Happy Weekend! Is everyone excited about it being Saturday as I am? Despite working this morning, I’ll be off early afternoon and then I get Sunday off so it’s going to be glorious. I’ll be sure of it, even if the weather doesn’t cooperate. 😉
Anyway, upon completing my 1/2 marathon (and even before crossing the finish line), I’ve been asked several times about what’s next? Will I try for a full marathon? Will I push for a triathlon? Am I working towards something more?
I know many of these questions have been half joking, half serious, some maybe even totally joking, but it brings up a good question…
What is next?
And honestly, I don’t have the answer.
To many the next logical step would be to work towards the full marathon and maybe someday I will, we’ll see. But for now, that’s not my goal.
You see, earlier this year I made a goal: run a race a month in 2013 and so far I’ve run a race in January, February, March and April. I have a few others scheduled out later this year and I have some months I’m still working out. (Have a race you want me to run? Check out this page.)
Part of the reason for this goal was to stay in my best running shape all year. Part was to constantly keep me working towards something. Part was just to challenge myself with something I’ve never done before.
That doesn’t mean the full marathon is out of the question but for now I’m holding off. I’d like to run another 1/2 before I pursue the full. And since my life is in a bit of an in-between, I don’t feel comfortable committing to something that I’m not sure I can see all the way through, and knowing myself, I’m not sure I’d be able to admit further down the road that I couldn’t see it through.
So back to the question, what’s next?
I’m going to keep pushing for a race a month (of varying distances) and focus back on strength training since they fell to the wayside the last couple weeks. I’ve been thinking I’d loosely follow the LiveFit training program again since I loved it so much when I did it last year.
Since I’m trying to stay in running shape, I’m going to continue some cardio through the first phase (which is usually discouraged) but make sure I’m really focusing in on the strength side of things.
I’ll keep you all updated as things progress and change. 🙂
How about you? Are you working towards any fitness goals right now?
Don’t forget there are THREE giveaways going on right now for my birthday – have you entered?
Mira Stainless Steel Containers
As you know, I was pretty consistently running 9-11 miles for quite some time. [Namely, before it got cold. ;)] Everyone was asking if I was training, when was my half, etc. etc. After my very first race three weeks ago, I have to say, I have not been bitten by that bug everyone told me I would get bitten by. I loved the feeling of finishing a race, and the camraderie of having friends run, too, but overall, I really just run to run. [I will say it is nice to have people at the gym THINK I run marathons. After Boston, a bunch of them came up to me and asked if I had been running in it. I was completely flattered. Mostly because they thought I was fast enough to actually qualify…]
It’s okay you didn’t catch the racing bug but it’s definitely a moment to appreciate the camaraderie of the community. It really is a beautiful thing.
I think your goals sound GREAT! And I’ve done the LiveFit trainer…phase one gets sooooooo boring…at least with some cardio added in, it’ll help mix things up a bit!
My continuing goal is to progress in my physical therapy until I FINALLY get to the point where I can move and bend like a normal person…ie, squat down and kick…oh and I guess I should add in WALK without limping for more than an hour! Ugh…this is really taking forever! Boo!
I don’t remember getting bored with it per se, but rather getting anxious for some cardio. At the same time, LiveFit is to thank for my love of strength training so I can’t hate on it too much.
I like your idea of doing one race a month. I considered doing that (one a season though) this year, but ultimately I’m cheap, so I’m not going to bother. 🙂
I love that I’m not reading “I am going to train for a marathon in a month” or something like that. I’ve seen too many runners (including myself) go gung ho after completing a pretty big accomplishment and then get injured, burnt out, or both. Kudos for having a great attitude!
Thanks, girl! It’s been hard to not allow the runners high to take over too much but it took a LOT of hard work for me to run this 1/2 marathon and while I felt pretty good during MOST of it, it wasn’t easy for me or my body. I wasn’t made to run crazy long distances all the time and I know my mind AND body need some recovery and at least another 1/2 before I really think about trying to run a full marathon. But seriously, thank you! 🙂
Todd wants to do a 1/2 marathon in Batavia. It’s in August. He did it a few years ago.
Good luck to him!! I know I want to do another one but right now I’m in no rush, nor have I started looking.
Love that fitness goal of a race a month!
I want to try and increase my running distance again and then try and maintain the distance over winter when usually I ramp it down.
I ran through winter this year (first time EVER) and that was seriously a struggle! Those bitter cold runs were fun for awhile but a girl can only handle so many 15* runs… :-/
How awesome that you are doing more weight training!! Right now, I have no goals. I’m boring. 🙂 But, I am loving weight training!
No goals doesn’t make you boring. In fact, you’re far from boring! But weight training IS super fun!
My current goal is to do a half marathon in May, but we’ll see if that happens since this injury requires more down time….
I’m with you – I’m really excited about doing one (or more) half marathons, but I can’t see myself ever training for a full at this point. Maybe a triathlon someday.
Injured? Be careful! Honestly, as far as I’m concerned it’s not worth it. Take the time to recover properly and then make sure to train well the next time around to try and avoid injury.
I don’t expect a triathlon in my future – I am NOT a confident swimmer…Not in the least.
Hey Hey!!
I completely understand.
I haven’t done a 1/2 yet
but I have run 10 miles
and after that people ask okay so when’s your half?!
I’m like ummmmmmmm not fully ready yet lol.
But I think after my half I know I’d do like 2 or 3 more before committing to a full.
It’s BIG commitment! So don’t make it til you are ready!!!
A race is month is also my goal. Though I don’t have one for this month bc I had to miss it because
was slightly injured :(.
I need to go check out these giveaways!!
Listen to your body, if you’re not ready yet – take it easy! No injuries!!