Jim Silva: Training for marathon requires commitment

Fall finally has arrived. Last week I was planning to run my usual outdoor route, but it was rainy and windy and I just couldn’t bear it. So I opted to head to the gym and run on the treadmill instead.

I’ve committed myself to run the Modesto half-marathon or full marathon on March 20, 2016, as a part of a Team In Training group. But I’m still not willing to commit to running the full marathon.

The reason? Because I didn’t want to run in the cold.

For me, committing to train for a marathon is much more about your mental and emotional mindset than anything to do with your fitness.

Quite frankly, just about anybody can complete the 26.2 miles if they put their mind to it. It’s the mental commitment that is tricky.

I’ve been asking myself: “Am I really committed to doing this again?” and “Do I really want to do this again?”

I’m still not sure. Maybe it’s because the weather has turned cold and rainy. Maybe it’s because I’m not in the kind of shape that I’d like to be in. Maybe it’s because I know what it takes to prepare for the marathon distance.

I’m still waiting for that feeling … the feeling that I’m truly committed to doing it. That I truly want to do it.

In the meantime, I’m starting to increase the intensity and distance of my workouts. If I am going to commit to the marathon, the training has to start soon. It may seem like a long time away, but it takes at least 12-15 weeks to properly train for a marathon. March 20 is less than 18 weeks away, so I don’t have much time to decide to commit to doing the full marathon.

Part of me feels I should jump in and commit to the marathon. But I’m not quite ready to be cold and wet.

Have you committed to running the Modesto Marathon or any other marathon? I’d love to hear why you have – maybe it’ll help get me motivated to step up and commit. Send a short response to jsilva@modbee.com and I may include your response in a future column.

Second run on Thanksgiving Day

The annual Modesto Turkey Trot and Gobbler Walk on Thanksgiving Day has become a tradition for many in Modesto.

The event, put on by the Modesto Junior College cross country teams for the past 16 years, is held Thanksgiving morning at Tuolumne River Regional Park.

This year there will be another event held on Thanksgiving morning, with Del Rio Country Club and The Fitness Coach holding the first River on the Run 5K. The kids race starts at 9 a.m. with the adult race immediately to follow. The race is open to members, guests and friends of guests and starts at the club parking lot.

As far as the traditional Turkey Trot: The half-mile fun runs for boys and girls (13 and under) will begin with the boys race at 8:45 a.m., followed by the girls race at 9 a.m. The 5K run will start at 9:30 a.m. and the 5K Gobbler Walk begins at 9:35 a.m. The 5K follows the Tuolumne River on a mostly paved path, passing through the old oak groves in the park.

For the record, 5 kilometers is about 3.1 miles.

Turkey Trot proceeds will support the MJC women’s and men’s cross country programs.

Modesto running store ready to open

It’s finally here! I got a big announcement in my email last week ... Fleet Feet’s Modesto store is finally ready to open.

The store is opening Friday, Nov. 27, at 10 a.m. at its new Modesto location, 1427 Standiford Ave.

The email said there will be special deals that weekend. With the weather changing, it’s a great time to get some cold-weather training gear.

This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 10:23 AM with the headline "Jim Silva: Training for marathon requires commitment."