u/mymealpreps

I'm training for my half next month, and whenever I've done one of the longer runs I always just wonder how you all do it. Specifically, running through the niggles like it's normal and expected.

I know the generic answer is strength training/mobility/nutrition etc, but I don't think I'm all that comfortable with the thought that I'm overexerting my joints that I can sometimes feel the minor niggles that come and go at the middle/beginning/end/the day after my long runs, which I understand is the "nature" of these long distance races and you WILL feel better after resting, but how do you just mentally accept that you're going to experience a little bit of pain during the run itself? It feels like sometimes I'm ruining my body for the sake of fitness, and not for actual health (Do we really need to do a full marathon to prove we are a healthy? When doing 5ks multiple times a week, maybe a maximum 10km is often more than enough to take care of your cardiovascular health)

I'm asking this because it's been holding me back from doing a full. I think I'm able to get away from not exerting too much stress on my body for my half training as I only run 3 days a week, the other 2-3 days are for strength training which (for me) provides the right balance in maintaining my bone health while building endurance. The idea of having to multiply this current load while probably not letting my body have adequate time to rest feels a bit 'cruel' to my joints. (Also I'm pretty sure I'm hypermobile, I don't think I can run without a proper leg session so I need to strength train!)

Appreciate any thoughts to this.

i'm 6 weeks left to my half-marathon and i just did my longest run which completely wiped me out. that was the first run where i was moving my legs nonstop for 2 hours, and 6 hours later im still in bed, too tired to do anything but still too alert to really have a nap.

in reality i was planning to spend the rest of the evening doing my other hobbies instead so this was lowk disappointing since i thought the energy would come back by now after a shower, 2 meals and a foam roll session (to give myself grace though, i had food poisoning an hour before my run. had to take a few sips of electrolytes and i did feel more dehydrated at the start)

and i'm just here thinking... i spent my entire day just trying to recover from my run + food poison, i'm too fatigued to do anything else. ofc running takes up most of my personality now. if i don't run, i strength train to prevent injuries, i do yoga to loosen up my body and even my training dictates how i eat. it's a lifestyle for sure.

i guess this post is just more of a reality check moment for me that i probably will never be a full marathon runner and that's okay. i'm already shivering at the thought of doing more 2hr+ runs before my half, at how i'll basically dedicate my entire morning just for those sessions. i love doing other things besides running. i love my journalling, my lifts (upper body which i tend to neglect during peak mileage), my reading, my writing, my tv shows and having more energy to do other things in general.

despite the complaints, this is still a season for me to remember. a season where i am capable of being disciplined enough to reach a goal, to celebrate every run (esp the ones i have to wake up early for and the runs after work). i'll look back at this moment fondly a few years from now.

to clarify, i still use reddit and youtube!

for me is realising that i do have the time (metaphorically and literally).

literally, i thought having 2/3 hobbies on my plate was already time-consuming, but now that i've made a conscious effort to reduce my screen time, it turns out i CAN include more. my life feels more rich now because i'm not as easily bored as i was anymore. tired of reading? let me journal instead. have a much longer free time? will probably paint.

metaphorically, i was never behind. i do have time! i can focus on my dreams, careers, and relationship without feeling something is lacking compared to when i had instagram and i was always exposed to people's highlights. i am no longer interested in joining a full marathon and would rather stick to my half, as it just hit me how much they glamorised or really gave me the impression that everyone is doing it. when in reality, i can just run for the sake of it. i don't need to "prove" myself i'm a runner because i did a full marathon.

even as a heavy social media user, i did have a few interests like lifting and running (i'm training for my half!), i also read and occasionally write online with some poetry.

now that i've left though, i have more space to journal (which is such a great alternative to replace instagram, my biggest challenge leaving was not knowing where to document my life since the app was my go-to). i also have a separate media book where i review shows/songs/ movies etc i consume and on slower days i'll paint (which is something i, someone who is mid at art, never thought i would do!). now it feels like all my hobbies are competing against each other for my time!

what about you?

one of my favorite youtuber (revealed she's training for her first ironman triathlon this september (i think?) when the first time i followed her fitness journey a year ago, she only just had her marathon debut. since then, she's been updating her trainings etc, so i started looking at this sub too and i'm just impressed how you all can do it.

now, i am not dismissing her hard work in any way possible, but she makes videos for a living and she lives with her mom, so her 9-5 is really just her filming her trainings which is STILL hard work and she does more than i can ever do.

but most of you have a partner and family you're obligated to spend time with, a job you spend almost 8 hours in a day sitting down, and maybe you don't have the same resources as her as well (she's pretty rich). i'm right here training for a half-marathon (not even a full) and some days i just.. don't enjoy my training because life happens.

all i'm saying is that y'all are a different type of beast. keep inspiring people!