Friday, June 21, 2013

Perspective: Lack of progress...


I'm a slow runner, but since I started coming out of a severe 6-7 month depression at the beginning of the year I've become slower than I have ever been. I'm talking 3:15 - 3:30 finish for a half marathon. I used to finish in the 2:35-2:50 range and I really can't put my finger on why I'm so slow. I know my endurance has gone to pot and I put on at least 10 pounds during the depression (that I am working on losing, plus an additional 15 pound). I'm running, swimming...finally fixed my bike tire so hopefully will start riding that again and yet I see no progression in my running.

I think part of it is that I started running again too early with no training doing a double in August. My times sucked then but I just attributed that to still having to deal with the depression. I raced a few more times until the end of the year with no training whatsoever just because I needed to get away and be by myself. I think I actually started training again in February or March...whenever the weather changed and got warmer.

I feel like a total newbie when it comes to running again. I'm just working on endurance like I did when I first started training for my first half marathon. Once I get that down I'll start some speed work, but right now I'm concentrating on marathon training (just to cross the finish line within time) due to the sheer stupidity of registering for 6 full marathons with two sets of back to backs.

Not seeing any progress is quite disheartening but as some friends pointed out I am out there running still, finishing is the goal and I am quite lucky to still be around after last year. It's easy to hear/read but believing is a totally different thing. All I know is that I'm not giving up, if I have to resort to walking these races I will. All I want is to cross the finish and get my medal...yes, it is about the bling collecting. So, I'm taking a deep breath and trying to put this situation into perspective (hard to do if you're a born pessimist). I saw this quote today and it says it all:


14 comments:

  1. At least you are still trying :) I have had some similar issues with my running as of late. A friend of mine beat me in a 10K a couple of weeks ago and she is generally a lot slower than I am. Keep chugging. Maybe add some more variety to your workouts. I am fond of doing treadmill hills when I get in a slump.

    Good luck

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    1. Oh that dreaded word...treadmill. You know, like I said I used to love it but now I get on and it's as if my life is fading away. I had been thinking of driving out on the highway (the only hills in town) so I may have to do that or the park next to it just to get some variety. I tried some trail running this week but I am not a trail person (extremely weak ankles) so that was a no go. But I'll head for the hills tomorrow as I have a 14 miler that I hope to finish...no matter how long it takes! :) Good luck to you too in getting over your slump...we'll both do it, eventually. :D

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  2. You are definitely winning if you are still going. Only quitters fail to succeed. Go get that bling ;)

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    1. You are totally right Amy! I just have to remember that slowness doesn't matter (much) and that with time the speed will come back. Thanks for the encouragement!

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  3. Slow progress is progress. I needed that today. Thank you so much for sharing and providing some much needed perspective for me. I'm an optimist, but feeling a bit of the pessimism lately!

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  4. You're very welcome Lora! We just need to keep that vision in mind of the finish line. There's that saying in the image above but also "Slow progress is better than NO progress." Keep on going and don't let that negative voice get the best of you. Good Luck!

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  5. Hey! Good work for pushing through! ...sometimes a change is as good as a rest! So maybe try something new for a short time that would benefit your running, like yoga or the Nike Training Club app! ...no matter how slow you run, you are still a runner!

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    1. Thanks Elle! I'm going to try some hill work tomorrow as part of my long run. We only have a few hills near town so maybe that's what I need. I had already started Hip Hop Abs as a secondary cardio workout and have a few yoga DVDs that I use on occasion. Slow still gets the job done and I know it, but sometimes I wish for my faster days, but for now as long as I finish I'm all good!

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  6. Keeping in mind that anything worth doing will cause us doubt, will challenge us will make us think why is it such? ... What also challenges us most also defines us. When I ran my first marathon in 2004, I ran a 4:58 finish time, never did I think that working for a Boston Qualifying time of a 3:05 would ever be realistic. This past Sunday I just ran a 3:09:21 (a personal best) at the San Francisco Marathon. Stick with it and keep working and remember a mile is a mile not matter how fast or slow, a step forward towards your goal is progress in the right direction.

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    1. You're right! The rule though is to keep a goal that is attainable and right now it's to have a sub-3 half marathon again (repeatedly) and to just finish a full marathon (on my feet rather than crawling). Of course I signed up for the marathons in hopes of qualifying for Marathon Maniacs and when I felt good running (had slowed down to run w/ hubs). I need something a little easier to attain as a baby step towards where I want to be...maybe 4 miles in a hour. Should be doable then hopefully everything will fall into place slowly with baby steps towards the final goal. Thanks for commenting!

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  7. But yes at least you are doing this!
    You know I have had this problem in the past, and my dad who (was a super fast runner) helped me get out of my funk last year. He made me realize I wasn't putting the miles in. I had slowly just been training the bare minimum... Not sure if this relates, but you could always try bumping up the daily/weekly mileage, and longer runs are the biggest key!
    Good luck! Personally I think anyone who finishes is awesome and deserves a pat on the back! But I totally understand the depression that can come with not performing at levels you would like! Good luck!!!

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    1. Yes RBP, still plodding along (literally) and I know I can reach the finish line before cutoffs for HMs but marathons are another thing. This funk, I think, is part of the marathon training with longer runs and such. I'll keep on keeping on with the goal, at least for the marathon will be to finish within time no matter how slow I go. Thanks!

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  8. This was so perfect for my train of thoughts right now. Slow Progress really is still progress. I've been frustrated with my own fitness progress because I haven't seen the results that I've wanted, but I'm still seeing results, just a lot smaller than I had wanted. I really have to change my mindset about progress. Thanks for the uplifting post. I really needed that.

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  9. You are still lapping those still on the couch. It doesn't matter how slow you are going, you are doing it, and you should be proud of that fact.
    So keep it up.

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