Happy Wednesday Everyone! How are we already to the halfway point of the week? I don’t know, but I like it – recently I’ve been living for the weekends!
I wanted to start off today by saying thank you for all of the amazing comments on yesterday’s post! It really means a lot to know that I am not the only one wrestling with the feelings of home and belonging, so thanks! 🙂
Yesterday my youngest sister had the last home track meet of her high school career. She ran the 800 and the 4×400 – which both she/her team won. I’m so glad that I could be there in person!
psst. notice the super sweet ProCompression sock she’s wearin’ – yeah that’s from me! 😉
For the past 10 years me or one of my sisters has been on the HHS track team – its crazy to think that its been that long since I started high school track and even crazier that our legacy is now coming to an end!
Another crazy thing is that it has been 3 1/2 weeks since the marathon. I haven’t posted much in the way of running/exercise since then and its mostly because not much has been happening on that front. But this week I am officially getting back into serious training so I thought it would be the perfect time to give you all an update on what my running plan looks like going forwards.
As you know I am running the Chicago Marathon this fall, between now and then I plan on running some shorter distance races – mostly 10Ks and up – in preparation to run a BIG PR in October. And I will finally run the half (maybe even 2) that I set out to run in March.
The goal is to run sub-3 at Chicago – and honestly I’m going to be gunning for 2:55. I was right on pace to hit that at Boston even when I wasn’t feeling my best and I know that I could have kept up that pace if my IT band had cooperated.
Depending on the outcome at Chicago, I want to take about a year off from the marathon to focus on getting my 5K time down into the low 16’s (maybe even sub-16) – before giving the marathon one “last” effort in the attempt to make make the mark for the Olympic Trials marathon in February 2016 (1:15 half or 2:43 full).
So there you have it – the next two years(ish) of my life – summarized into three, short, little paragraphs. I’m going to have to put in a lot of work to achieve these goals, but I believe that I’ve made some pretty good changes since Boston that will help me get there!
Since Boston…
… I took two weeks of rest/recovery so that I’m refreshed and ready to work hard towards all these goals! (note: I have run a total of 65 miles the past 3 weeks…that’s the equivalent of my shortest training week during marathon training).
… I officially decided to make the switch to 10 day training cycles. (more on this in future posts barring that all goes well)
… I started doing P90X with Henri because I know that strength training can only make me stronger and faster!
… I found a physical therapist to work on form analysis with on a weekly basis and to be proactive about pains/injuries. My first appointment is tomorrow – YAY!
… I started scoping out coaches to work with because I have BIG goals and I know that I need help to reach them!
and last but not least
… I lost a toenail. It gave a valiant effort and hung in there for 3 weeks but as of last night it just gave up.
One of these things is not like the others…
If you’re a runner do your family members run? Do others know you as the running family?
What is your biggest running goal? Don’t hold back – I want to hear about your DREAMS!
Are there any changes that you know you have to make in order to reach your goals?
Will Run for Boston 
Sadly, no one else in my family runs. I keep hoping Joe will do it at least a little but no luck. My biggest change will probably be acquiring a coach, I’m looking to do it after my fall races when I gear up for big PRs in the spring 🙂
Coaches really are a BIG help! I can’t wait to see you run some PRs next spring! What races are you doing this fall?
Philly half and Columbus!
So exciting! Can’t wait to see how you do!
That’s how I felt when my swimming legacy ended at home. My brother and I have been involved in swimming for the past 17 (!!) years, so it’s weird to think that suddenly I won’t be going back for meets anymore. Super excited for all of these big training plans coming up… and even MORE excited for the Jamestown race this summer 🙂
Wow! 17 years is such a long time! I’m excited for Jamestown too! Like SOOOOOO excited!
My family members have started to run, and I absolutely love it! I absolutely love running races with my dad; I seriously treasure it so much! I am so sorry about your toe nail. That sucks! 😦 A goal of mine is to run another marathon under 4 hours!
That is so fun that you’ve gotten your family members into running. I love doing races with my sisters/family. It just makes the races so much more special!
what an exciting two year plan!!!! i’m so excited to be able to watch and learn 🙂
i’m really interesting in what a 10 day training cycle will look like! i’d never hear of it before you mentioned it a while back. and i’m super intrigued!
I talked with my coach last night for the first time and he actually suggested that we test out a 14 day training cycle first and then if that’s too much we’ll whittle it down to 10ish days. I’m really excited to experiment with the longer training cycle too! Can’t wait to share everything that I learn!
Alas, I am the only runner in my family and you might say my siblings are advocates for me to take up other sports. They have not succeeded.
In the next 2 years, I want to develop a strong base level of mileage, regularly do core workouts, and add in speed training. In 2015, I would love to run my first marathon, which has been a goal since 8th grade. All of these are dependent, though, on my learning to train properly.
Haha, don’t cave into other sports! Running is the best! 🙂
Running a marathon is a great goal! Good luck with all your training!
No one in my family runs, it must be fun to be in such an athletic family! My biggest running goal for this year is to do well in the Twin Cities Marathon, for me that’s finishing in under 5 hours (I’m slow). The biggest changes I need to make is running more miles, I’ll also need to be more structured in my training. I look forward to reading about you reaching your goals!
Running a marathon is a huge accomplishment no matter what your time is! If you ever feel that you need help safely increasing your mileage or coming up with a structured plan check out my coaching services! I’d love to help you reach your goals! 🙂
I’m currently on a half marathon a month challenge. I am 9 out of 12 months so far! In that time I ran my first marathon and hoping to run 2 more before years end. My ultimate goal is to run Chi, NY, and Boston…but shhhhhh, no one in my running club knows yet =). Have a kick ass day!
Wow! A half marathon a month for a year is awesome! Good luck finishing up the last three – I have no doubt that you’ll make it!
Congrats to your sister, great way to close out the season. Welcome back to serious training. The weekly physical therapist is going to bea huge help, keep us updated on that. Fiancé and I just started running 7 months ago but we have already stated getting the kids involved. I hope we become the running family. First goal is marathon February 2015, second goal is ultra marathon May 2015. Changes needed are a ton more miles, more trail runs, and increase my vertical gain on runs.
Wow! Those are some awesome goals that you are going to be tackling this next year!
My brother used to be a marathoner before he got really into Crossfit and gave it up. My parents run and are actually who got me into the sport.
My goal is just to run a full marathon. I don’t really care about the time, I just want to say I have done it. I leave my time goals to other distances 🙂
My sister used to run marathons but switched to Crossfit too. She loves it.
That was my goal for my first marathon too! I just wanted to finish. Do you have a certain marathon picked out already?
St. Jude’s Memphis Marathon in December! AHHHH!!! I’m so nervous!
Oh that’s awesome! Good luck! Can’t wait to following your training and race day!
My Mom is a runner – and was pretty speedy in her prime (sub 3 hour marathoner) but I only started running a couple of years ago. I’m hoping to run my first marathon in October and I would one day like to qualify for Boston. Now I just have to work on not getting injured so much!
Your mom is speedy! I have no doubt that you’ll be able to qualify for Boston even in your first marathon!
That is so cool with your sisters! So she is a senior? I’m happy I don’t have to run against her, I bet she’s crazy fast haha! Absolutely no one in my family is a runner, so nobody knows how I got into it. I did get my family into living a healthier lifestyle though! And you are just amazing. So incredibly fast. Someday I’d just like to run a marathon!
Yes, she is a senior! That is really awesome that you got your family into living healthier, I try to have the same affect on the people around me too. I have no doubt that one day you will run a marathon. You can do it!
Aw, look at your cute running family!
My next two years will be rehabbing this stupid hip labral tear. 😦