10 mile tempo run in 59:34 and then last Friday ran 58:36 over the same ten miles with much less effort. I also ran a marathon time trial at the end of May in 2:59, which is my fastest time since the 2009 Napa Valley Marathon. I followed that up with a 2:49 on my treadmill the first week of July. When I started training consistently about two years ago I never anticipated it would take me so long to get back in that range.
All of this has caused me to set some pretty high but attainable goals for this fall. I even have a possible race (not virtual!) for Sept. Yesterday I was feeling excited and motivated….today I am feeling tired and unmotivated. But I know this is just part of the time we live in with so much uncertainty in our lives heading into the fall. I am positive my motivation will come back and when it does I will be ready to keep moving towards my goals.
I would love to hear from any of you about your training through this uncertain time and how you have reimagined your running to fit out current reality.
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