After my goal marathon was canceled in January, I straight up slacked off. I had trained hard and smart, dropped to proper racing weight, and really looked forward to the finale of the road running season.
So it was a bit of a letdown, and I told myself that it was okay to take it easy, AKA, I got lazy.
There were real-world responsibilities as well, so running and exercising weren’t at the top of my priorities.
A few weeks ago, I began running with a more structured schedule again. Restarting is always tough. It’s always alarming how little time it takes to lose fitness. What was once my marathon pace earlier in the year felt like high-intensity training.
The good news, as I’ve found out the last few days, is that it’s much easier to get back to where I was this time than it was last time. The fitness progress I had made wasn’t completely lost. I just had to get back at it.
Did I take a step back during the hiatus?
Yes. But the important thing is, I’m here and ready to run again.
It’s the end of March. How are you doing with your New Year resolutions? Are you experiencing a setback?
It’s okay. Cut yourself some slack. Obstacles are part of the process. The important thing is, you’re here, and you’re ready to pick up where you left off. You will make it up in no time.
Moving your body is just one part of the health equation. The other part is eating well so you can move well. Here’s a complete guide to fueling your workouts, daily nutrition and race day.
