>Looking back and thinking I had months to prepare for the half are now starting to make me sick. I’m not where I wanted to be in my original training plan, and after the past week and a half I feel like I’ve taken a step back. I was getting great miles in, and then life got to busy to take that step out onto the pavement. I have the next 16 days without any classes, vacations or set in stone plans that will take me away from my training. My hope is that out of these 16 days, I’ll run at least 14. I’m cutting it close to the race, but I think as long as I stay committed I’ll be fine. I know I can do this race, it’s my nerves, and the time left, they’re both getting the best of me.
Monthly Archives: April 2011
>A little of this, and a little of that
>These past few weeks have been pretty busy. So busy that it seems getting my mileage in is the last thing I want to do before I fall into bed at night. It’s the end of the semester so projects and papers are starting to pile up. Having class two nights a week may not seem like a lot, but it really starts to dig into you after three continuous months.
I’ve been trying to get miles in, not as many as I hoped, but I was able to run while I was on a weekend vacation. For my birthday and Easter I headed to the sunny and warm state of Arizona. It was absolutely beautiful, I’d move there in a heartbeat. However, if you want to get a run in, you’d better be waking up at the crack of dawn. Still stuck in Ohio time zone, I woke up at 6am my first day there and got an early morning run in. By 7:30 it was already starting to get warm. It was definitely a change. But it was great to run in any direction and see mountains in the back ground, and of course cacti all around.
Great vacation, but good to be back in Ohio. 18 days left until the race. Gotta get those miles in.
>I Love Metro Parks
>By having the metro parks at the foot of my doorstep, I’ve come to appreciate them a lot more than I used to. I’ve decided to give my top five reasons why metro parks are better to run than streets.
1. The trails are completely peaceful, it’s quite compared to cars driving back so you’re able to relax and think.
2. Nature, looking at the nature is wonderful, I’ve seen so many wild animals, including a bald eagle, compared to roadkill.
3. Dirt trails, it’s great to get on the trails, really helps the legs, and they’re fun to get lost on
4. No talking cross walks, I discovered these, and it is not the first thing you want to hear when catching your breath before crossing the street, real creepy
5. No audience, when I’m running on the streets, I hate when cars go by and beep their horns. I almost all of the time feel that I’m picking up my pace when cars go by. I’m able to keep a better pace when no one is watching.
Update: Great runs these past couple of days, hard long miles that I know are going to help me get to that 8 mile mark. I’ve been in the mood to go further, but I don’t want to hurt myself by overdoing things if I’m not ready. Only 30 days left!
>A case of Spring Fever
>I got a great workout in last night. After work, I headed out to the metro parks, wind and some rain included, but it was the best run I’ve had yet. I was in that nothing-is-going-to-stop-me mode. I wanted to keep running, but knew my body would hate me the next day. It brought back memories of running in college, when I could keep running for miles at a time. That’s when I was in the best shape of my life. Only 32 days left, and I know I can do this. I have to prove it to myself that I will be able to run 13.1 miles. It may take a bit of time convincing myself, but at least I’m putting in the miles, and that has to show for something.
>April Training brings May Winning
>Ok, so after having thunderstorms all day, I only found it fitting that I use the saying from April showers bring May flowers. It’s a nice change though, rain and 60 degrees compared to snow and 30 degrees, that will probably only last a day or so. I’ve spent the last three days working out, and actually working hard. April is the month that will determine everything. I have to put lots of miles in if I want to semi enjoy running 13.1 miles. I’ve learned that having one long day a week makes everything else seem easy, and makes the long day actually mean more. I’m excited to see how much I can accomplish and how great it will feel to be back in shape again. Happy running!
