Is it time to panic yet?
Seven weeks until the 2012 San Jose Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon.
Eight weeks until the 2012 NWM (Nike Women’s Marathon).
Is it time to panic yet? Let’s see.
- Did you already sign up for the San Jose Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-marathon? or Have you been informed that you made it in the lottery for the NWM?
- Have you already made your travel arrangements?
- Have you already made your hotel reservations?
- Have you already requested time off from work (if you’re traveling and/or staying extra days in or around the race location)?
- Have you been following your training plan?
- If you answered no to #5, have you at least been running regularly?
- If you answered no to #6, have you at least been running a couple of times each week?
- If you answered no to #7, have you run at least once in the last couple of weeks?
If you answered no to the last four questions, it’s time to panic just a little bit. Sure, sheer guts and determination can take you to the finish line of a 5k or a 10k. But you don’t want to mess around with a half-marathon and especially not with a marathon. Those are distances you need to respect – unless you’ve run them several times before.
The good news is that you still have seven or eight weeks before the race. If you haven’t stuck to your training schedule, let go of expectations of a PR or winning your age group or running with your speedy friends. If you haven’t been running regularly, let go of wanting or needing to run the entire distance and allow yourself the sanity of walk breaks.
You can still show up on race day and have a great time. The key is to adjust your expectations and adjust your training schedule. The last thing you want to do now is to over-train and injure yourself.
As for me, I’m not in panic mode yet. My long run on Saturday was a bit over 10 miles. The training plan said 12 miles but I had technical difficulties with the treadmill so 10 miles was perfectly fine.
Happy Running!
Confessions of a Treadmill Runner 