Burned out on my BQ?
I’m 5 weeks out from the western Pacific Marathon, which I am using as a BQ qualifier. I’ve never tried to qualify before. I’ve done a few marathons before the iron mans. But I thought to try this year to switch things up, and because I think I can do it. My mind, however, is not really on board when the going gets tough. Getting into the 18 mile training runs and around mile 16 or so my brain keeps saying: Why are you doing this? This isn’t any fun. It’s like I’m at our famous “line” and I don’t have my really really good reason... Deep down qualifying for Boston isn’t a huge life dream, which may be what’s holding me back. I’m also missing the bike a bit and don’t feel like I’m in good biking shape anymore, which makes me sad.
Thoughts anyone? Throw in the towel or grin and bear it?
Thoughts anyone? Throw in the towel or grin and bear it?
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My advice stems from two things you say..."I’m 5 weeks out from the western Pacific Marathon, which I am using as a BQ qualifier. I’ve never tried to qualify before....But I thought to try this year to switch things up, and because I think I can do it."
Number one, you told yourself you wanted to see if you could qualify, and you probably went into the project *knowing* that you could, if you just put the time and miles into it. Number two, there's only 5 weeks to go - you've done 85% of the work.
My reaction is, don't waste either your original motivation, nor the cumulative work you've done already. You have the physical gifts to get this done - not everyone who runs can say that. In the end, running past 500,000 people from Hopkington to Downtown Boston in the oldest continuous road race on the planet is a unique life experience (it's kinda like one long continuous finish line, in which you feel like a rock star for four hours), and you should not pass up the chance to do it...