I did the Honored Hero 20-mile run last month and it didn't go well. I ran a little over 10 miles at a pretty good pace before I crashed and had to start walking. Two weeks before that, I had a very tough 16-mile run. I tried to prepare well for both of them. I gradually increased my mileage, I got enough sleep, I was good about reducing the alcohol intake, etc. I thought I would have a good 16-mile run (especially after the 14-miler the weekend before went okay), but I was a little demoralized after it, and it shook my confidence for the 20-mile Honored Hero Run. But at the end of the day, it comes down to the weight issue (or maybe partially the mental aspect associated with the weight issue). Running is way more difficult when you weigh 15-20 pounds more. I did a great job last year of getting down to 146.5 pounds (a few pounds less than wedding weight) before the Las Vegas Marathon. I followed a training plan pretty strictly, and I did a good job with my nutrition. The most important factor was giving up alcohol about two months before the marathon though.
Now I'm in such a different place than I was last year. I changed jobs in February after I got a promotion to a supervisory position in another office. I am much more challenged than I was before, and it's a great opportunity career-wise. But on the flip side, I gave up telework, I put in way more than 40 hours a week, I have much more stress, and I have a lot less time to workout, sleep, recover, etc. Plus the stress really makes me want to unwind with a glass (or three!) of wine.
I struggled with wanting to go after it and break 4 hours in the marathon versus not having the commitment (and just working out and trying to stay somewhat healthy). With that said, I signed up for the full marathan (and I signed Cliff up for the half marathon) in Las Vegas the first weekend of December. That was a $400 commitment. I don't feel ready to do well (I'm thinking I could probably break the 4:30 time limit, but I have no faith in finishing near my 4:03 PR) and the trip would cost us about a grand (we haven't booked it yet). We just bought an elliptical machine, we have our property taxes due, and we're paying for college expenses. So we made the decision to skip the Vegas trip, and that leaves me marathonless. I am somewhat relieved, so I guess it was probably a good decision.
So now it's time to decide what the future holds. I know the most important thing is to be happy and healthy, but I'm so goal oriented, that it's hard to just go day in and day out without having something to work for. Hmmmm.....
Now I'm in such a different place than I was last year. I changed jobs in February after I got a promotion to a supervisory position in another office. I am much more challenged than I was before, and it's a great opportunity career-wise. But on the flip side, I gave up telework, I put in way more than 40 hours a week, I have much more stress, and I have a lot less time to workout, sleep, recover, etc. Plus the stress really makes me want to unwind with a glass (or three!) of wine.
I struggled with wanting to go after it and break 4 hours in the marathon versus not having the commitment (and just working out and trying to stay somewhat healthy). With that said, I signed up for the full marathan (and I signed Cliff up for the half marathon) in Las Vegas the first weekend of December. That was a $400 commitment. I don't feel ready to do well (I'm thinking I could probably break the 4:30 time limit, but I have no faith in finishing near my 4:03 PR) and the trip would cost us about a grand (we haven't booked it yet). We just bought an elliptical machine, we have our property taxes due, and we're paying for college expenses. So we made the decision to skip the Vegas trip, and that leaves me marathonless. I am somewhat relieved, so I guess it was probably a good decision.
So now it's time to decide what the future holds. I know the most important thing is to be happy and healthy, but I'm so goal oriented, that it's hard to just go day in and day out without having something to work for. Hmmmm.....
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