Rethinking a goal

So, my first goal of 2013 has fallen by the wayside. David and I had planned on running the Oakland Half Marathon on 3/24. However, it is already clear that that training goal is a bit too ambitious, for both of us. While we both could run the distance, it wouldn't be a good idea for either of us. David is looking to race, and knows he will not be able to build up the necessary training by then to race well, and not injure himself. As for me, I just have not logged enough miles to date, to be truly ready for a 1/2 marathon in a month.

Sometimes it's better to rethink a goal than to follow through. It's part of smart training. While you're working toward a goal race, in particular, constantly assess your progress. Have you done what is necessary, to date, to make that goal happen? If not, can you "catch up" with your training? The answer to that, closer you get to race day, is often no--just like you can't catch up on sleep. More miles in fewer weeks will not get you in shape for a race, but will more likely injure you or demoralize you when you don't meet your target. If that race is the Big One, maybe you'll run it anyway. If it isn't, consider if it's worth the risks.

Maybe you need to change your target time. Maybe you need to think of that race as a training run--and stick to the plan of running it at training, not race, pace. Then, pick a different race to meet that original target.

This isn't a way to let yourself off the hook. The key here is constantly assessing your training. Each week, or each day even, you can review your training and see if it is moving you forward as planned. If not, you should have enough time to change direction before it gets too close to your race, to come up with a new plan. If you are paying attention, hopefully that means you are getting your training in, and will indeed meet your goal. But if circumstances have really just aligned against that training, figure out a realistic plan B.

We are still signing up for Chicago, when registration opens on Tuesday. But we're also taking a step back--just how and when are we planning on getting those miles in? What has made it difficult to date? How can we better support each other in sticking to the plan? Between now and Tuesday we'll come up with some answers. And then, we need to find another half marathon for the spring.

In the meantime, I'm running the Oakland marathon as a relay, so will still get out there for a road race with that great marathon atmosphere.