I've debated writing this post and may regret my decision to publish it. But there is something i need to get off my chest.
Back when i started this blog, as many others before me, i had only a couple of readers. As i've grown the blog and gotten more involved in other running blogs, my readership has grown. We use the blog community as a means of support - support during our training, support during a race, support when things don't go our way.
I love the running blog community because of our encouragement. We are there for each other - there to offer words of praise, words of encouragement, words of support, and words to lift our spirits when things don't go as planned.
I am thankful to each and every one of you for your comments you leave me. You make me smile and you help me believe in myself. And that means so much to me and i hope my comments on your blogs do the same.
I had a disappointing race yesterday. I wasn't scared to post about it because i knew you would all be there with open arms and let me know that is ok to not be perfect. That we all have bad days.
I had a comment on my last post that made me cry. While the comment was somewhat in a roundabout way encouraging, she also made sure to point out that i did not train hard enough and did not deserve to run a good race yesterday.
While i appreciate this person's honesty, i obviously did not post about every single run i did this training period. But perhaps she was right. Perhaps i could have done better.
Maybe i'm being too sensitive, but this comment beat me up. And believe me, I am already doing a good job of beating myself up.
Now, i'm not saying that every comment has to be rays of sunshine, you know? But this was the third comment this person has left me that has made me doubt my ability as a runner.
Anyways.
Don't worry about commenting on this post - like i said, it was just something i wanted to get off my chest. My race recap may come later because i want to make sure i'm not in a funky mood when i write it.
Once again, thank you to all my readers - my blog community friends. You are the best.
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Oh my gosh, you ran a half marathon! That is a dang long way - just get in your car and drive for 13.1 miles! Most of the population will NEVER EVER do something like this - the fact that you not only did it, but did it more than once, is fantastic!
Don't let that commenter bring you down. Relish the experience, take what you need from it, and move on to the next race. I'm looking forward to hearing your recap and seeing your medal!
P.S. I found you through Skinny Runner. :)
I'm trying to help you to become the very best runner that YOU can possibly be. I don't care about your time or your speed. I care about your discipline and commitment to your chosen sport. I don't compare you to any other runner. I just read your blog, and I see where you can do BETTER. I don't for a minute doubt your ability as a runner, but I do doubt that you love running as much as you claim to. There are tons of other sports out there that can help you channel your inner athlete, lose weight, gain fitness - or whatever your goals are. Life is too short to spend it doing things that you really don't enjoy doing. Find what it is that you really love to do, and do THAT!
Finishing a half marathon is a great goal - especially for a 1st timer. But that wasn't your goal for this - your 2nd marathon. So, I'm not going to give you cliches and platitudes and pats on the back when you didn't put 100% effort into achieving that goal. I'm going to tell you what I think you need to hear to light a fire under you, to push you to give this sport YOUR very best effort,to help you reach YOUR goals!
You may hate me today, but the next time you are tempted to quit one mile into a scheduled long run, I hope you hear my voice in your head challenging you to find the will to put in the prep time and the miles. Read your old posts. Read how many times you blew off a run. If you had done a long run in the month leading up to the Half, I believe that you would have posted it. So, I'm left to assume that you didn't do your long runs. If you did, then I stand corrected, and I will apologize for it.
You ARE a runner. You already have the ability. You just have to channel the will and focus unrelentingly on your goals. That means you get the training in. Tell yourself that missed runs aren't acceptable. You can reschedule a run, but don't let yourself miss it. If the schedule calls for six miles, don't let the chatter in your head make you quit at mile one. Finish it. Get it done.
You absolutely can SHATTER your goal of finishing the Half Mary in under three hours. You absolutely WILL if you train and prepare properly for it.
My aim is not to beat you down. I am actually trying to build you up.
As General Patton said, "if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired. You've always got to make the mind take over and keep going."
Make a new shirt that says, "I love running. I love running. I love running. I love running." Let the mind run the body.
I really am rooting for your success, and for a sub 3:00 in Half Mary #3!
Run well!!!
My dear, love for you. Your post made me teary - remember, there is a whole community of us rooting for you, who YOU inspire and I know I am so grateful for your encouragement in my efforts. Hugs!
Mel,
Do not let a comment from someone who you have never met bring you down. While she might follow your blog she doesn’t know you. Since college you have really grown as an athlete. Remember how awful the Alzheimer WALK was? Granted we might have a had a few beers the night before - at that moment you never thought you would run a mile, let alone 13. Everyone skips workouts and everyone could always do better than what they did - shoulda coulda woulda. Did you read the article on that Cox dude who won the race? I mean, he WON and set a personal record and was still disappointed in his time. What you are feeling is natural, and healthy for progress. Your heart and soul is in it, I saw it first hand. You are a beautiful, driven runner who has come a long way since you started this sport. Nyna can give me a call and I will give her a new muse to pass judgment on. ☺
XO,
Kg
No ones knows more than you do how you trained for a race. They are not with you 24.7.
