New Year, New Races

Alright, kids. So here's the deal.

Ever since I finished the Nike Women's Marathon, I've been thinking "hey that was an amazing experience that I will never forget, but I sure as hell am never going to repeat it." All I could remember was the pain and the feeling that I was subjecting my body to an enormous strain that was verging on the unhealthy. So over the last couple of years I've focused on shorter races - 5k, 7k, half marathon, and even a 10-mile. Occasionally I'd daydream about doing another marathon, but 99% of said daydreams involved the part where I would cross the finish line. But in the past week or two, something surfaced. The past couple of months have involved the usual descent into winter: increasing intake of unhealthy food coupled with decreasing activity. It's flipping cold here in Minnesota, and holiday foods are delicious. Suddenly I realized that doing another marathon was not only the key to restoring my focus at the very time I need it most, but it was also something I should do again so I could do it right. Because frankly, I shouldn't have done it the last time around.

To be fair: Under the circumstances, I prepared pretty well. I mean, first I was in New York City during the most miserably hot months one can be there, working at an internship that was stressing the crap out of me, living on next to nothing. I had never followed any kind of structured exercise plan and suddenly I was preparing for an endurance event? After New York, I then severed all ties to my running support and went back to law school, which is pretty much like trying to work out while tied to a chair. I finished preparation and went out to San Francisco by myself, ran the race with thousands of strangers, and celebrated alone. By the time I had physically recovered, I kind of lost the overall momentum. And it's no wonder it took so much out of me: I learned how to run, yes, but I didn't prepare my body adequately. I didn't monitor my nutrition, and I didn't work particularly hard at conditioning anything but my running legs.

So now I'm going to do it again. This time, I have pretty solid base already. I have both been there and done that, and I know what to expect. I am registered for a triple 7k (basically a half marathon) round about St. Patty's Day. I am following a pretty strict workout schedule. And I am thinking thinking thinking. And it will be awesome!