The consistency of running contributes to growth, but it can also make growth so surprising when we suddenly realize how much we’ve progressed. When recording this week in my training log, I was genuinely surprised at growth I’ve made in areas of weakness, including speed and strength.
I sometimes doubt my own abilities, and over the past year or so, I’ve worked really hard on removing self-doubt from my running. I used to look at my training log and, despite seeing the pattern of my own workouts think, there’s no way I could run x pace for y distance. That’s the pace that fast people run, not me. While doubt never struck on race day itself, it would sneak in before, tempering my goals.
5K training has been an exercise in growth and removing self-doubt, especially since I’ve considered 5K speed to be an area of weakness for my running. Recently, my workouts have shown paces that I used to think beyond my abilities. If I let self-doubt sneak up, I begin to wonder if my Garmin is broken. Over the past few months, I’ve been working hard to change my mindset with running. I detach myself emotionally from goal finish times or workout paces and I focus on the challenge, the process, and the growth – the parts I enjoy.
This week of training was affirming. I enjoyed my workouts by their own virtue and I was really pleased with the results.
Monday: 7 mile tempo run
I am probably enjoying these Monday morning tempo runs too much. They’re simple to do straight from my front door and the confidence boost powers me through a Monday. After doing the same workout the past couple weeks, I added a slight twist to this tempo run. I began at half marathon effort for the first mile and worked down to 10K effort for the final mile: 7:12, 7:09, 6:54. I was really excited to see a mile starting with a 6:xx on a tempo-effort workout!
Tuesday: 7 mile easy run & Pilates
Charlie spent this week on required rest, due to a soft tissue problem in his mid-back and a double ear infection. Instead of splitting the run up between the dogs, I took Ollie on a 7 mile run. This actually made it even easier for Charlie to rest, since Ollie was tired enough to leave Charlie alone.
In the evening, I did my go-to 17-minute Pilates workout. Nothing too challenging, just a good core and hip strengthening session.
Wednesday: 6 x 1/2 mile at 5K pace (7 miles)
This workout genuinely surprised me. My legs did not feel super fresh upon waking and I briefly considered moving the workout to another day. Oh, and it was cold and raining. I took this workout one interval at a time, lapping around a half-mile loop which made the intervals mentally manageable. My first interval clocked in at 3:15 – a 6:30/mile pace – and felt comfortable. My initial thought was “I can’t sustain that for the rest of the workout” but I suppressed that thought and just focused on one interval at a time, alternating directions around the loop. Each of the remaining intervals clocked in at 3:16-3:19 (6:32-6:38/mile).
Thursday: Rest Day
Friday: 8 mile run
The weather was beautiful on Friday morning – sunny and in the 50s. Ollie and I enjoyed an 8 mile run along one of our favorite trails. I felt good and could have done a few extra miles, but I didn’t want to push Ollie too hard. We stopped a couple times at water bowls left out by local businesses (thank you to those who do this!) so that Ollie could stay hydrated with the sun beating down on his black coat.
Saturday: 3 miles on the trail & strength training
Ryan and I met up with a friend for a trail run at a local state park. We climbed 510 feet of elevation gain within those three miles, with about 400 feet within just a 1/2 mile stretch in the middle.
After our run, Ryan and I went to the gym for a short lifting session. I did kettlebell swings, barbell squats, barbell deadlifts, TRX rows, and hanging leg raises. I was super proud of my weight on the deadlifts – 95 lb for 3 sets of 8, which may not seem like a lot, but it’s progress for me.
Sunday: 4 mile hike
After calling parents for Father’s Day, Ryan and I headed out on a hike. The dogs stayed out home because of Charlie’s required rest. We hiked at Fragrance Lake up North along the Puget Sound. The hike was short and moderate, but if felt good to get out in the wilderness.
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Where have you noticed growth recently?
Do you struggle with doubt in your training?
14 Responses
It sounds like you have made a lot of progress lately! I definitely struggle with self-doubt in my training and it doesn’t help that my training has pretty much plateaued over the past 2 years as I dealt with injury. When I do finally decide to start training again its definitely going to need to be something I work on.
Injury makes dealing with self-doubt even more difficult, even when you know you are doing the right things to overcome and then prevent injury!
First of all – all my love to Charlie for a speedy recovery!!!
Second, I love that you are overcoming those thoughts and doubts we all have about what we are capable of! I think most runners struggle though this at some point but the number do not lie. Those tempo speeds are impressive and I think you’re going to surprise yourself over the next few months my friend!
And that hike view? Stunning!
Thank you! The rest and medicine worked – he’s all cleared for activity and so playful now that he feels better!
Hope Charlie is doing better already! I have lots of doubts about my running. Every single run. Will I be able to run that fast? Will I be able to run that long? But then I start going and those thoughts fade away. Or at least for the most part.
Running can be its own form of catharsis for self-doubt, definitely. And thank you – Charlie is all better now!
Self-doubt has always been a struggle for me. In the past, it was about confidence. Now it’s about fighting the aging process.
Hope your pup is on the mend?
Thank you! He is all better – was cleared by the vet to resume normal activity!
that’s so great that you are seeing such incredible progress!! and I love being able to just step outside my front door and go. makes things so easy and one of the main reasons I think I love to run.
I agree – running is so convenient, compared to having to go to a gym or a class.
Tiring Ollie out on a run is a great idea for keeping Charlie quiet and resting! I hope Charlie is doing well. Running becomes so difficult for me when it’s hot and extremely humidity. It is humbling and always a struggle to accept — which leads to doubt that I will be able to find my faster paces when the weather cools. Thanks for linking!
Thank you! Charlie was cleared by the vet and is all better now, thanks to rest and medicine.
I love this, Laura! Great advice about ignoring the mind and watch and just running and letting it be what it is… it’s so exciting to see you get so much stronger over the last few years!
Thank you! It’s been so exciting and inspiring watching you – your progress in the half and marathon has really inspired me to work!