My Plans for the Remainder of 2014 and a Race for 2015!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been feeling a little less than motivated lately. I am still running but not really following any type of schedule or plan. I guess you can say that I just run with no particular pace or distance. That has kind of been my spot lately and it feels like of nice to take a little break from it. I feel like I have been in a consistent training cycle and maybe I need a break. Not a break from running but maybe just a break from the pressure of training for a race.  

So what are my plans for the remainder of 2014? I have only committed to one race for the remainder of the year and I will be running it with my other half. It will be his second half marathon and he will be running it in one of his favorite places.

 

I have also thought about running a Turkey Trot (5K) on Thanksgiving Day but I have not committed to one yet. I can sign up at the last minute without worrying about a price increase so I will wait on this one. This is a fun one and I love that I get to see some of my local running buddies, like Megan, who also run this race.

Sometimes I feel like signing up for a race is the answer to getting yourself motivated so maybe these races will get me back into the groove. Having that said, I am going to commit to one more race that is more than six months out. I ran this race with a friend this year and paced her to a sub-2 half marathon PR. After experiencing the race, I really thought about running it to see what I could pull off on my own. I call it a cheat race because it is downhill but sometimes it is nice to fly without needing a pair of wings. It is local and cheap so what the heck. I am going to give it a try!

My running club also runs some local races that they incorporate into their training so they might twist my arm to sign up. I say no, but we will see.

 
Who else is thinking about signing up for some year end races? 

What about races for 2015?

It's Race Week and Goals for the Long Beach Marathon.

In just six days I will be running Marathon #6 and it will be my third time running this marathon. It feels nice knowing that I am going to actually make it to the starting line this time. I have missed some important races this year and it has been disappointing to say the least.

I am going into this race with a different mindset. I think it is mostly because I will be pacing a friend to a PR. I hope I can get her there and everything goes as planned. I will be running over a minute slower than my goal marathon pace so I will be out there longer than I am used to. I wonder how that is going to affect me. It makes me a bit nervous but I am going to try to enjoy this race and make this marathon as positive of a experience as I can for my friend.

We did our last long run together this past Saturday. We actually ran 10 miles of the Long Beach Marathon course and what I consider to be one of the tougher parts of the course. The last few miles of the course have a gradual uphill climb as well which can be difficult especially in those last few miles.

My main goal will be to keep her on track with her pace and keep her from going out too fast. I will be wearing my Garmin and she will be running without hers. She is getting anxious and wants to do better each time we talk. I guess we all feel that way and that's what makes us push ourselves to become stronger runners. She has set some personal goals for this race which will be her second marathon. 

GOALS FOR THE LONG BEACH MARATHON

A+ Goal= Any time under 4:30

A Goal: 4:30 

B Goal: Under 5 Hours

C Goal: PR this darn race which would be anything under 5:30 for her

The weather is not looking too bad at this point but I would love to see it in the mid to high 50's. The race starts at 6:00 am very close to the ocean so I think that is going to help us out a lot.

Anyone else running Long Beach or Chicago this Sunday?

Lately

Lately I have been feeling kind of different about running. I guess you can say that I am kind of in a "running funk." My head has not been in it and my heart has not been in it for sure. I am still running but I guess my attitude towards running has been a little different. I feel like I have been in constant training mode without any real break. I am not burned out but I feel like I am getting there and need some change. Joining a running club has really brought the changes that I needed.

My running club has also changed my perspective on running and learning to run at an aerobic pace with them has been a huge change for me. Joining this club was one of the best decisions that I have made in a long time. The club is currently training for the LA Marathon and they run about 60-90 seconds under race pace. Running at an aerobic pace is tough but since we are running lots of hills it may not be such a bad idea for me right now. Slowing things down also has it's benefits such as lessening the chance of injury and improving your endurance. Running with the club is fun so I look forward to my runs with them. It definitely beats getting out there on your own especially when you are lacking motivation or want to skip a run!

I think the hip bursitis I was dealing with a few weeks ago kind of made me realize that I need to listen to my body and take things down a notch for a while. I learned a lot about myself and wanted to take those lessons and learn something from them. I was foam rolling, stretching and all of that good stuff but I guess the increase in mileage was not such a good idea. I ran 150 miles in July and I was well on my way to another 150 mile month for August. I normally run 25-30 miles a week. I am not a high mileage runner and 150 miles a month is pretty good for me. So I have decided that I am going to go back to running the lower mileage and make each run count. I also found that my runs are so much better when I run every other day versus consecutive days.

Having said that, I will be running Marathon #6 next Sunday. The only difference is that I will be running with a friend and hopefully pacing her to a new PR. I think it is going to be kind of nice since I will be running at her pace and without the pressure to break four hours or PR. I know that it is still going to be a challenge since marathons will always be difficult in my books! I want to enjoy this marathon and focus on my friend and not myself. This will be her second marathon and her first experience was not a good one so hopefully she will have a different perspective after this race. 

How do you get yourself out of a "running funk" and find the change you need?

Does your training include running at an aerobic pace?