Stuck in a Rut

I am a little over half way through my Shamrock Shuffle training guide. Training for this 5 mile race began Feb. 4 and the race will take place March 30. Like the last time I ran the Shuffle, I am using Hal Higdeon's training guide. It calls for running at least two miles three times a week.

Last week, I ran no times. None.

I am having issues training for this race. I have found every excuse to deviate from my training schedule: work, the weather, filing my taxes, or as with tonight, forgetting my sports bra.

I told myself this was the week I was going to refocus my efforts and really put my best foot forward to accomplish my training goals. This morning I packed my running gear, took the 6 p.m. Metra so I could get to the gym, run a few miles and then get back to the train in time to catch the 7:35 Metra home. However, when I got to the gym, my sports bra was not in my bag. Since I am not the type of girl who can run without the aid of a sports bra (or two), the only exercise I got was walking to the train and back. That hardly qualifies as a two mile run.

But even if I had been able to run at the gym as planned, I question how good it would have been. As I was walking up to the gym, inside the wall-sized windows I could see hoards of twenty somethings crowding every available treadmill. Getting in step with the bouncing mass didn't exactly inspire me to want to jog a mile or two.

That's another thing I'm using as an excuse for my poor training. I simply hate running on treadmills. When I trained for the shuffle the first time, the majority of my runs were on the treadmill. But when it came close to the race day, I hit the pavement, and it was so much harder. I had to become accustomed to propelling myself forward instead of letting the treadmill do the work. But then I got used to it, and now I prefer it. The last time I did manage to go outside and run, I completed an easy three mile jog. The time before that I struggled to run two miles on a treadmill.

I just can't seem to get in the groove. I know I don't love running. I just tolerate it better some days than others. But I've also ran enough now to know that it really is the best kind of cardio workout there is. I can't imagine finding a good substitute. But I also can't imagine this winter ever ending which means my outdoor runs are too far away to make them a viable option for my Shuffle training. For now, that means I have no other option but to continue my trek to and from the gym, and from here on out I'll try my best to bring sports bras.