Nothing is ever a perfect fit for everyone. Nothing. Just because something suits one person doesn’t mean it will work for someone else. That’s just life. No two people are exactly the same…and that means not everything will work the same for every body.
And that, my friends…is only the beginning of the changes that have been spinning through my life.
Let’s start with the biggie…
In a time where everyday runners…and weekend warriors are seeking out help through means of a coach…my coach and I have parted ways.
It was a mutual thing…in the end. I was extremely unhappy with the way her plan had me running and the lack of mileage that I was putting into my training. Running for time instead of distance is not something I enjoy doing. When I marathon train, I want my 20 mile runs so I know…I can get there and then…hit that last 10K. And I just wasn’t anywhere near that. Halfway through training and I never once got over 13 miles. And it was eating at me. And the volume and length of the speed work days was overwhelming…where I’d have to get up at 2:30 am just to fit it in and, honestly, every Sunday night, I’d end up in tears over it. And no training plan is worth that sort of misery and unhappiness. I’m not an elite athlete…I don’t win cash prizes for running…I’m not a sponsored athlete…I run because I enjoy it. Because it’s fun. And it wasn’t fun anymore. And I wasn’t enjoying it. It was stressing me out more than it was helping me to decompress. And that means…it’s totally upside down.
I value what I learned from her in the years I had her as my coach, and while I respect that the plan she had me on got her the BQ she really wanted…it wasn’t working for me. My body wasn’t reacting well to it. I wasn’t getting better with it. In fact, I felt it was only breaking down the progress I had made prior to starting it.
And so…she called me…and we decided it was better for both of us…to just be friends.
It’s so much better now.
So…where does this leave me with my training? That’s a very, very good question. This was NOT an easy transition to make. And I’m still adjusting while trying to convince myself that I’m not too far behind on my fall marathon training. That fall marathon is coming up fast and I’m still just…uneasy over it all. I feel unprepared, undertrained, and just…lost sometimes.
My roommate had me dig out my first ever training plan for the marathon distance, from 2013, when I was training for Chicago. She made a few adjustments to it, loaded it up on my Google Calendar…and that’s it. That’s what I got for the next 7.5 weeks. No pace requirements (although I’m focusing on keeping those long runs at a slower pace to not break down my body and also…to get me used to long periods of time on my feet). I do the speed sessions, which are broken down into intervals I believe I can nail and not stress over. I just go and do it…and whatever is my best that day is what I can give. And without the stress…I usually do better than anticipated. As for long runs…my roommate gives me only one bit of advice…
HAHA. Well…sort of. Basically this schedule was worked up to help me grow in confidence, in endurance, and, eventually, in speed. So…her advice is always…just go run. However I feel.
And my only goal at the moment is to get through it all…uninjured. Because when I’m usually working on this sport alone…that’s what happens.
So…fingers crossed.
The Celiathlete 
I’m glad you are doing what you feel is right! Hang in there and your plan sounds like a good one.
Don’t break your body down too much or you’ll just get injured again.
Change is hard but it sounds like you made a good decision. I am glad you are moving forward with a plan that can work for you! We are rooting for you!
Its so not worth it if you’re miserable. Glad you parted on an agreement between both of you.
You know what to do… use that plan you’ve got downloaded & see how it works – heck, watch YOU become a Coach after all this 😉 It could happen!!! 🙂