Kicking Out Negative Thoughts

I went for a nice long run yesterday with Katye and Erin yesterday. I had 8 miles on my schedule, but we did 10. We took it easy, mostly because we haven't all run together in over 2 months. We ended up spending a lot of our "running" time walking instead so we could catch up. It worked out perfectly for me, though. My training schedule says that my long run miles should be between 12:57-14:29 (don't forget I'm a penguin. :)). Our run was just over an average pace of 14:29, so I don't feel guilty for walking so much. After our run, we got an Auntie Anne's pretzels. Seriously, there is nothing better in this world than a pretzel after a long run (ok... I lied. Cupcakes. Cupcakes are way better than a pretzel after a run. In fact, I promised the girls I'd bring some cupcakes from IcedGems on our next run date).

I realized over the past few days that I have less than a month before the National Half Marathon. And in typical me fashion, I'm a nervous wreck about this. It's not like I've never run a half before. This will be my third. This is the first time, however, that I have to finish in a certain time so I'm not swept up by the penguin-killing, slow runner race-ending wagon. At the Baltimore Half (my 2nd), I shaved over 20 minutes off my half time in less than 5 months, so I assumed I wouldn't have a problem taking 13 minutes off my half time to finish in the required 2 hours 30 minutes (although it seems the course will be open for 3 hours). The problem is I'm just not sure if I'm going to be able to run the entire race at an 11 min-11:30 min mile. I've been following my training schedule and keeping up with speed work and tempo work, but I worry whether or not it's enough. I did have to scale back for a week and a half a while ago due to runner's knee. I guess I'll just have to let go of this until the day of the race. Part of me says that I'll be fine; I'm doing everything I can to improve my race time. And I know I'll get out there on race day and do my best, and whatever that best time is, it is good enough. But there's another part of me that says this lingering hip/hamstring tightness is going to hurt my race time and that taking it easy on a long run is a bad idea (I fight with myself to keep at the recommended pace. I start to feel guilty that I'm not doing enough and need to go faster in order to really improve).

Like I said, I just need to let go off all the negative self talk and stay positive.

In that spirit, here's my training schedule for the week (and my plan is to rock it).

Today (Monday): stretching and strength training (I'm a day off my normal schedule because I did my long run Sunday instead of Saturday.) I was going to just jump back on my schedule, but I'm a little concerned about my right hamstring. It is SUPER tight and I feel it pulling my back out of whack. I'm just going to stretch it out and do a little strength training.

Tuesday: 4 miles pace

Wednesday: 45 min. tempo

Thursday: Should be a rest day, but I'm trying TRX at the gym for the first time and am super excited

Friday: 3 miles easy

Saturday: 9 miles

Sunday: strength training and stretching

Miles planned for the week: about 20

What do you do to stay positive and kick the negative thoughts out of your mind?