Battling the runs...

....and no, I am not talking about where at mile 9 of a run and inside your lower intestines feel like the cast of Riverdance is performing, and you now can't be so certain that isnt sweat just running down the back of your legs.

Let me be clear, I have never been a fan of running. In fact before I started doing triathlons, it was probably in my top 5 least favorite things to do. Even now with how much running I have done, and the number of miles I have logged it still isn't exactly enjoyable, it has just become more tolerable. I will make no illusions that running a marathon has never been a goal of mine. Never once had I ever thought growing up, "Gee, I would like to cross that off my bucket list". And in fact if its wasn't for the Ironman, I probably would never do one. I am sure I could have always just said screw it, and let my first marathon be during the Ironman. But then of course I probably would have ended up in the fetal position around mile 130 of the 140.6 mile race sucking my thumb and needing my shorts changed.

But I digress....

Since running has never been a passion of mine, I find this is the one part of my training I struggle the most with when it comes to motivation. I have absolutely no problem getting up at 4am three days a week for my swim workouts. And I absolutely look forward to my 30-40 mile bikes rides. But running on the other hand, I struggle with it. There are days I can get up early and go knock out a 6 mile run before 8am, and feel incredible. And there are days when even the thought of running a mile makes me roll back over and want to go back to sleep.

Case in point, this morning I had scheduled a 8 mile run. Had the alarm set for 5:30, so I could be up and on the trail by 6, and be done with my run before 8. Needless to say, that little invention of the snooze has become my best friend, and my worst enemy all at the same time. As you probably can guess, I wasnt on the trail by 6. I was lucky to make it there by 8, and didnt get all 8 miles in.

As a side note, for all of you that don't know, I live in South Texas, so by 8am that sun is out and that temperature is rising pretty quickly. Which makes the motivation to grind out that run even less.

But I guess for now, this is my cross to bear. I will keep working at it. Keep trying to push myself to get up early and log the miles. Cause the last thing I want to do during my marathon and Ironman is battle the runs.....both kinds.