Recover, Rebuild

After this…

Dallas Marathon 

December 13, 2015

I did this…

“The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea.”

~Isak Dinesen

I slept in, relaxed on the beach, did crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and wined and dined at night. It was a true “recovery”. Within 5 days I was back to my usual self and within two weeks I started to get that “itch” again!

2016 Goals

Start List

I’ll be on the starting line in Cambridge, MD for Ironman 70.3 Eagleman on June 12^th. 

My first Half Ironman (Swim 1.2 miles – Bike 56 miles – Run 13.1 miles). I’m already nervous!!!

PS I hate how they use the age you turn that year. Sheesh. I JUST turned 32.

But before this….

Can you spot my name ;-) It’s a sign.

I’ll be lining up to do this again!! I can’t wait J

onecitymarathon.com

"Try a thing you haven’t done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure out whether you like it or not." Virgil Thomson

This will be my 4^th marathon. I guess I like it…in a sick, weird, unexplainable way.

Initially I had some reservations - like recovering from Dallas in enough time to train properly. But most of all, I felt (self imposed) pressure that I HAD to win. That I would be a failure if I came in any place but first because of the success I had last year. 

Had a convo with my Dad before I made my decision:

• Me: Should I do it?
• Dad: Why wouldn't you?
• Me: Because I won already. Why would I want to go back out there and risk losing?
• Dad: Is that really why you do this? Just to win?
• Me: No, I do it to keep getting faster, keep improving, to challenge myself...for that feeling I get after I cross the finish line....
• Dad: Alright then, you answered your question.

...parents...why do they always have to make sense??

Training has begun and I'm confident that my Coach will prepare me to run my fastest time on March 13th. Whatever place that puts me in ... as long as I give it my all, that's all I can do. And yes, I officially have a coach!! I applied for this program back in October. I found out right before the new year that I was one of 40 women picked to participate. I'm extremely grateful to be one of the women chosen to be a part of this initiative and thankful for the coaches that have donated $40,000 in services to help female athletes like myself reach our crazy goals. #EquallyInspiring

The official list

My coach and I have been working together for a couple of weeks and I've already done some of the hardest workouts of my life. I also got back to racing this past weekend; a 5K (3.1 miles).

I'm usually pretty slow for a few weeks post marathon. My body gets locked into a slower, manageable pace and anything under 6:20 mile/pace feels super hard. The race: I planned to go out in 6:10. Went through the first mile, glanced at my Garmin: 5:55. Good grief. I may end up walking the last mile…or go into cardiac arrest. I know. I’m so dramatic. I went through the second mile with a 6 minute split. I actually never felt bad or wanted to slow down until maybe the last half mile. That was the toughest part of the race. Before I knew it I spotted the finish line.

Race: Menchville 5K

Time: 18:32

Average Mile Pace: 5:58

Place: First Female

This is a great start for me. My first 5K after the marathon last year I ran a 19:40...huge difference. I'm excited for what's to come!