Sometimes it takes a little pressure to get back on track. Not the unpleasant kind of pressure from other people, but positive pressure.
A date on the calendar that cannot be moved. A goal that slowly gets closer and reminds you why you started running in the first place.
That is exactly how I felt over the last few weeks.
Of course, you can tell yourself that you will start running more regularly again. You can say, “I’ll start next week,” or “I’ll get back into it when the weather improves.” But runners know how this works.
Next week quickly becomes next month. A short break suddenly turns into several weeks. Life always seems to have a good reason why today is not the right day to run.
That is why I decided to set myself a concrete goal again.
Looking for a Half Marathon
So I started searching for a race.
The choice came quickly. Düsseldorf is almost a home race for me, so I signed up for the Rhine City Run in October. I already have great memories connected to this event.
Several years ago, I ran this race and achieved my first sub-two-hour half marathon there. Anyone who has worked hard to break that barrier knows how special that moment feels. You never forget your first sub-two-hour finish.
The final kilometres, the glance at the watch, the tension, and finally the relief at the finish line. Experiences like that stay with you for years and make a race much more than just a sporting event.
A Course Worth Running
The course itself is another reason why I chose this race again. The start is right beside the Rhine in Düsseldorf. For much of the race, the route follows the river. You run alongside the water, passing cyclists, walkers and the typical riverside scenery. On a sunny autumn day, it creates a fantastic atmosphere.
After roughly two thirds of the distance, the course leaves the river and heads through open fields towards Duisburg. It becomes quieter there, giving you time to settle into your rhythm and simply enjoy running.
What I particularly like about the course is that it is flat. Hilly races certainly have their charm, but if you want to run a good time or simply enjoy a half marathon, a flat course is a real advantage.
Running Together
The best part of this race is something else entirely.
I will not be running it alone. I signed up my son as well.
Anyone with children knows how quickly time passes. One day you are teaching them how to ride a bicycle, and before you know it, you are standing next to them at the start line of a half marathon. Moments like that are priceless.
Of course, I have no illusions. I am quite sure that he will leave me behind at some point during the race. Probably much earlier than I would like. But that is not really the point.
The point is the shared preparation, the conversations about training and the excitement leading up to race day. It is about creating a memory that we will still talk about years from now.
The finishing time will eventually be forgotten. The experience probably never will.
This Time with a Plan
To make things more structured this time, I created a 16-week training plan.
In the past, I often just ran whenever I felt like it. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Sometimes faster, sometimes slower. That works up to a point. But a training plan offers one major advantage: it removes many decisions.
You no longer have to wonder what kind of run you should do today. The plan already tells you. Some days are easy runs. Other days involve speed work or a longer run at the weekend.
For someone balancing work, family and everyday responsibilities, that structure creates accountability. And sometimes that is exactly what I need.
The First Step
Has Been Taken Sixteen weeks should be more than enough time to get back into a good running rhythm. For me, this is not only about a finishing time. Of course, I would be happy to achieve a result I can be proud of. But something else matters just as much.
Putting on the running shoes again. Getting outside regularly. Feeling that satisfaction after a run when you return home knowing you have done something good for yourself.
Because in the end, every half marathon starts long before the start line. It starts on the day you decide to register. Everything after that is simply a collection of small steps.
And those small steps begin today.