I want you to know that your comments always put a smile on my face. I really appreciate you as a reader and it makes me mad that someone made you feel bad.
Life will knock you down more times than you can imagine. Don't knock yourself down.
I think it is ok to be bummed about not running the race you wanted...even if it is because of training...which you and only you control. You paid the entry fee, you ran the race. So use it as a lesson learned, use the comment from your follower as motivation. Maybe you will hear her voice when your running. Use it to your advantage. Don't let it knock you down. I hope that while it upset you, it will make you want to train harder, run faster next time. It's okay if that makes her "right" in the end. You will be the winner! Chin up. Be proud. You aren't sitting on your couch eating bags of potato chips, you are committed to running 13 stinking miles and taking care of your body. Other than your running buddies or bloggies, how many people do you know that go out and run over 13 miles? Damn. I just burned the kids' cookies typing this. Now, I'm not liking her comments much either!
I also found you through Skinny Runner, and I have to say I am mighty impressed that you have two half marathons behind you. I am similar to you in that I run slowly and sometimes wonder if I should dare to consider myself a runner if I'm only doing 11-12 minute miles. Then I realize hell yeah, I'm a runner - and I keep going. I'm hoping to do my first half marathon this year and it's blogs like yours - ones that discuss the realities of training, that you won't always stick to your plan, that you can't always be giving it 100% because other parts of your life need some attention - blogs like this are a delight and truly motivational. So thank you for your honesty and being willing to share.
Hey girl i am in phx too.. 1mileatatime.com I was on Skinnyrunner with my bf yesterday (see pic on her site) we went to meet sr (again).
So what race are you doing next? I just did the pf changs, but this coming weekend I have another 9k set up.
sorry to hear about your horrid comment. You did an amazing job of finishing something that many people don't even attempt to do.
BE PROUD!
Check out my blog (that i havent done for 3 weeks :))
Just found your blog! Hate to see that someone was less than encouraging. there was some great quote the other day about..relying too much on what others think is like a bed of thorns. I know I totally misquoted that but you get the idea. I love this community of bloggers but we all have to be careful in letting words define you. You did great...13.1 is no easy feat and you did it!! Go girl!!
This made me sad. The fact that someone can chastise you on your accomplishment and dictate how hard you did or did not work. You are a runner, you are a winner, and you are an inspiration. Please don't let that get you down. Which I know is hard for you. You have the courage to put your story out there. Don't be discouraged by how fast or slow you are. Seriously hun, it's okay to have a bad day, and it's okay to cry. The important thing to do is to get back out there. It seems the commenter also said there's plenty of other sports, don't do something you don't enjoy. Um, hello- isn't that the beauty of being who we are, and especially in this country. We have the freedom to do whatever we please, and to never give up trying even if it kills us.
Nnya where do you think Tim Tebow (sorry to refer to a gator- I'm still a gator hator) would be if he had listened to everyone who said he wasn't this or that and that he couldn't do this or that? He wouldn't have won a heisman trophy that's what. He wouldn't have won a national title that's what. He wouldn't be in the NFL that's what.
Never give up. Do it because they say you can't. Because you think you can't. Do it for no damn reason at all. Obviously people think you're something or else they wouldn't keep coming back for more :)
i've been there. I once had a commented call me "an ignorant college student who knows nothing about what real life is about". funny because I've been thru my fair share of lives ups and downs in my 22 years but the comment really hurt my feelings and had me doubting everything i wanted to right. don't let it get to you. we love you ; )
Don't let that commenter get you down. She doesn't know you, she doesn't know about your life and what it's been like these past months. She's just being really judgmental, and she has no place telling you any of that.
Just know that although there are some people looking to get you down, there are still so many of us here supporting you and believing in you! Don't forget that! =)
WOW. Melissa, I can't believe someone would say that. I don't know if you know this person or not, but I hope you've forgotten about them already. Can you "unfriend" someone from a blog?!? Seriously. Geez, man. I'm totally stunned.
Well, anyway, I just wanted to tell you that your blog is incredibly inspirational to me and even though I didn't make it to my first half last summer (knee injury the week before - yes, AFTER I ran my 12 miles), I know it's still in my future one day. So, thanks for making me believe I can do it and congrats on your second half. You are a rockstar. :)
And congrats to Kathy and Corey too. So Sig Kaps!!
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