Monday, August 5, 2013

New Goal Euphoria

I'm training for a half-marathon! New race, new plan, new people, new goals. I have been in a permanent state of WOO-HOO! since I first learned about this team. (Well, super anxious woo-hoo!  since I submitted my application and then full blown WOO-HOO! since learning I would be a part of the team.) I am beyond excited about every aspect of the program. After a solid year of training for and completing my first 2 marathons, body and mind were ready for a change in programming.

I've run half-marathons before, I've enjoyed the switch from training alone to training with people. I've experienced the fear thrill of training for and completing my first marathon. I've enjoyed the sense of accomplishment that comes from starting every single Saturday morning with runs that take you all over your city and leave you wringing your shirt out. Few things in life can compare to a post-Summer long run shower. Over the past four years of running, I have made the mental shift from If something/someone wants to chase me for 26.2 miles, they win. to Maybe I'll try this. And I've loved it.

Running has become one of my favorite things to do. I think about it, read about it, and lust after its specially-designed clothing. I've recently noticed that if I better balanced the time I spend reading running blogs/magazines/clothing catalogs with actual running time, I might actual be a decent runner. On the one hand, it's never hard to find someone who will admire the fact that you run at all, even if it's only 3 miles. On the other hand, after 4 years of running, 5 (or 6?) 1/2 marathons, 2 marathons, and about 7 pairs running shoes, I don't think I can get away with the "Just finish" goals anymore. I have no children/night shifts/troubling agorophia to prevent me from getting out there, stepping outside my comfort zone, and finding out what I can do. And, let's be honest, I've thrown up after a run before. More than one person has seen my speckled red, I swear childbirth is going to be better than this face. I can do this. I'm going to pray that the yoga keeps my tendency to walk into walls balance in check to help prevent injury.

Today is Day 1. I have always been a morning runner. I love starting my day in the cool quiet, getting a sneak peek at the day before most people have stepped out of the house. I can't deny that I missed a great morning with its late-September feel, but I feel like I'm heading to my first track practice of the season after work today. Can't wait!

3 comments:

  1. Yay for blogs! I'm a morning person too so tomorrow night should be interesting. In fact, I'm such a morning person that our household is usually up and functioning at 5AM and asleep by 9PM... and by asleep I mean dead to the world.
    Can't wait to train with you!
    Emma
    PS- I'm at amomrunsthistown.com

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  2. Thanks Emma! I've got you in my feed :)

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  3. Leigh-
    I LOVE every bit of your post. If I knew how to get to the place where I can follow you, I would. A bit technically challenged, but I bet you will help me figure it out.
    I want to run with you some more. I know we will cross paths again.
    Congratulations on this new adventure - and thank you for sharing it with us.
    Laurie Canning

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