running lately…

by Sarah Zinkel on August 13, 2012

this post is long overdue.

like way long overdue.

like i’ve been rolling it around in my head for at least a month now.

so let’s just get to it…

i haven’t been running much lately.

and i certainly haven’t been running enough for someone who is supposed to run her first half marathon on saturday.

sneakers on walk

when my half marathon training plan started, i was pumped. i was also doing the runner’s world run streak and seriously kicking a**.

i got through about the first 4 weeks of my training plan, and then i got sick.

i didn’t blog much about it, but i had some pretty awful stomach issues pretty constantly through june & the beginning of july.

so that led to not running much (or doing much of anything except laying on the couch/in bed and trying not to poop my pants, actually). (sorry, t.m.i.?)…

in fact, i ended up taking 3 weeks off from my training plan. i ran a couple times in there, but every run was maybe 1-2 miles and did not end well.

2012-04-26 17.19.07

so that brings us to the middle of july.

in an attempt to get back “on track” with my training plan, i did all of my runs one week, cutting down the shorter ones to 2-3 miles since i hadn’t been running, but then figuring that i needed to at least try to get in my 8 mile long run that was on the training plan if i was going to have any chance at all of not dying during this half marathon.

in hindsight, this was probably not a good idea.

the run took me forever and pretty much crushed any optimism i had that i’d be able to pull off the half right now.

i struggled majorly to run the 8 miles. lots of walking breaks. lots of thoughts of quitting. ending up walking the last mile home.

it wasn’t fun.

i still didn’t completely give up though, for about a week after those 8 miles, i kept up with my mid-week runs.

20120530-workout

but they didn’t feel good.

i was in a pretty major workplace accident about 7 years ago when i worked in a factory for a summer during college. my left ankle was hurt really badly and i always have to be careful not to “anger” it now.

i think a combination of not easing back into running after taking that 3 week break and not listening to my body until it was too late, led to to it acting up. i didn’t “re-injure” it, but the past few runs have hurt. kind of a lot. it doesn’t hurt very much while i’m running, but the soreness afterward is pretty brutal.

biofreeze is my new best friend.

after thinking about it a lot, i have decided not to run the half marathon on saturday.

i don’t want my first (maybe only) experience running a half marathon to be completely awful. i want to go in at least being properly trained. i know things can still go wrong if you train well, but i’m pretty much guaranteeing a bad experience with my current level of running. also, i know my ankle will thank me. i’m honestly not sure how it would handle 13.1 miles in its current state.

so there you go.

that’s why i won’t be running a half marathon this weekend.

i’m hoping there will be one in my plans in the future, but if not, i’m ok with that too.

i had a really hard time coming to this decision and an even more difficult time putting it out here on the blog. i know most of you probably didn’t even remember/care that i was planning to run a half marathon this weekend and i could have just not mentioned it again and pretended it never happened, but  i definitely want to be 100% honest.

it’s really difficult for me to admit that i failed at something. i hate that i wasn’t able to complete my training like i should have. i am so so so bummed that i won’t be running my first half marathon this summer. but, i will suck it up and move on.

…………………….

i’m trying to keep it upbeat, but i’m pretty bummed about all of this.

tell me something that will cheer me up please!

…………………….

p.s. one more day to enter my adora chocolate giveaway!

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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean August 13, 2012 at 7:56 am

don’t be so hard on yourself, girl! you didn’t fail! it’s just not the right time for you to run it. you’re making the best choice for YOU right now and that’s the best thing you can do!
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean recently posted…The Importance of a Low-Sodium DietMy Profile

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2 Mellissa August 13, 2012 at 7:59 am

Hang in there! You listened to your body and and that is all that matters. Something to cheer you up? 5 days until the wedding! We are so ready to have a great party and then head to Thailand September 1st.
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3 Liz J August 13, 2012 at 8:00 am

Sar Bear, remind yourself how hard you DID work when you were able to run. It is not YOUR fault that you had to slow up your running plan. You have a lot of really important things goin on in your life that are now of bigger priority so may it was meant to happen this way.. so when your life needs a little spice you can add in your half marathon. :)

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4 Liz @ iheartvegetables August 13, 2012 at 8:02 am

Aw I’m sorry about all the rough stuff you went through :( It sucks having to put training (or races, or goals) on hold, but it sounds like you’re doing the right thing for your body and that’s what matters!

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5 Mackenzie August 13, 2012 at 8:04 am

Listening to your body is always the smartest thing! Now you know what needs to be done next time around :)
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6 Kelly August 13, 2012 at 8:22 am

You have to know that you are making the right decision for your body! There will be plenty of other races in the future that you can run and properly train for – and I’m sure when the right time comes you will kick that race’s butt!
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7 Miranda @ Biting Life August 13, 2012 at 10:20 am

You’re not a failure at all! It’s not your fault that you got sick and that your ankle started acting up again. You did the right thing by choosing to rest instead of possibly make it even worse by continuing to train. I’m sure that you feel awful right now and really down on yourself for not being able to run, but don’t think of it as a failure. You didn’t give up, you just had to make a different choice to be good to your body.
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8 Julie August 13, 2012 at 10:46 am

WAY TO GO listening to your body! Obviously this one just wasn’t meant to be. You’ll have other chances, other challenges, and this one wasn’t worth it. I hope you’re getting better and that you know you don’t have to run a race to be a winner! (How cheesy was THAT?!) Here’s even more: You’re already a winner with all of us!
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9 Emily August 13, 2012 at 3:10 pm

If it makes you feel better, I felt the same way about when I couldn’t run my half marathon in May because of my stress fracture! I dreaded writing that blogpost, but at the same time, I felt like it motivated me to get healthy and try again! You have been very busy the past few months and so many good things have happened for you! No reason to fret, i think! :)

PS- I want to come see your new house!
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10 sarah August 15, 2012 at 3:23 pm

thanks, emily!

we’re hoping to have a house-warming party sometime in the next month or two. you’re definitely invited! :)

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11 Kim @ HealthyNest August 14, 2012 at 8:45 am

Hey Sarah,
I totally understand this feeling–I’m in the same exact place. I signed up for a half this weekend and literally haven’t run further than 7 miles in training. Life just gets in the way. Don’t feel bad! Like everyone else said, listening to your body is always the right thing to do. Especially since it’s your first half–you want that to be a good experience so you don’t nix racing altogether. Don’t stress it–there will be plenty more opportunities!

Side note: was it the Madison Mini Marathon you were planning to run by chance? If so, you probably already know this but you can just show up and run the 5K instead…that’s what I’m thinking about doing. :)

Hang in there!
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12 sarah August 15, 2012 at 3:25 pm

thanks, kim!

yep, it was the madison mini marathon that i was supposed to run. i’m planning to do the 5k instead if my ankle is feeling ok after my run tonight. :)

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13 Angela August 14, 2012 at 1:34 pm

I think you’re making the right decision! I know that it’s not an easy one to make – I had to do it multiple times this year…

http://www.runnerindenial.com/2012/04/why-im-proud-of-my-first-dnf.html,
http://www.runnerindenial.com/2012/05/im-not-running-the-brooklyn-half-marathon.html
http://www.runnerindenial.com/2012/07/3-things-thursday-3-reasons-im-okay-with-not-running-a-fall-marathon-this-year.html

Get better and then you’ll DOMINATE your first half!
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14 sarah August 15, 2012 at 3:24 pm

thanks angela! it’s not a fun decision to make at all. ughhh. i know i’m doing the right thing, though.

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