This is the only post-race photo I took. So you have to see it again.
It has been exactly a week since I ran the Ottawa Marathon. I can walk normally again. Toronto now feels like summer. I went to the island Friday night, caught a late ferry back. The skyline was sparkling and I was ready. Ready for summer. Ready to do this marathon training thing for the second time in a year. (I am delusional and crazy. It’s the only way to get through this.)
I sent an email to Andie, my running coach, about New York, this morning. I need to put fun in my runs again. The email itself was long and rambly, but this was the gist of it:
1. I want to run a strong, consistent race.
I am a positive split master. So this time out, my goal is around a 4:15 marathon with 2:07/2:07 splits. I’ll get my sub 4:00. But NYC isn’t the place to do it.
2. I want to have fun.
The Ottawa Marathon training cycle was hard, and it wasn’t fun. Part of the reason I have 4:15 in mind is that I want to enjoy the experience. I don’t want to get so caught up in a goal that I miss running the NYC Marathon. I actually tried to write a km by km recap of Ottawa and I couldn’t. I barely remember Gatineau or running by the prime minister’s house. Sometimes, that’s okay. But for one of the biggest marathons in the world, it won’t be.
3. I want to get stronger.
I was doing really well on the strength training aspect of my training until I got sick in April. I want to get back on track with that again. I think training in the summer and fall will help with that a lot. It will be light outside and warm and waking up at 6 a.m. to workout won’t be the death sentence it is in February.
4. I want to run with people more often.
I used to go to a running group at Lulu Lemon semi-regularly. Then, after Blue Nose, I stopped. I appreciate the solo time running gives me, but I did find when I ran with people, I pushed myself harder. I need to do that again.
5. I want to run a sub-50:00 10k.
My 10k split at the STWM half last fall was 52:28, so I think this is a good goal that gives me a reason to do speedwork and focus on getting faster without it bogging down my marathon goals.
6. I want my training to start on July 20.
I want a few weeks to run for fun, enjoy the summer, let my body heal from the marathon. My friend Natalie (hi, Natalie!) is getting married in NS this summer and we are going, so I thought that returning from that trip would be a good time to start training. It’ll mean my training program would be 15 weeks long. Since I am just coming off a training cycle, I think it will be ok.
We’ll see what the coach says.
I really admire your drive to not give up after a hard training cycle and race! I ran my best marathon last fall and I think its because of the summer training. Screw winter! As long as you run early before it gets hot or late after the sun goes down, you’re good! I also have been with the running room for all four (soon to be five marathons) and couldn’t do it without the group!
Thanks! I think already having NYC signed up and paid for helps. Otherwise, it’s possible it’d be a few years before I’m ready to do the marathon thing again.
I’m looking forward to training in the summer. I’m normally a hot weather runner hater, but after 2 training cycles through the winter, am looking forward to mixing it up! I still have the dream of becoming a more consistent morning exerciser, so having a longer training cycle should help with that!
I don’t mind running on my own at all, but I find I run harder and faster with people. So there’s that! I’ve heard only good things about the Running Room group, I’m thinking about giving their free runs a try soon!
Five marathons!! You’re amazing!!