Time For A Run

The last time I followed a training plan, I had set mileage that I was supposed to run each day.  I slogged through the miles and often times felt overtired and overworked.  I stressed if I didn't get the exact mileage I was supposed to get.  It didn't work well for me.

This time around, I'm trying a new tactic.  I've set up my training plan so that each day I have a prescribed amount time to run.  An hour, and hour and a half, etc.  So far (a whopping 4 runs in), I'm liking it.   It somehow takes the pressure off, so that if I have a slow day, I don't feel as guilty that I "only" got X amount of miles.  Time on your feet is time on your feet, and since I have two time-specific races coming up, it makes sense to me that I concentrate on time rather than distance.

That being said, I do want to do some runs where pace is the main focus, but for right now I'm not worrying about that so much.

Today's run was an hour and a half on the paved loop that I will  be running for the Endless Summer 6 Hour Run in July.  As I was out there, I realized that no matter how many times I run that loop in preparation, it will be the weather on the day of the race that is going to determine how things go.  July in Maryland can be unbearable.  Between the heat and the humidity, race day may be brutal.  Time will tell.

Between now and then, all I can do is put in my time, and hope that I can acclimate to the heat as it comes.  Today it was only around 58 degrees and by the end of my hour and a half, I was pretty warm.  A few extra hours and an extra 30 degrees...  yeah.  That's not going to be terribly comfortable.  But it is what it is.  

I'm actually really looking forward to the race, I just hope that I enjoy all the training leading up to it, too.  My last real "training cycle" was not terribly enjoyable for me and when it was over I kind of went into a negative spiral.  I don't want that to happen again.  The race is just one day - the rest of it is the real journey.  

Which do you get more enjoyment out of, your training, or race day?