Running with Purpose: What’s next?
You train your heart out for a race. You set big goals and do everything within your control to achieve them. You spend countless hours pounding the pavement (or in the pool or on your bike). You’ve made sacrifices (which generally affect the people you love the most). You’ve logged a lot of miles, done many loads of laundry and eaten more carbs than you care to admit. You finish your race. You’re happy with your performance (even when you have a race you’re not happy with you’re still proud you did it). And then you get asked the 2 inevitable and often opposing questions within that first week after race day:
So, what’s next for you? When is your next race?
Wait, what? I thought you were done with that. Why are you going for a long run next weekend? Isn’t all that over for a while?
I’ve had 18 days to consider both of these questions since the Beach2Battleship Half Iron Triathlon last month. And I’ve come to a conclusion. I like to run with a purpose.
Running (and swimming and biking) isn’t about racing for me. I race much more infrequently than many of my fellow running buddies and bloggers.
Running for me is simply about having a purpose. Setting a goal. Trying to be my best self. Trying to be my better self. Often times, racing helps give structure to that purpose and quenchless desire.
I don’t only run to achieve a faster time in my next race or to get a medal. (And I definitely don’t do it for free cotton shirts *wink.*) Running has become as much a part of me as brushing my teeth in the morning or going to work every day. It’s how I stay healthy. It’s my stress reliever. It’s my happy hour and social outlet with friends. It is about so many things.
But for me, it’s also about having a purpose. I like something to look forward to. I like having meaning to my miles. And I like the feeling of empowerment that comes from hard work and personal victory.
The people who ask us why we want to keep doing it don’t quite understand (yet). The depth that running brings to your life is immeasurable. It’s not about the physical part. And it certainly ain’t about the waking up early or the feeling like your-lungs-will-burst-during-speed-work parts. It’s about the friendships. The confidence. The camaraderie. The community. The personal satisfaction. The belief in yourself.
So with all that being said (and yes, I’m stepping down from my soap box now … I promise), here are the answers to those 2 burning questions:
1. What is next for me?
I’m running the ZOOMA Florida Half Marathon on January 18 in Amelia Island. I set a goal earlier this year to run a half marathon in 1:45 or faster. Because of the intense focus I put into Beach2Battleship, I only ended up running one half marathon this year (2 when you count the 13.1 miles I ran during my half iron triathlon). I know I could hit that goal right now, especially after running 1:46:54 following 56 miles on the bike and a 1.2-mile swim in Wilmington. But I’ll just have to wait until January. The next 10 weeks of running will be about getting ready for that race and in believing mentally that I can do it. [I’m also running a 10K on December 7 where I hope to run in the 48-minute range.]
To get there, I’ll be running with purpose. I’ll be doing 3 core runs each week – a speed session, a tempo run and a long run. I’ll be doing 2 days of cross training – either riding my bike or swimming – and hopefully a day or 2 of strength training or yoga. I’ll also be bringing back my Monday training recaps so you can see what my training looks like and keep me accountable.
Below is what my training paces will look like. I use the book Run Less Run Faster to determine these paces based on my most recent 5K time (22:09). The paces are based on my current level of fitness, not my desired goal to help reduce risk of injury. This 5K time would estimate a 7:50/mile half marathon race pace. (Gulp!)
Speed Work Paces
400s: 6:28/mile
800s: 6:36/mile
1,000s: 6:42/mile
1,200s: 6:52/mile
Tempo Paces
Short tempo: 7:25/mile
Mid-tempo: 7:40/mile
Long-tempo: 7:55/mile
Short, mid and long tempo paces refer to how long the duration of the tempo miles will be. A short tempo run may be 3 miles at tempo pace with a warm up and a cool down, while a long tempo pace may be more like 6 miles at tempo pace with a warm up and cool down.
Long Run Pace
Around the 8:20 range, with some long runs being just easy paced runs
2. I thought you just finished your big race? Isn’t all that over for a while?
For those of us who have found running to be a personal passion, running isn’t something you just do on a whim or discard like the wind. It becomes an innate part of you. You want to keep doing it. I took a lot of time off after Beach2Battleship. I took 6 straight days of rest right after the race and 4 rest days the following week. This week I’ve already taken one. Training for another race isn’t about being crazy or obsessive or over the top. It is simply about the joy that comes from a Saturday morning long run with friends and coffee after. Or a really awesome speed workout after a long day at the office. Running is about small daily victories. It isn’t something that just ends after a race. There is a hunger to keep doing it. Maybe not every day. And every run certainly won’t be easy. But once it is a part of you, it is a part of you. I know there are many people out there who simply can’t or won’t ever understand that. And that is ok. But for those of you who support a runner in your life and are trying to grasp our passion, I hope this helps you – even just a little bit – realize that running and racing is just as emotional as it is physical. It builds us up. It gives us purpose. And we want to share that. So yes, I’m not done.
