Sometimes Shift Happens


This weekend is the Hershey 10K race! When I signed up for this race I was originally hoping to make it my "goal" race for the year and was hoping to aim for a PR.  I had all winter to practice running 6.2 miles, so I thought that was doable! However, once I found out that I would be running the NYC Half Marathon, my plans changed.  The NYC Half would now end up being my first race of the year, not Hershey and training for a half marathon is different than training for a 10K. I needed to work on endurance, not speed.  I would only have two weeks of training between the NYC Half and Hershey so I decided I could just run Hershey as a fun shake out run!

The Half marathon went better than I expected, and although I took the following week off  I was surprisingly feeling pretty good. I was able to get two runs in last week and one was an awesome 5 miler that made me think that I could really push it and the possibility of still making a PR at Hershey was there!

And then, like I mentioned in my weekly wrap, I got struck down with a cold. I took it easy over the weekend and then thought I was well enough to go to work on Monday.  The weather was gorgeous on Monday afternoon so I still planned on doing my 6.2 miles on the rail trail.  When I got to the trail and started running, I quickly discovered only a tenth of a mile in that I could not do this.  I would have to do a run-walk. Nope, couldn't do that either.  I decided that I would have to walk the entire 6.2 miles. That was my new plan until I got a mile down the trail and decided I could only make this a 5K walk instead of a 10K so that is what I did.


I was able to complete a little over 3 miles but I felt so defeated.  I guess just because I was able to get up and go to work on Monday, did not mean that I was feeling better.  I was almost even worse on Tuesday.  I am so glad that I was able to drive home from work without falling asleep. When I got home, I promptly put my phone on silent and took a much needed nap.  Wednesday should be another run day for me and I debated between trying to give it another try to get my body use to running like this or just taking the rest of the week off and resting and then just seeing what happens on race day.

I'm probably going to have to go with option 2. So here I am again. This Hershey race went from being a goal race, to just being a fun shake out run, to being a race I'll be glad to just finish because I'll probably have to walk most of it. Hey, maybe I should try "race walking".  So I guess just like anything in life, goals and expectations will need to be shifted and that's okay. At least I still have the Hershey spa to look forward to!  -M


37 comments:

  1. Hey I'm gonna be there too! I signed up last minute because my friend was doing it. I've been preparing for the Dark Side Challenge so we have zero goals for the race, other than finishing upright. Maybe we'll see each other!

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  2. "Goals and expectations will need to be shifted and that's okay". What a brilliant sentence - so frustrating when you have been looking forward to something and then you get sick/ or something gets in the way. But I love your attitude and the Hershey spa will be just what you need after this cold.

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  3. My motto these days is "finishing is winning". For me, it should be fun. Enjoy the race!

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  4. Getting sick right before a big race is the worst! I bet if you rest this week and don't do anything before the race you will be surprised at how well you do. Hershey is such a fun place to run too

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    1. I actually went back and read your race recap from the Hershey half!

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  5. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow. I got the flu in midst of half marathon training and the race was not what I would like liked but hey, I finished. Still a win.
    Run and enjoy! You may surprise yourself.

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    1. Thank you! I'll try to make the best of it for sure!

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  6. Shift does happen!! That's life. Just do the best you can!

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  7. Sorry to hear that you're sick. I hate when things don't go according to plan, but sometimes things are just out of our control. Feel better, and most importantly, have fun at the race this weekend.

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    1. Thanks Kathryn! I think I am more excited about visiting the spa!

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  8. I love the word play on your tittle!!

    I hope you are feeling better, get lots of rest. If you need to walk it, you will have plenty of time. and Yes, at the end of the day, you still have the Spa to look forward to!! that will make it all worth it!

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    1. Yes, I'm definitely looking forward to the spa (and shopping at the outlets)!

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  9. You so deserve a day at the spa! I hope you are feeling better soon. If you are feeling better and have your energy back by race day, I bet you will be able to run it. Being sick totally zaps my energy (at least that's what's been happening to me this year) but once I'm over it I get my energy back. I hope you do too!

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    1. I am just SO glad this didn't happen during my half last month. I'd rather be sick for a 10k than run a half feeling this way.

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  10. Sorry to hear about the cold :( It can really take a lot out of you. Hopefully the rest helps and you'll feel better on race day! And either way, you have the spa to look forward to :)

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  11. "Shifting" is what life is ALLLLL about!!!!
    You never know how much you are not recovered until you try to run after a illness. UGH.
    I will say, you have FABULOUS HAIR though for a bad run ;) See - there are better things in this world than a great run ;)

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  12. I have to rest completely when I get head colds. I feel horrible, and know I have the cold because my body's run down. I shift things around and do what I can, but normally cardio is a no.

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    1. I think it is leaving my head and now all in my chest which makes it worse for running!

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  13. I hope you feel better enough to enjoy the race - and just have fun with it. Besides, chocolate. It's bound to be great!

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    1. I'm planning to eat a lot of chocolate, no shifting those plans..haha!

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  14. They say that you do not loose any fitness in a week and to take a week off before a race sometimes makes the race even better. Rest and have fun and there is a chance you will surprise yourself. I surprised myself with Ukrop's. And if you at least have fun then you matched your goal.

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  15. Sorry to hear you were sick! Seems like a lot of stuff has been going around and it is all awful!! I hope the race goes better than you think so you can at least enjoy!! I ran that as my first ever longer than 5k race back in 2012. Time flies. Have fun!!

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  16. You should take it easy on race day and have fun and a healthy time. Walking it is great and can be an enjoyable experience. A 6.2 mile walk is a 6.2 mile walk, great exercise. Hope you feel better!

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  17. finishing is the name of the game! Have fun at the spa!

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  18. Sometimes you just need to listen to your body and give yourself a break!

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  19. You might surprise yourself with the race! Hope you're feeling better! Have so much fun!! :)

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  20. Oh, bummer! I hope you feel better by now. I've been surprised at how much difference even one day can make.

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Fairytales and Fitness is a personal blog authored and edited by us, Meranda and Lacey. The thoughts expressed here represent only our own and are not meant to be taken as professional advice. Please note that our thoughts and opinions change from time to time. We consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind in an ever changing society. Any thoughts and opinions expressed within our out-of-date posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those we may express today. Some links may contain affiliate links. Some links are just to pages we'd like to share.