Season 2: recap

No half marathons on the schedule until October. It makes me kind of sad until I attempt to run in temperatures that rival the surface of the sun.

Since I’m not able to run nearly as far now (thanks, Florida heat), I’m just going to reminisce about this season of half marathons.

This was my second training cycle for half marathons. I was completely new to running the first season (2011-2012) and was happy just to finish. My first season only consisted of two races:

• Women’s Half Marathon: 2:48:26
• Rock ‘n’ Roll St. Petersburg Half Marathon: 2:33:39

I was completely disappointed in my first attempt, and I’m pretty surprised I kept running after it. It was pretty miserable (mainly because of the heat that isn’t supposed to be around in November), but I felt like I redeemed myself at the Rock ‘n’ Roll race. That was the race I knew I had in me. That’s the way it was supposed to happen. 

So, looking to this season, I knew I couldn’t have a 15-minute personal record (PR) each time, but I wondered if I could hit 2:25. I never publicly proclaimed this goal, but I thought I could do it.

• Halloween Halfathon:2:42:48
• Women’s Half Marathon: 2:45:33
• Holiday Halfathon: 2:41:10

(At this point, I really wondered if 2:33 was a fluke. I wondered if I’d ever see the 2:30s again.)

• Clearwater Halfathon: 2:38:29

(I started feeling more confident after this difficult course, and I felt like a PR was in my future.)

• Carnival Classic Half Marathon: 2:30:54

(I decided to do this race while on a high from the previous race. As in, sitting down right after the race and registering on my phone. Hello, PR!)

• Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon: 2:33:54
• Florida Beach Halfathon: 2:31:44
• Iron Girl Half Marathon: 2:48:35

So, 2:25 didn’t happen. Even 2:2X didn’t happen. While I’m a little disappointed, I still see lots of things to be happy about:

• I ran eight half marathons!
• I’m confident in my running abilities. I don’t worry about finishing anymore. I know I can.
• I even got pretty confident about being able to finish in the 2:30s by the end of the season (aside from the hot, nasty Iron Girl incident).
• I came up with some pretty rockin’ costumes for races.
  
  

• I fell even more in love with the half marathon distance. It’s my favorite, always and forever.
• Oh, and even though these aren’t half marathons, I did run and PR these distances during this training cycle: 5K (by 3:11) and 10K (by 1:21)).

So, now what?

Well, I have a break until August when half marathon training begins again. But, it’s not a break from running – just a break from running the longer distances. I’m sticking with my training group (last year I took a break from it, and while I continued running on my own, I just don’t push myself enough; I felt like I had to start over again when I picked back up in August). And, I’m adding in some new things to shake things up: boot camp (eek!) and yoga (eek!). 

Do you set race goals? Do you publicly proclaim your goals? How did you do this season? What do you do in the off season to prepare for races? Have you done a boot camp? Yoga?

The long-delayed resolution post

Resolutions, ugh.

I used to always make resolutions. I like the idea of bettering yourself and setting lofty goals. Sounds great, right? It isn’t so great when your resolutions end in bitter disappointment and failure, which is where my resolutions usually end.

I made it a resolution for three years to start running and finish a 5K. Three years! And, I didn’t complete this goal until it wasn’t a resolution. This is the same year I trained for and completed a half marathon. It just happened naturally.

So, I made a resolution to not make resolutions.

It’s not that I don’t need to better myself. It’s not that I don’t need goals. Because, believe me, I do. I just don’t think I need them in New Year’s resolution form. Or maybe not such strict form. For example, I can remember in past years, writing this resolution: “I will go to bed before 11 p.m. every weeknight.” Sounds fabulous. But, it’s just not realistic. Sometimes work, friends, life gets in the way – as is the case with everything. But, I used to see myself as a failure when in the second week of January, I went to bed at midnight. Man, I blew it again.

So, maybe my resolution is to not make such strict resolutions (See? I already broke my first resolution of not making resolutions).

Or maybe I don’t call them resolutions? I can call them: things that would be nice to do in the new year (or something like that … it still needs work, obviously).

So, whatever they are, here are some ways I hope to better myself (in the health and running arenas) in 2012:

• Get more sleep. (Hopefully, worded this way, I’ll see it as more of a mantra, a way to live. Not some dreaded resolution with an absolute bedtime.)
• Work to be a better, faster, stronger runner. (Again, no time goals or specific races. Just a general goal.)
• Get more consistent with strength training. (No number of days per week or minutes per day.)

They seem simple, non-stressful and not too extreme … I hope. And, in looking at them, they probably are resolutions (as much as I don’t want them to be). But, hopefully, more attainable (and less bitter disappointment and failure follow).