Ever since my first full marathon last March, I’m so guilty of slacking off in running. I’d join races once in a while, but nothing more than 10k. I’d go for a 5k if I’m lazy, 10k if I felt like making it a bit hard on myself. But the dedication to the twice a week maintenance runs + 1 weekend long run just wasn’t there anymore. I felt that I’d be able to complete a 5k even without training — maybe not as fast as when I’m conditioned, but it wasn’t as if I wouldn’t be able to finish it. Maybe it was the complacency of knowing that I’d be able to finish a 5k with or without training and not getting injured made me neglect the training I swore I would continue to do even after the marathon.
So what made me start running, biking and lifting weights again the past week? Well, aside from the fact that the exercise has been helping me bring back the resistance to colds (which is so common lately, considering the unpredictable weather), I signed me up for a half-marathon in July: the Yamaha Run for Heroes.
I don’t know, maybe I just needed a “purpose” to train. I needed a goal — something that would keep me in my toes for weeks leading up to the event. I guess that was how I managed to follow the 5-month training schedule of the TBR Dream Marathon diligently… The “threat” of completing a 42.2k run kept me on track. I felt that if I didn’t train, I’d be screwed on race day.
Maybe that was all I needed. A push. A threat. Or even better, a challenge. Next time I start slacking off again, sign me up for another half-marathon. 
