Runner's Guilt

skemery

Ugh, my friend just asked me to come in 2 hours early to work for her (not an emergency) and I can't do it because I'm headed out on a long run that will barely finish in time for me to shower and head in to work. I kind of feel guilty, but at the same time I'm training for a race that so far has cost me over $4000 (travel, hotel, entry fee) and I've only got a few weeks left. Serious case of runner's guilt!

JoyousRen

*hugs* It's always hard when people ask you to give up a long run to do them a favor. It's not an emergency so don't stress it!

bstamps12

I wouldn't worry about it if it's not an emergency! I stopped doing one component of my job altogether because the pay was terrible and it was 1-2 hour time slots in the afternoon which is when it works best for me to work out. I felt guilty at first but those long runs and bike rides were so worth it, I just felt so much better! But especially given the $$ invested in your upcoming race, don't sweat it!

MassiveDelta

I feel no guilt at all about this. you shouldn't either

allenpearcy

Finding balance between my excercise schedule and home and work has been tough for me too. I have stressed work and family relationships in the process for sure. But, like someone else said, just try and make it up to your friend in some way if you want/can. But, if she is a friend, she should understand what this race and your training for it means to you. I would not feel guilty in this case.

Best of luck in your Marathon.

sharonsjones

OMG it's awesome to know that I am l not the only one that has runnner's guilt. I am terrible, when someone asks about plans or wants to come over I am always thinking "No you cant come over! I am going to be running!" Next to my husband and children running is the next important thing to me! It keeps me sane!

skemery

I have all my runs for the next month penciled in on my calendar- any time someone wants to make plans, I have to look at whether it will conflict with my run and see if there is another time that day that I can reschedule the run. I usually don't feel bad on the days I choose not to do my run (like today, I'm wimping out, but that's my decision), but if I've been looking forward to a run all day or week (in the case of my long runs) then most of the time that's coming first for me.

Pebble321

I understand - now my long weekend run is getting up over 2 hours, I feel bad about taking that time out just for me - specially this weekend when I was staying with my dad (my mum died in August so he is on his own now and pretty lonely).

But, I felt much better the next day when he proudly told me "I was talking to a lady as we were watching the swimmers (watching triathlon) and I told her that my daughter is into running marathons".

Besides that fact that this isn't quite true (I'm training for my first half next year), it was nice to know that he enjoys bragging about my achievements!

RAFValentina

I get two-way runner's guilt!

Like in all the examples above when I prioritise my training over other things... and secondly when I prioritise other things over training! Both ways! I feel guilty running or not running it would seem!