Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Week 1 of feeling better, and 1 week out of the official start date of Training for RNR Seattle... So what have I been up to, attempting to get my legs back and attempting to formulate a game plan so that I will not be completely owned by the Full Marathon like the Nike Women's Marathon (NWM). That race got the best of me, and I'm the first to admit that, but this time around I would like to walk away victorious, with the feeling that I am a marathon runner.

As I mentioned before, whenever I'm sick the hardest part is that mentally I expect myself to be the same as I was prior to, but the thing is, I'm not. So this past week I stuck with short, interval type runs. aka No pain No gain, so make it count. Monday was a 5 mile, Wed was 4 and Saturday morning I honestly can't even remember, the only thing I know was that it felt hard. I stopped, walked a bit, then would start back running again, I think I did just over 5 but once again I don't really remember and the point of this run was to just do it. To run, for a significant amount of time even though I didn't want to. Sunday I went to swim practice (ya, I handn't been in 3 weeks, I asked my coach if he missed me) and managed to do the fastest shower and change to make it to church that started 15 minutes after swimming practice ended.... God doesn't care if you smell like chlorine... now the people around me might of... Sunday was great because swimming is so different then running, and I have a coach that tells me what to do and other swimmers coming up behind me so I can't go all chillaxingly slow.

Now that I have had time to reflect and formulate goals, I have decided that the goal pace that I would like to work down to for a half is 8:30, and considering I'm doing the BMO Half in May, I feel like I have enough time to perhaps make this a possibility. Having done it before, I know that this is a good course to get a PR on because of its downhill gradient. Also, this year I'm going to do some training run's in Stanley Park/along the Seawall because mentally, I get owned when I run in nature and I finally realized why. While some people do so well in this type of scenic course, I fail because when I run, I love people watching! I love looking at houses or cars, seeing the ones I like or do not like, I run to be by myself, but still be with others. Also, I don't really care about flowers, what type of trees are around me bluh bluh bluh, I am soooo not zen enough for that to motivate me.

Well, once again, I have a plan (as you can tell I'm a plan and making lists type of gal), so lets see how well I will follow this and execute it. With 1 week left of non structured running plans I have a feeling this week is going to be rather sporadic and my last week of running only on my beloved holey treadmill... Tonight will be a Biggest Loser/Oscar fashion recap inspired run, so likely I will easily zone out on the Treadmill and spend 90 minutes there... Seriously, Oscars last night, I Love Jennifer Lawrence, and only she can recover from her fall with such smooth humor... Also, now I am motivated by all those Woman in form fitted gowns to get my butt on the treadmill to make sure I keep everything 'tight'. Hey, motivation is motivation, plus, lets face it I really like me some food. :) So whatever, motivates you, I hope you find it on this Monday and start your week off right. Happy Monday!