Need motivation girls

[btchance]

I still want to do the half marathon in November, but I seem to be lacking the motivation to do it. I have gone up to 9miles so far, so I'm completely on schedule, but just can't convince myself to go out and do the runs right now. This happened a couple of months ago when I was wanting to do the full. I got to 9miles, then started making excuses, most of which were real.

Most of you know I am in medical school, so time is definately a factor here, and both times I have lost motivation is in the last weeks of a rotation, just before the shelf exam. It's not that I don't have the time to do the training, I just feel tired, guilty about studying, and don't want to do it. I'm getting enough sleep, still want to go out on my bike (part of the reason why I didn't run this weekend), so I just don't know what's going on.

Part of the problem, I think, is that I don't know if I'll actually be able to do the race (1/2 or if I had kept with it, the full). I'll be on a q4 call schedule (call every 4th night), and won't know until the week before if I'll be on call, or post call (ie, 50% chance of not being able to do it).

Sorry about this, I just had to get it off my chest. I'm just upset with myself anytime I give up on something, especially when it's something I find difficult, but know that if I work at it I can get through it.

Thanks for listening!

[Nanci]

If you're doing nine miles now, you have the base for the half. Just maintain!! See what happens. MWBR!

[Tri Girl]

I agree with Nanci. 9 miles is only 4 off a half, and if you can do 9 now, then you won't need to worry about going the extra 4. Give yourself a break- you've got A LOT on your plate right now, and sometimes it's hard to find the motivation to do things you like when you're bogged down. And I hear ya- I'd much rather ride than run. Could you run only 2-3 days per week (one long run, one short run, and then maybe a run w/hills or speedwork for the third)? That way you'd still be maintaining the endurance, but not running ALL the time. In my opinion (and that of others as well) the long run is the most important.
Don't give up on yourself! I know you can do this half mare easily, and you'll do fine if you can maintain the base you have now.

[Beverly Fay]

Perhaps this is a race where you need to take a "what the heck" attitude, turn up on the day, carry on for as long as you feel comfortable, and then stop.

It's no disgrace not to finish -- I've often done longer races as training races or when I wasn't feeling all that great where I had no intention of finishing, and other than not getting the tee-shirt or the medal, you don't lose out on anything. You can still go to the pasta party the night before and enjoy the buzz!

It may even be that allowing yourself to go in there with the promise to yourself that you can stop whenever you feel like it will relax you to the point of carrying on to the end.

Whatever you decide, best of luck.

Beverly

[rocknrollgirl]

Do you get a T-shirt? That is always our fall back around here if race day is looming and motivation is hard to find. Go have fun, get a T-shirt, maybe some swag in a goodie bag, meet some nice runner type people...

Do the half...
I always look at this way, even if I go and suck it up, at least I am not at home on the coach like most of the country, or shopping for shoes like most of the women I know....


Ruth

[btchance]

Yeah, I'm probably going to keep working at it, try to get a couple more long runs in and just play it by ear. Maybe the duathlon will help this weekend. Oh, and I did a short run today and enjoyed it again. Last weekend was probably just the pressure of the presentation, being exhausted from call, and knowing that I need to recover for this weekend.

Thanks girls!