Have you ever set a goal for yourself? A really big goal? You give yourself lots of time to get there, but you know the goal is a big one and things could go wrong along the way?
Setting a Big Goal
That is the position we find ourselves in at the moment. We, being my wife Stefanie and I. Some time last year we decided to train for a half marathon. Actually, let’s back up a minute. In her wedding vows, Stefanie promised to train for a half marathon with me. At the time I was in the middle of a training block with a friend, which was going well. Unfortunately, COVID canceled that race and derailed my running altogether.
Training Journey
So here we are, Stefanie was heading into her 40th birthday, and she decided that training to complete a half marathon in her 40th year might be a good idea. My own cardio training was hit or miss, so the idea of having a goal to work towards was a welcome one.
My brother, David, has invited me to run the Tucson Half Marathon with him several times. The timing of the race, December 10th, felt like a decent amount of time to get us ready.
First order of business was to slowly build up our aerobic base. We have plenty of cardio options in our gym. Our usual workout routine includes 30 minutes sessions, Monday, Wednesday and Friday before work. We each choose a different Peloton machine and complete a class. With an actual race in mind, commitment to those morning sessions suddenly felt different. There were less days where I opted to just slowly pedal on the bike. Instead I chose Power Zone endurance rides to make sure I was getting in some good Zone 2 cardio.
We also started adding in longer sessions on the weekend. In the beginning I did what I called a Peloton triathlon. I would do a mix of the rower, the tread and the bike. The goal was to slowly increase the amount of total time, always at a slow and steady pace.
Because we were going after this race goal from a less than solid aerobic base, the plan was always to do a run/walk. The goal was to increase the run segment and decrease the walks over time. We started at one minute running to three minutes of walking.
Challenges and Adaptations
So, why did I start this article saying the goal we set may have been too big? Unfortunately, a nagging knee injury is proving to be too stubborn. Our longest training session so far has been 8 miles. Right around mile 5 of that run/walk, Stefanie’s knee started bothering her more than usual. Ice and rest after the run did not bring the usual relief. We had to seriously consider the fact that the best choice might be for her to not attempt the race.
That is obviously a very difficult decision after putting in so much time and energy. When considering the options we had to take a step back and look at the big picture. Obviously her long term health is the most important part. Continuing to try to run on the knee was not a viable option. However, we did still want to complete a race together. And this one is going to be a beautiful option.
So, we decided to pivot. Instead of the run/walk we were planning, we are going to walk the race. This weekend is our first double digit training session. The ten miler should give us a good indicator of if Stefanie’s knee will be able to hold up if we stick to walking.
Lessons from the Journey
Even though the race is not going to go the way we thought, I do not regret signing up for it or the process of training for it. Having a big goal to work towards has provided me with more dedication to my training than I have had in a long time. I viewed each workout, not as something to check off a list, but as a brick being laid. Brick by brick we are building up our fitness foundation. Through this training I have found a renewed interest and love for running. While this race was likely more than I should have bitten off right now, it has motivated me to continue to work on my running, albeit at a much lower and slower scale than I have been lately.
Looking to the Future
A goal I have had for a long time is to get my easy run pace down to a 10 minute mile. Our current run/walk pace was around 16 minutes/mile. That meant that as these training runs increased in distance, the time investment did as well. Once this race is done I will be returning to a much lower volume of cardio training with the goal of increasing my run pace. The first step along the way will be to get back to being able to run continuously so I don’t have to rely on a run/walk method. Stay tuned for an update about the race and for more on my running journey.
Take Aways:
- Don’t be afraid to set big goals: Even if goals don’t go as planned, the process can be incredibly valuable.
- Don’t be afraid to pivot: Instead of throwing in the towel, see if you can find a different way to get there.
- Just keep going!
