One year ago in October 2012 I started training for my first half marathon in gorgeous Sedona. It was also about a 20 week training and my training program was probably a little too advanced for me. I was burnt out towards the end of my training and even started to dread running. I remember one night I was going on an 8 mile run and I stopped around mile 3, called my boyfriend, and started crying. I physically could not run anymore. I hated what running had become. I am almost ashamed to say it, but I even played with the thought of quitting. Not running the race at all. I think the only reason I picked myself up and did it anyway was because I had so many people supporting me. I was OK with letting myself down, but I couldn't let everyone else down. I'm so glad I ran it because while I was on the course I thought to myself, "What was I getting so worked up over? It's just running! It's exactly what I've been doing for over a year!"
This time around, I am keeping that thought in the front of my head at all times. There's no reason for me to get worked up over anything and freak out. All I need to do is run and I'll be ok. And since it's my first race, being a tad slow won't be too bad because it'll be that much easier to get a wicked awesome PR at my next marathon!
