I remember the days (many years ago) when I first started running. I would head out for a run, run however I felt, and as my fitness improved, I would go longer and faster. Running shorter races in those early days led to longer races, up to my favorite, the marathon. Hal Higdon’s programs provided me with the guidance I needed to complete my marathon training and subsequent marathons.
Now, it’s all about the science, which, to me, has made running seem much more complicated. 80/20 rules! Pace zones! Cadence! Stride! Running form! Arm swing! And so much more. I used to run all my workouts in the same pair of running shoes back in the day. Now, I need a shoe for easy runs, a different one for speed work, a more cushioned shoe for long runs, and a super-shoe for the race. There is some validity with all the science, of course, but maybe common sense wouldn’t be a bad plan either.
Maybe I overthink all this science and make it more complicated than it needs to be. Whatever is happening, I think I’m simply burned out from running. I have been consistently training for one marathon or another over the last 2.5 years. And even before that, I was trying to build a strong base. I am grateful to have run for that long without injury, but I can’t help but think that some of the “science” is slowing me down. I have built up to 30-40 miles per week, yet I am not any faster, and my marathon time is proof that something isn’t working quite right for me. Something has to change.
But what? During my last marathon training session, I gained weight, which certainly won’t (and didn’t) help me run faster, naturally. Running 80% of training runs at such a slow pace takes longer. I am always hungry. Perhaps I need to reevaluate my diet and ensure that I am getting more high-quality nutrition. I do have my junk food moments, but for the most part, I eat pretty healthy. Maybe healthy doesn’t always mean the right fuel for the run. Maybe… just maybe… I don’t need most of my runs to take 1.5-3 hours to complete. That alone is exhausting.
I’m not sure what the answer is, but I’ve taken a break from running to give myself some time to rest, recover, and sort things out. I was working with a coach who has helped tremendously in my getting back to marathon training. However, I honestly feel that she has kept me in a specific category of runners, so to speak, and doesn’t take the time to evaluate my progress and adjust my training to continue to improve or give me enough guidance to get out of this slow-running slump. So, I feel stuck in the same type of runs, whether it be easy runs, speed work, or long runs, week after week after week.
I have wanted to run more than four days a week to improve my marathon times, but my coach didn’t think that was a good idea due to my history of injuries. I believe my injuries resulted from running too many of my runs too fast, and now I know that isn’t the best training plan. However, plodding along at such a slow pace 80% of the time is killing me. And keep in mind, I am only running 4 days a week, so do 80% of those runs really need to be at an easy (slow) pace? Because I run four days a week, my runs are all between 7 and 8 miles, and the long run has recently been between 15 and 17 miles. I think running at least 5 days a week could break some of that up. Plus, I believe I could build more volume and be more successful at the marathon distance.
Perhaps I’m not burned out, but rather bored with my routine. And feeling like it isn’t getting me anywhere doesn’t help. I will take some time off, however long it takes, and see what happens. Hopefully, I will be back to running soon.
