Spring Cleaning: Reevaluating My Training
Every spring, I get the itch to start fresh—clean out my closet, open the windows, swap sweaters for tank tops. But this year, the season of renewal is showing up in a completely different part of my life: my running.
Lately, running has felt... off. Heavy. Hard. Not just “tired legs from a tough week” hard, but “my body feels tight and disconnected” kind of hard. Like I’m running through wet cement, not just physically but mentally, too. And it’s been building for weeks.
I kept trying to push through. Told myself I was just in a slump, or that the spring race I signed up for would reignite the spark. But as the days went on, it became clear: what I need isn’t more miles—it’s a reset.
Just like I’m decluttering my home this spring, I’m decluttering my training. Reevaluating what I actually need right now. And surprisingly, the answer isn’t more running—it’s less.
Why I Might Defer My Spring Half Marathon
I’ve gone back and forth on this a lot. But the truth is, I don’t want to force myself through 13.1 miles just to prove I can check the box. If I’m being honest, I’d rather use this season to build a strong, mobile, balanced body—one that’s ready to handle marathon training when it kicks off in June.
Deferring doesn’t mean I’m quitting. It means I’m strategically pausing—listening to my body and honoring what it’s asking for: strength, flexibility, and space.
Swapping Miles for Mobility
Right now, I want to fall in love with feeling strong again. That means more strength training. More Pilates. More recovery days that are actually restful. More mobility work, even if it’s boring. Less running just for the sake of hitting a mileage goal.
And maybe most importantly, I want to rebuild trust with my body. I want to walk into marathon training this summer feeling like I’ve got a rock-solid foundation—not one built on burnout.
The Runner Identity Shift (And That Inner Struggle)
I’ll admit—it’s hard to step back when “runner” is such a big part of who I am. There’s a weird guilt that creeps in when you’re not logging miles, especially in a community that thrives on training plans, race dates, and Strava kudos.
But here’s what I’m reminding myself: strong runners aren’t made by constantly running. They’re made by showing up smart, listening deeply, and knowing when to pause.
Spring is for growth—but that doesn’t always mean forward momentum. Sometimes it means clearing out what’s not serving you, making space, and planting the seeds for what’s next.
So here I am—putting away my race plans for a bit. Making space for strength. Cleaning out the mental clutter. And trusting that when the time comes to build for my fall marathon, I’ll be ready. Really ready.