It’s race week and Sunday is the 3M Half Marathon in Austin, Texas. With only a few days left to go, I ask myself a few questions. Am I ready? Will I be able run the race? Any chance of a PR? The answer is no. By no means am I ready to run Sunday, I honestly don’t know if I’ll even be able to finish the race. After my two weeks required off from running in early December, I never really got back into my training. I was scared of hurting my rib cage again, and honestly I was burnt out. I was mentally done with running for the year. I had trained non stop for the last 12 months and my passion for the sport was quickly fading.
I thought I’d pick up my training again when I had 11 days off around the holidays. I didn’t. Instead I took time to visit with friends and family and finally give myself a few days to relax, reboot and get ready for the new year. Shortly before vacation was over, we finally got a pass at the local rec center. Bikes, treadmills, ellipticals and an indoor track were at my disposal every day. Here it is, just a few days before the race and I haven’t put that much effort into picking up my training. I’ve run a few times, always with shorter mileage, but never pushed myself into a long run. I never felt that urge until this weekend.
So what do I expect as I had down to Austin? Do I pull a DNS? No, I’m going to start and give it my all. If I learned anything last year, it was that somehow my body just knows running. It’s what I’ve been doing my entire life. I may be out of shape, and my training runs have been non existent, but I’m still a runner, and my body can still pull through. I’m not expecting a PR, but I know that I will be disappointed regardless. I let my training go and it will surely show as I step to the line on Sunday.
But with every disappointment, there is a silver lining. I know that I still have that love for running, and sometimes you just need to let it be for a while and realize how true that feeling is. What I’m most excited for is seeing friends and exploring the beautiful city of Austin. I’m in this weekend for the experience, not for redemption on my training.
If you want to follow some true rock stars on race day check out our 3M team:
Masher Runs 
Very nice, Chelsea. Even though I’m your grandmother and not a runner your feelings and thinking came through very clear. Whatever this weekend’s outcome be proud of yourself. You were burned out and your body told you. So now you’ve come to your choices. Are you ready yet or are you trying to convince yourself you are? Go try BUT have fun at it. No big deal if you’re not ready, but don’t live in fear of being hurt again or it will become a nagging thought. Forget your PR for once and do what you need to do, or not. But that isn’t the first consideration back after an injury. For once forget your PR and forget your injury. Your body will tell you, not you it?
Go out there and have a great time, Chels! Love ya!
Mentality can get you so far in a race.. at the same time… make it to the start line and let your heart decide the rest.
(also, I love that your grandmother comments on your blog.. that is awesome!)
Super excited for this weekend – we are going to have a great time!