It's been too long since I've posted! My last post was a few days after my marathon race and here we are again, a day away from starting another 4 month training program for the December 1st St Jude Marathon! Wow, time has gotten away from me. I have taken a little break from the high mileage, eaten a few too many desserts, enjoyed so many wonderful experiences with my two beautiful children and I have loved every second. Sometimes you just have to take a break from the training schedules and strict dieting and just enjoy living. Maybe not quite as much as I have the last 8 months lol, but either way I'm ready to get back into the training mode and this time around I've set new goals and have even greater aspirations for this go round!
I have decided to stick with worked great for me last year, Hal Higdon Novice 2. The mileage works great for busy working moms like myself, and I can do all my long runs while the kids are at MDO on Thursdays. Schedule check, new shoes check (Brooks new Ravenna 3s!!), updated music on the iPod check, and rested knees and hips check (something I failed to start out with last yr!). The only thing missing here are the cooler temps, but I guess I'll have to just wait another 6 weeks or so for that one…just in time for the 14+ milers thank the Lord.
This time around I know what's coming. Now there is good and bad to that. Last year, it was new and the idea of running a marathon seemed so magical but so scary at the same time. I had no idea what to expect and honestly had no clue what I was doing, but I think that worked to my advantage to a point. This year, I know the good, the bad and the ugly…and of course the undeniably most amazing feeling that comes with crossing the 26.2 mile finish line. I also know the pain that comes, both mental and physical. I didn't plan for that last year but this time around I pray I'll be more aware of how to maybe avoid the PT visits and Cortisone shots by hopefully resting more and stretching/strengthening my weak areas. IT Band issues are my downfall, unfortunately…
2012 goals…
-Treat my body well by eating healthy and training wisely
-Complete my race injury free
-Encourage other runners along the way
-And finally, to finish well and hopefully in under the 4:09 time I did last year…(4:00 is the time goal but I'll be happy with whatever time honestly)
So here we go, 4 months of fun is about to begin!!!
