A PLAN

So I asked MWC about what he thinks I should run the 1/2 marathon in. (I am running PF Changs on Sunday) He asked me what I thought I could do it in. Well.... I ran the 10 miler without a taper at a 6:19 pace in November, but I have lost fitness due to recovering from my last marathon, so I suggested 6:30-6:40 pace and he suggested 6:30 pace, backing off if I feel it is too hard, pushing if I want to go faster, but STARTING CONSERVATIVELY! I consider myself new to this sport, and I always tend to leave the start line like a bat out of hell. Ahh.. inexperience. But I am really trying to work on it and my bff Terri helped me a lot with that this past summer. She taught me to go out slower than you think and pass competiors at the end when they are out of gas. I have employed this tactic a few times and it works like a charm!

Am I ready for this? I guess we will find out! I will head to the expo tomorrow to *hopefully* meet Deena Kastor, I know that will get me motivated!

Here is what I ran the rest of this week:
Tue - Track 10 miles with 8x800m at 6:00pace with 2min recovery in between. Felt tired and like I was getting sick.
Wed - 7 miles recovery Went to the gym to do some runner's strength exercises from "Racing Weight" by Matt Fitzgerald - See right!
Thur - 10 miles with 2 miles at my 1/2 marathon race pace -6:30. Have to admit, kind of tough. Then again it was 5am, dark and I was running by myself, so all I could think about was how uncomfortable the pace felt. Still feeling a little sick today. Didn't feel like eating much today. When that happens, I know I am really not well. I am always eating!
Fri - Off

It has also been a very draining week at school for some reason. I am exausted. I spend so much energy on the kids that I am beat when I get home. I don't mind, of course, as we have tons of fun during the day, but it is hard to then come home and plan or grade papers. Always so much to do. There is a lot going on at school right now and although we have MLK Day off, I will be going in to get caught up! I love the kids, but I sure am ready for the weekend!

Runningly Yours,

To race or not to race

In November, I signed up for the PF Changs Rock and Roll Arizona Marathon just in case I bombed Tucson.   I didn't bomb Tucson so MWC (new acronym from here on out=My Wonderful Coach) told me that it would definitely NOT be a good idea to run the full marathon.  Well, I already paid so he is letting me do the 1/2.  However,  I am not sure yet if I will be 'racing' it.  I am really not in any shape to set a good PR. I won't be tapering at all either.  So, this Sunday will be a mystery!  I don't know if I can run a race as just a 'work-out' or tempo run.  Could you?  I think my competitiveness gets the best of me. I am just afraid of pushing too hard and not being able to finish!

I am very excited though to be in the corral behind Deena Kastor and Ryan Hall!  I know that there are also some other super fast gals besides Deena running this, so it will be neat to see them run!

What do you think?

Runningly Yours,