Sunday, December 6, 2009

Marathons, Motivation, and The Next Big Race

"It's hard to run when it's no longer fun!" Those are the infamous words I was left with this past week when I asked a long time buddy of mine when I haven't seen him running since the NYC marathon a month ago. I wanted so much to yell, to scream, to badger, and harass him about his blasphemous statement, but inwardly I kind of understood what he meant. After the big race is done and the only people left on the park roads and trails are those who haven't yet run their target fall race or out walking their dogs, it is hard to find the motivation to keep putting on the miles everyday. After all, I know that he know that the only reason I'm even inquiring about the status of his running is because I still have a 26.2 mile race coming up before I can call it quits and join the masses for some winter hibernation.
In case you haven't heard, I'm running a marathon next weekend in Hawaii. But unlike the previous two marathons I've done this year, I'm running this one strictly for fun. I'm considering this race more as a scenic running tour through the streets of Honolulu than as a race for time. In a few days, I'll be on vacation and the last thing I want to do while on vacation is stress about running and racing. (Besides, don't I do that enough when I'm at home?) Still, this doesn't mean I won't try to run my best given the circumstances. It just means I've already forgiven myself for not keeping up the endurance training post-NYCM (using only short and long races as speed and tempo work substitutes). It also means that I won't be looking at my splits at the end of every mile and trying to solve complex algebraic equations with three variables in my head in order to figure out where I should be and what pace I should be running for every single mile. It's been a long time since I've been able to run a marathon without that kind of pressure. For this one, I want to run just for the sake of running and have fun and not care about hitting a wall because I'm running too fast or recording a personal worst because I'm running too slow. Time won't mean that much to me in this race. All I want at the end of this race is to be able to wear a medal around my neck, run to the beach and jump right in the water. I've been wrapped in plenty of mylar blankets after marathons but never by seeweed and ocean water. This should make for a very interesting experience.
Congrats to all my bloggy friends who kicked major booty in C.I.M. today! It looks like more than a few will be coming with me to Boston in 2011! Wahoo! Hope all of you are enjoying the last month of 2009 and making grand plans for 2010.

22 comments:

Croughwell said...

Honolulu will be my first marathon!! have fun!

joyRuN said...

What?! You can run without a time goal??

Kidding!

Sounds heavenly, Lam. Have a great time in Hawaii, & enjoy your post-race dip in the Pacific.

Anonymous said...

hawaii! sounds like it'll be fun -- both in the marathon and enjoying the weather and other awesome stuff :)

going to go surfing?!

JohnnyGo said...

Careful -- if you relax too much, you might end up with a PR ;-)

Jen Feeny said...

The only way I'm believing this post is if you run without your Garmin. There it is. I challenge you to run this race without your Garmin!!! :P

I tease, I tease...

Good luck but more importantly HAVE FUN & take LOTS of pics for us!!!

I totally thought of you at my 5k this weekend when I saw 6:37 across my Garmin, I was like, I'm totally channeling my inner Lam! LOL! :)

C said...

You're going to have the best time. Have fun and hug a palm tree for me! :)

Midwest said...

This is excellent new for those of us secretly plotting a Lam/FL wedding.

Running and living said...

Glad you are going to Honolulu. FL is going a bit crazy there with her weekend 40-60 miles. Did you tell her she does not have to run this much for a marathon?
I am just getting back into base running after being sick and I have zero motivation. It will come, though, it always does!

Aron said...

that will be so much fun! i love having no pressure races :) i love the pressure ones too, at least when they go well hehe.

BOSTON 2011!!!!

Anonymous said...

Have fun in Hawaii! I'm so jealous!

Thanks for all your helpful comments-- it means a lot knowing that you get it and have run lots of marathons-- some great and some (in your eyes) not as successful. I guess that's what keeps us coming back for more, huh?

RunMishiRun said...

Enjoy HI and your run! It's beautiful there. You may never come back!

Anonymous said...

I hope you have fun racing! (I'm not so good at "racing for fun" so let me know how that goes...and how it's done :) )

NY Wolve said...

The post marathon motivation is hard. I am jealous you still have your mojo. And a trip to Hawaii...awesome,

Susan said...

A fun, relaxed run for Lam?? I'll believe it when I see it! Have an awesome time in Hawaii...I'm definitely jealous!

runner26 said...

have so much fun in Hawaii!!

X-Country2 said...

Jealous, party of one!

Nicole said...

have fun in hawaii! :)

Felice Devine said...

Betsy's comment totally cracked me up.

Have lots and lots of fun in Hawaii. Enjoy the run!!

Irish Cream said...

Yay for your vacation and attempt at a "fun" marathon! Ha, I think I'm also going to have to agree with Morgan--no Garmin allowed! :)

Have fun, Lam!!

Julie @ HotlegsRunner said...

have fun and enjoy your marathon in Hawaii =)

Jamie said...

Have a great vacation and enjoy that marathon!

sRod said...

Hope your vacation went well!

I'm trying to talk myself into running a Marathon for fun. No luck so far.

 
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