Thursday, January 17, 2013

Happy New Season

More than two weeks into the New Year, how are the resolutions coming? I’m enjoying the extra people out running; it’s always a pleasant surprise I’m not the only crazy person running around in the cold. Hopefully the unseasonably warm weather here in D.C. has kept some people on track. I’d really love to see the Resolutioners still out in February, when it’s really miserable.

I’ll be honest—I don’t make New Year’s resolutions very often. What I do make often and repeatedly are New Season resolutions; when I start getting back into training, I’m optimistic and eager. This will be the season I strength-train/increase my mileage/eat better/sleep more! The success rates of these missions are modest; I have cranked up the mileage and gotten better about eating and sleeping right. But sorry, strength training, you’ve yet to make the cut.

I do appreciate the starting over. Last season was a bit of a mess. I was feeling great in August, getting in the rhythm of workouts with the team, doing strength stuff, looking forward to lots of fall races. But then in September, things fell apart. I was exhausted all the time, couldn’t hit paces in workouts or easy runs, and ran one of my most disappointing races to date. (Ok, Chicago 2010 was worse.) Afterwards, I didn’t really know what to do. I took some days off, moped around a bit, and finally realized I might have iron issues. But after that, I couldn’t get back in the groove, strength workouts slipped away again (they are elusive little buggers!), and my mileage never got back to where I wanted it. More often then I'd like, I abandoned my good diet and sleeping habits. October through December is a bit of a blur of more disappointing races. Honestly, looking back, I’d say I wasn’t giving my all. I was going through the motions, but it wasn’t getting me where I wanted to be. I was in a rut, and I couldn't get out.

So ever since the season wrapped up, I’ve been looking forward to hitting reset. New year, fresh slate, and back to the marathon—my true running love. There’s something satisfying about marathon training--being constantly a little hungry, a little exhausted, and yet completely fulfilled, knowing you're cranking out the miles and hitting the workouts. Now Boston is circled on the calendar, and Coach and I have come up with a plan to get me there, full of all the workouts I love and the ones I love to hate. I’ve got my diet back in check, I’m trying to sleep more, and once again, I’m attempting to sneak that strength training back in. (C’mon, I’ve got to get some wedding arms!) With it all planned out in front of me, it doesn’t look daunting, but like there’s a clear way to get to where I want to be. Just follow the steps. All the bad races and exhaustion are so last season—we’re starting over, with high hopes.

P.S. Happy late birthday to the blog! It’s been over a year, can you believe it?

Brother brought up a good question about race pace workouts. I talk about my favorite (although daunting) marathon workout here. If you ever have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below, or email me at teal@milestothetrials.com. 

Dream big,
Teal

4 comments :

  1. im sure im not the only one who has been waiting a long time for the winter re-premier of my favorite running blog! you took a hiatus just like all of my favorite tv shows but now you are back and its looking like its gonna be a great winter/spring season of marathon training for you and an interesting season of spectating for me! exciting! good luck!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. According to the radio, January 10th is when people begin to break their resolutions.

    And according to this NY Times article linked below, you are completely on track to succeeding.
    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/sunday-review/new-years-resolutions-stick-when-willpower-is-reinforced.html?pagewanted=all

    Keep running and dreaming big!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fun to see this blog leaving the starting line and racing off into the New Year.

    Have a great one!


    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the motivation RunnerTeal. I like "someone colder than you is running right now". True, I'm sure, but it was pretty cold out there and I didn't see many others. Hope we meet up with the runners who chose hot cocoa over reading your blog.

    ReplyDelete