Earlier this month, I wrote about how the snow and cold weather shouldn’t stop you from getting outdoors to getting your miles in, and how much I love to plan my schedule and hold myself accountable.
Well, I’m only human and sometimes life gets in the way and I can’t always run the miles I had planned, when I had planned them. After a post from Corey @ The Runners Cookie (hi!) I started to think more about how I handle these types of situations. Am I tough and pushing myself within my limits, or obsessive when it comes to training and pushing myself, and knowing when to let things go?
I’d like to think I have a pretty balanced life. I work 40+ hours a week, run 40+miles per week, make time to hang out with friends, enjoy relaxing time for myself and other hobbies, etc. But running certainly does take up a larger chunk of time and energy than someone no longer competing in HS or college, but doing it on their own for ‘fun’. I thus often make myself feel guilty or lazy when it comes to not hitting my pre-determined goals for the week. Is this normal?
This week was full of setbacks. From being hungover on Sunday and opting to lay in bed instead of running 12 miles, getting bad family news on Thursday and not having any ambition to run or get to the gym due to the massive snowfall, to my alarm clock not going off again on Friday morning, things did not go as planned.
But, I am proud that I remained flexible. Sunday’s long run is planned for this afternoon. I still got out the door on Monday to do 6 miles despite 6 degree weather. I took advantage of a slow workday on Wednesday to get out a bit early and do my tempo run on the treadmill before a 7:15 dinner reservation. I considered Thursday a ‘mental health’ day. I rushed to squeeze in 4.25 miles Friday morning despite my alarm not going off, and made up the remaining 5.75 I had planned after work.
So, I didn’t hit the 45 miles this week I had planned, but 42 is pretty darn close considering the ‘mishaps’.
At the end of the day, I have to remind myself that I am running for me and for fun! Sure, I get a bit obsessive at times but it’s only because I want to push myself to my full potential and know I am fully prepared going into my next Half-Marathon on 3/20. Sometimes you have perfect training weeks, and other times it’s less-than-average. But staying flexible and getting in the miles when and where you can will continue to keep it fun!
So, I’ll leave you with some pictures I took near my apartment on Thursday morning. NYC just can’t seem to get rid of the snow! It’s the snowiest January on record. Here’s to hoping February will melt the snow on the Bridle Path so I can get off the main drive in Central Park 
