Half-Marathon Training Update | Don't Be So Hard on Yourself

** This post with my half-marathon training update contains affiliate links. I make a small commission for purchases through these links.

Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless Headphones, Garmin vivosmart HR, gray capri leggings (old) and Yogo Athletica top (found at Marshalls)

I had planned to run a half marathon yesterday.

If you’ve read this blog recently, you might remember seeing four half-marathon training updates and reflections. After a late start, I was finally on track and preparing for the Chicago Spring Half Marathon on May 21. I was able to do all my midweek workouts throughout training, but the long runs seemed impossible to complete.

I was trying to do everything: Freelance writing, working full-time, being a full-time work-from-home mom with little help, editing YouTube videos, planning a third birthday party — the list goes on. I found myself worn out and constantly stressed. I would write my running schedule in my planner, schedule a sitter and set aside the time, but then life kept disrupting my plans. One weekend I could not schedule a sitter because it was Easter and they were busy or booked. The gym with daycare was closed and Graham worked late. The next weekend I planned to run in Phoenix before Victoria’s birthday party, but I spent the entire time with the worst sinus infection of my life. (I powered through the party.) The next weekend I planned to complete my long run of 10 miles (I at least wanted to do that before the race.), but then a fire at our apartment building caused a power outage that lasted three days. I didn’t feel right keeping Victoria in the apartment with no electricity, even with a sitter, so I took her to the zoo instead and we spent most of the weekend at my friend’s house. By the next weekend I just knew: Yes, I can complete this race with little training, but I don’t want to half-ass it. It’s not who I am.

This experience reminded of something: You can do anything but not everything. With that in mind, I decided to defer my race entry to 2018. I am already signed up for the Chicago Fall Half Marathon in September, so that will be my next race.

As soon as I gave myself a break, I noticed a difference in my motivation and how I feel about my body. I have run almost every day since, either on the treadmill or outdoors. I actually want to work out and run. I am not stressed about planning my workouts; I just fit them in when I can. I feel excited to start PROPERLY training for my race in the fall.

Here’s what I plan to do differently:

Interview more sitters to have more backup options when one cancels or isn’t available.
Use the gym with daycare more and cancel other memberships.
Sign up for group half-marathon training with the coaches who prepared me for the Chicago Marathon. It starts June 21 and I can’t wait!
Go to at least one group run per month.
When life gets in the way of running, practice more yoga.
Focus on one thing at a time. If I know I have a big running week, I’m not going to make a bunch of social plans or to try to freelance write/blog.
Take Victoria on short jogs in the running stroller.
Use my apartment building’s treadmill to run after Victoria goes to bed, if all else fails.
Re-evaluate my why. The reason I want to do another half is to meet or improve my race time, show myself I can still be a runner while being a mom, and set a good example for Victoria. It’s also my moving motivation, or at least it was when it didn’t feel like a chore. I want to get back to thinking of running and working out as a joy.

While post centers on my struggles with fitting my running goals in with my busy mom and career life, I hope you can take away some lessons from this.

Single tasking is better than multitasking.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s easy to compare ourselves with social media fitness gurus, but you have to remember fitness is a full-time job for most of them. Yes, they can fit workouts in because that’s what they do for a living. A typical person often has to plan carefully to make sure he or she can work out/do whatever it is he or she loves.
You are stronger than you think.
Get creative to fit in your fitness. (I plan to share tips I learn along the way.)
Plan, but go with the flow when it’s disrupted.
Incorporate your child/family/friends into your workouts. (Read about our toddler and mom yoga class.)