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What is your purpose for running? What other questions do you typically get asked after a big goal race? How do you respond?
Comments
Great post as usually…my running, biking & racing has morph from a me thing to a family thing. I want my children seeing their mom & dad living a healthy competitive lifestyle. We are blessed to share this passion we sacrifice for each other & now our oldest is starting to follow in our footsteps. Thanks again for your blog one of my favorites look forward to your training & race recaps 🙂
Thank you SO much for your kind words Bill. I’m glad you like this blog and that really means a lot to me! I hope it can continue to be helpful to you. I LOVE that running and being active has become a family affair for you. That is awesome. Sounds like you and your wife are setting such a great example for your kids. I look forward to checking out your blog as well! xo
Well said! Congrats on B2B and thanks again for your kind words to me after my disaster that was Ironman Augusta 70.3. I might be doing the Zooma half as well, I live 30 mins from Amelia Island and want to break a 1:50 half. No matter what I do, I’m stuck at 1:50! Even this past weekend at Rock n Roll Savannah 1/2 my last 3 miles were sub-8 and my last mile was 7:35 yet I saw another 1:50 haha! Maybe I will commit to the race and unleash the beast in January. 🙂
Hi Amber! Thanks for your kind words as well! I know it is hard, but try not to think of Augusta as a disaster. If you learned something, that is what is most important. You gained a lot of knowledge for what you will and won’t do next time, and persevering thorough it is just as much a victory as finishing fast. I hope you will do ZOOMA. I always love meeting fellow runners and readers 🙂 I’ll email you a coupon code if you decide to register. I am 100 percent confident you can break 1:50 if you’ve been running the last part of your races as fast as you have been. You could likely run a more consistent, faster pace throughout or start a tad faster if you have that much in the tank at the end. Congrats on your Savannah finish too. That is such a fun race. xo
I’m excited to hear that ZOOMA will be a goal race for you. I’m not sure what I’m doing with it yet, but I’ll be glad to cheer you on from behind! I think your post is well written, especially the last part about it being a passion for you and not always just being about what race is next. Good for you for taking time of when you choose and running when you decide. And yes, running/triathlon is so much emotional as well.
It will be so fun to get to be at the race together! Yay! Can’t wait to spend some more time hanging out and hearing in person all about your Rev3 race!
The question I used to get asked was “are you done now?” Lol.
Good luck with your training and keep having fun 🙂
I asked myself the same questions after I finished my first full marathon on Oct 27th. I don’t have a goal race, yet, and I feel kind of lost without something to train for.
However, my main purpose for running is to stay healthy, both physically and mentally. Running is what makes me happy.
Congrats on finishing your first marathon Jojo! So, so awesome! I hope you enjoyed your experience. It is always good to take a little break after a big race like that, but it is natural to start thinking about what comes next 🙂 Love your reasons for running and that it makes you happy.
I love training for something too. I’m excited to see how awesome you do in this January half! I know you will crush it!
Thank you Kristen. Your ongoing support means so much to me. xoxo
Gurrrrl, I ran a 1:43, I KNOW you can run a sub 1:45. I’d venture you could even crack 1:40. I like your plans and I think stepping down a bit to do some purposeful running is a great way to go. Enjoy it!
That post was eloquently written and spoke to me on so many levels. Thank you. I’m very much into training and don’t necessarily race as often as some people think I should for the amount of work I put in. But I love being able to schedule seething for me. It’s my plan and my time. Glad to hear I’m not alone. Good luck at your next race.
I think my response to the “whats next” depends who I am talking to. Basically…are they a runner or athlete? Because I don’t need the “oh please” looks from non runners who ask what is next when I say what race is next or what not. But runners and athletes understand the desire to push, the need for goals and purpose. Most people in my life know that I always have “the next big thing” lined up- its my nature to push and push and always be pushing myself. Therefore it’s only natural to have a race planned for the future, even in the distant future!