why I'm no longer running a spring marathon //

This post may contain affiliate links

I must admit — I bit off more than I can chew.

There are several reasons I’ve decided not to run the Pittsburgh Marathon. But the main reason is that it is taking away from time with my husband and son.

Don’t get things twisted — Chad is incredibly supportive of my aspirations to run a full marathon. But I just can’t justify the time it’s taking away from my family for training. It’s becoming more and more stressful on me than it should be. And less and less fun.

Working all day, coming home and “working” at home, followed by making sure I fit in my training runs is becoming more than a chore. It’s making me dread working out. And I’m spending much more time “watching” Chad + Ari play than I am actually playing with them. Literally. I watch them play next to the treadmill while I run.

And I hate it. By the time I’m finished with my runs, it’s time to shower, eat, and head to bed. There is little to no time available to spend with Chad, because all of this running is forcing me to need even more rest.

So I’m choosing my marriage and my family over this marathon. I’m choosing snuggles and stories and bedtime rituals; I’m choosing running for fun instead of running for miles; I’m choosing TV on the couch with my husband; and I’m choosing to run the half marathon on May 2nd instead of the full marathon.

I’ve been tossing the idea around in my head for the last week, but I finally verbalized things the other day to Chad. I told him my fears of the word “quit.” But in all truth, I’d rather be a quitter at marathon training than a quitter at my family and my marriage.

Thank you to my family + friends for already being incredibly supportive of this “adjustment” to my plans! 🙂

Comments

Alissa

March 3, 2015 at 4:38 pm

I totally get where you’re coming from. There are only so many hours in a day. I have a tendency to take on so many more things than I possibly can at one time. I read something somewhere that said something along the lines of the fact that you didn’t have to do EVERYTHING right now. It doesn’t mean you can’t or you won’t, it’s just NOT RIGHT NOW. I remember my husband training for the 1/2 marathon. It took a lot of time. We don’t have kids, but I do remember us specifically having to make time for US. Way to be honest with yourself. I think that’s a feat in itself.

- Rachel
  
  March 3, 2015 at 4:43 pm
  
  I totally appreciate your perspective, Alissa! I think that with ANY relationship/family dynamic marathon training/distance training throws a wrench into things. But I started to think about those women that I know that train for these things and I realized that almost all of the people I know who distance train have kids that are older or don’t have kids at all. I think without Ari, things would still be crazy difficult; but I HAVE to give Ari attention (cause he needs me to do things for him and stuff… LOL)… so that automatically means Chad & my relationship gets pushed to the very very back burner 😛 LOL
  
  And I NEEDED to hear that “Just not right now” quote. I truly truly needed it. <3 thank you!!

Reader Interactions

Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply