Marathon Weekend 2024

SAFD: If I am in the middle of a training plan, I use the fact that it builds upon itself to motivate me. For example, maybe I am doing 10 miles today. Next week I'm scheduled to do 11. If I don't do the 10, then I won't be prepared next week for the 11, and my entire plan will be thrown off.

I am sure I have 100 other ways to motivate, but that is one of my most effective strategies.
 
SAFD: If I'm out for a run and it is going poorly, then somewhat counterintuitively, I give myself permission to quit. This can be liberating, and pretty much always has the effect that I finish the run--I can't ever recall walking it home. As a raging realist, I also realize that sometimes a specific type of run/workout just won't happen. Then it's a sort of a graduated scale of what to achieve with that run by modifying the pace/intensity/distance.

If I haven't started the run yet, but I'm just not feeling it, then I will re-jigger my schedule and swap one run for another, or re-arrange my rest days. Since it's not a regular occurrence, I don't worry about whether changing the schedule has a negative impact on training (and I'm past the days of caring about that anyway)
 
What do you do to stay motivated during a tough run?

SAFD: Not really something I do, but when motivation is waning this is where I have liked having a training coach. I don’t want to deal with the “hey, I see you cut that long run short, what happened there?” text and for me that’s usually enough to put my head down and grind it out.
 
SAFD: I tend to be fairly stubborn and single-minded. It's one of the things that makes running a good fit for me. What that means in practice is that when a run gets tough that stubbornness kicks in and I refuse to quit, putting my head down and powering through it. I'm out there to get something done and, by God, I'm going to get it done!

Today was a good example. It was my last long run before a race in two weeks, a 14 miler. It was steamy heading out the door with a temp of 78 and dew point of 75 (T+D=153). About 2 miles in, it started pouring rain, which kept up for about 15 minutes. Just long enough to soak and saturate everything. The sun came back out, then, pushing the humidity up further, and it stayed out for the rest of the run as all the clouds cleared. I felt like I had been marinated, broiled and then baked, but I got the run done.
 
SAFD: I've got certain songs that can usually give me some extra energy, or if I'm on the treadmill I'll start a show or movie that I know will suck me in and let me forget what my feet are doing.

And now that I've got one race season under my belt, I can say that this year I'm much more motivated by knowing how it feels to go into a race trained vs. undertrained (or injured or with a migraine... last year gave me so many experiences!). I know I'll feel better on race day, both physically and mentally, if I've done the training I need to do, so that's been very motivating lately.

Also, not for runs but just for life issues in general I've really gotten a lot of mileage out of "you ran a 10k with a migraine and basically no sleep, you can do this" and it turns out I usually can do whatever it is that's worrying me.
 
This is why I like doing my long runs with my running group--kinda hard to turn back when you've got the crowd effect going and everyone is dealing with the same awful humidity (love that "marinated, broiled and then baked.") That being said, if there's a reason it's turning into a tough run, then I weigh the issue vs. my training plan. Every run along the way is designed to get me to the next event (in my case, Richmond Marathon). So I am running for Richmond, not to complete today's run as originally conceived. That helped me yesterday when we were running a really hilly run and my hip was complaining loudly on the uphills. I walked up every steep hill, because aggravating a nearly recovered part of my body doesn't fit in with my plan for Richmond.
 
SAFD: I have a running playlist I use during my long runs and speed workouts. I always set it to shuffle so it's fun seeing what song will come on next. One run I was just ready to be done and the Pacific Rim theme came on and really pumped me up. The other day "Break My Stride" came on and that was a perfect running song. I also know the different routes in my neighborhood pretty well, so I can motivate myself by how much longer I have to go, how far I've gone, etc.
 
SAFD: if I think a run is going to be tough, like my under-trained virtual half yesterday, I like to do it on an out-and-back route so I only have to stay motivated enough to get to the halfway point—then, run, walk, or crawl, I’ll be getting my distance because it’s the only way to get back to my car.
Love this plan of attack. It's my mindset also. People always ask why I don't run on the treadmill at work but instead go outside in the heat and run. Because when you go outside and do an out and back, you have no choice but to finish your distance. If you are on the treadmill, it's too easy to just step off the machine.

SAFD: Usually if the run is starting to go south, I also try to break it up into sections/goals. I will pick geographical targets and only focus on getting to that target. Then once I get there, I set another one. It makes you feel like you are accomplishing immediate goals instead of looking at the run as this huge obstacle that is so far away.
 
SAFD: Out-and-back routes. Or, if things are really not great going into the run, shorter out-and-back loops so I can pull the plug on a run sooner if needed.

Two of my biggest motivators not already mentioned are:
-so I can REALLY trust my training on race day. and not have massive amounts of anxiety/nerves/whatever you want to call it, it's good mental training to "just get through" a lacking training run
-because someone took the time to write this training plan specifically for me



And for long runs, when in doubt, pour sugar on it. Just fuel a ton and let the sugar high carry you away.
 
SAFD: If I'm out for a run and it is going poorly, then somewhat counterintuitively, I give myself permission to quit. This can be liberating, and pretty much always has the effect that I finish the run--I can't ever recall walking it home. As a raging realist, I also realize that sometimes a specific type of run/workout just won't happen. Then it's a sort of a graduated scale of what to achieve with that run by modifying the pace/intensity/distance.

If I haven't started the run yet, but I'm just not feeling it, then I will re-jigger my schedule and swap one run for another, or re-arrange my rest days. Since it's not a regular occurrence, I don't worry about whether changing the schedule has a negative impact on training (and I'm past the days of caring about that anyway)
Good post.

Sometimes a run is miserable for the first mile or so, and then you settle in and it goes well. But every now and then, it just isn't there and it's time to fall back, regroup, and run another day.
 
SAFD: if I think a run is going to be tough, like my under-trained virtual half yesterday, I like to do it on an out-and-back route so I only have to stay motivated enough to get to the halfway point—then, run, walk, or crawl, I’ll be getting my distance because it’s the only way to get back to my car.

Yes, this! I will be using this strategy next weekend for my final 20 mile training run for Berlin.
 
SAFD: When runs are tough, I am one of those who remind myself that I'm fortunate to be able to run, as there are many who can't. I have also stopped beating myself up for taking walk breaks whenever I need them - my goal is just getting the miles in, no matter how long it takes. And getting thru a tough training run will only make you stronger and more prepared on race day!

The out-and-back long runs are a huge mental struggle for me - I much prefer to break the run up into segments and use my car as "home base" to refill my bottle or just wipe down with a towel mid-run. To each their own!
 
With the return on the Dining Plan (of course, after MW is over) and some tweaking of the park reservation system, do we think there's ANY chance of the 2pm park-hopping restriction going away? or getting moved to like noon?

I feel like it won't happen. But I want it to for reasons.
 
Yes, this! I will be using this strategy next weekend for my final 20 mile training run for Berlin.
Good luck at Berlin!! Are you going after all the Majors?
With the return on the Dining Plan (of course, after MW is over) and some tweaking of the park reservation system, do we think there's ANY chance of the 2pm park-hopping restriction going away? or getting moved to like noon?

I feel like it won't happen. But I want it to for reasons.
Ironically, I have never been interested in Park Hopping, but I see its merit. I think if we continue to see the trends of visitor numbers going down Disney is forced to entice us in other ways - more resort and ticket discounts, meal plan coming back, etc. Seems like shifting Park Hopper options could happen.
 

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