Failing at Half Marathon Training…Again

Since 2022, I’ve run three half marathons and haven’t felt ready for any of them. About a month out from each race, I’d start to panic, thinking that I didn’t train enough (which was mostly true). It seems this time is no different. The Bayshore Marathon is in less than 9 weeks, and I’ve barely made it to 5 miles.

I could blame a million things—work stress, Michigan winter, being too focused on Pilates—but at the end of the day, I just haven’t been consistent. And now, the familiar feeling is creeping in: doubt, frustration, and the nagging question of whether I should even go through with this race.

But the truth is, I just feel really stuck in my running routine. Every time I think about going for a run, it feels exhausting—like this big, overwhelming task instead of something I actually want to do. And I hate that. Running used to feel like freedom, like something that made me feel strong and capable. Now, even just getting through three miles feels like a struggle. I lace up my shoes, step out the door, and within minutes, I’m counting down until it’s over.

I know part of it is that I’ve been doing a lot more Pilates than running. And honestly? That’s not a bad thing. I feel stronger in ways I haven’t before, and it’s nice to have something I actually look forward to. But at the end of the day, Pilates isn’t running, and the only way to get back to feeling good at running… is to run more. Which is frustrating, because I’m sick of feeling this way.

I know that the only way to get past it is to push through the discomfort, to force myself to show up even when I don’t want to. The annoying truth about running is that it doesn’t magically get easier—you just get better at handling the hard parts. But right now, it just feels so hard.

So, what now? I could write this off as another “oops, didn’t train again” moment, or I could shift my approach. Maybe this isn’t about hitting every long run perfectly—maybe it’s about showing up consistently in whatever way I can. Even if that means just committing to three solid runs a week, no matter the distance. Even if it means adjusting my expectations.

I’m not ready to give up just yet. But I am ready to be honest with myself. This might not be my strongest half marathon, but it doesn’t have to be another race I go into feeling defeated before I even start.

I’ll keep showing up, one run at a time. Let’s see where that gets me.