I’d really been doing OK not training for the Marine Corps Marathon yet.
I’ve been sticking to 5 or 6-milers three times a week, as discussed with my running doc, and had been doing just fine without long runs and speedwork, which he explicitly outlawed until at least August. The hip’s been doing … you know. Fine. Not great, but fine.
Then, last weekend, some friends who are running MCM mentioned to my husband, who in turn mentioned to me, that they were running 14 miles on Sunday. This is fabulous for them, but I felt left out and crappy and gimpy and lazy, despite starting my Saturday with a truly lovely 5- or 6-mile trail run and about an hour of core and hip work after.
I know the only solution is to get over myself, and to get my head back in the right place. By the way, I think it’s awesomely ironic that I’m feeling down after a week of focused mind games.
Here’s the difficulty with the mantras I’ve developed: They all encourage pushing, not restraint, which I think is considerably harder. A body in motion stays in motion, and it’s tough to stop the body once it gets going — even if that body happens to be yours, and happens to be hurt.
So I focused on the one mantra that did fit: Choose health. Know what’s healthy? Running. Know what’s not healthy? Completing one’s running route in a fast limp, then lurching back to the doctor with a worse injury than what I started with. I kept that in mind as I did nearly two hours of leg lifts, BOSU work, balance work and other dreaded physical-therapy exercises yesterday. It didn’t make the plank position any less boring, but it did keep me focused on why I was there.
Next up: This swim workout later today:
1,000 warmup, 100 free, 50 stroke
Pyramid set, freestyle, on :15 rest, moderate pace that you can maintain (goal is to hold your pace the whole time): > 1×50 > 1×100 > 1×150 > 1×200 > 1×250 > 1×300 > 1×250 > 1×200 > 1×150 > 1×100 > 1×50 (1,800 total)
4×25 sprint your choice on :45
4×25 no-breath freestyle, as much rest as you need (if you’ve got good lung capacity and breath control, you shouldn’t need more than 20 to 30 seconds)
Amy Reinink 
I can SO relate to what you are saying. I tried to keep up with my “perfect” training schedule and am now on crutches. It definitely pays to do what is best for your body. Good luck in your training and at MCM!
I totally agree. The hardest mental aspect of running is knowing when to slow down or do less miles. We focus so much on pushing ourselves that we forget that we don’t always have to. Most injuries are a result of our pride. However, in a race I’m going to finish and do it as quickly as I can no matter what my body feels like. Even if that means rolling across the finish line.
You know you are doing the best thing!!! Listen to yourself and your body!!! You are still running and swimming-it’s not like you’re a couch potato like me!!! 🙂
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we all have to stay focused on ourselves and our own training! it’s easy to get caught up in what others are doing and feel a bit ‘competitive’/driven to match what someone else is doing. try to keep reminding yourself of your ultimate goals – i’m sure you’d rather strong for another few decades than further injure yourself into months of sitting on the sidelines. hang in there!