New Vision

The weeks following a big event are always a little awkward.  Normally one uses the week or so after Ironman to rest, recover and decide on a plan to move forward.  I typically have my next event picked out prior to IM as a way to avoid the post-race blues, that feeling of uselessness and restlessness that occur when there is nothing to look forward to anymore.  I thought I wanted to take 6 months and train for a fast marathon.  Technically I qualified for Boston at Big Sur, but my husband and I had already decided that we are not going to do any major trips in 2012 as we need to pay off all the trips we are taking in 2011 and save some money.  But, knowing that I want to go back to Boston, we thought of trying to qualify for 2013 by running fast at PF Chang's in January. 

Part of having a double X chromosome is that I have the ability to change my mind at will.  I don't need a reason or an explanation.  I just can.  And often do.  Where my heart leads me today is different than the journey it will take me on a year from now.  I just have to follow my heart and know that it's not going to let me down.

Over the last few weeks I've listened to a lot of people talk about their goals, desires and needs.  It seems that everyone is going in a different direction whether it's ultramarathoning, mountain biking, or even... starting a family.  As amateur enthusiasts we have to listen to our bodies and our hearts and follow where the wind blows us.  We are not getting paid for this, so we better be doing something that we enjoy.  (And by 'we', I mean 'I'.) 

What I realized over the last couple of weeks is that I can't follow what everyone else is doing out of fear of being left behind or forgotten.  I certainly am not about to take up mountain biking (hello, death wish?).  And I am not really feeling any ounce of maternal instinct or biological clock (though I keep checking just to be sure... I'm not big on surprises) so it's probably not a good idea for me to start procreating.  I better just be me. 

After giving some serious thought to my next couple of seasons I've come up with a slightly modified plan from my original thought.  In the next 10 months I have committed to:  hiking the Grand Canyon with my mom in October, the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure in November, 2 half marathons, a 5k in December, Oceanside 70.3 in April, and St. George IM in May.  Other than that, I plan to throw in the Aravaipa trail running series, PF Chang's marathon, Pemberton 50k, and anything else that catches my eye along the way.  I realized that if I were to seriously train for my fastest possible marathon I would need to give up some of my "cross-training" activities and focus solely on running, strength, and yoga for 6 months.  That means that likely I would not have an ideal race at Oceanside or St. George because I would lose much of my cycling and swimming base that I've worked to build. 

There's been much debate on this subject but I've looked at it from every angle, and knowing my work schedule (hey, gotta pay the bills, right?), my required sleep schedule, add in strength and yoga... there is absolutely no way I could successfully train for my fastest marathon ever if I continue biking and swimming regularly.  I'm not saying I couldn't hop in the pool for an occasional lap... but it wouldn't be penciled into my training plan.  I know some people could do it all and still run a 3:20.  Me?  Not so much.  I need to focus on speed work, tempo runs, long runs, hill runs, and still have enough days left over to do nothing so my body actually recovers.  Not happening if I have to squeeze 2-3 workouts into my day before 7 am. 

So, without further ado, here are my new goals for the next few seasons:
1.  Have fun!
2.  Focus on cycling this summer/ early fall and really build a strong base.
3.  Do more trail running and continue to build strength specific for running.
4.  Continue to swim 1-2 times per week until it's time to build for IM again in January. 
5.  Yoga!  Strength train!  2 times per week for both.  Having just been released from rehab... I need to stay on top of this so I don't have to go back!!
6.  Run a 3:29 at PF Chang's in January.  This will qualify me for Boston with a 10 minute buffer so that hopefully I can make it into the registration for 2013.  It is also a reasonable enough time goal that I won't have to sacrifice my bike/ swim training in order to achieve this goal. 
7.  PR at Pemberton!
8.  Smash Oceanside!  Absolutely kill it.  Not only will I run 1:45, but I will slaughter the bike course as well.
9.  Smash St. George!
10.  Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim in the GC 3 weeks later...
11.  Then, and only then, after having achieved my goals and fulfilled my commitment to Ironman St. George, will I return my focus to the marathon.  I will choose a race that I am passionate about.  I will choose a race whose conditions suit me.  I will train and give my absolute all to running the fastest, best marathon of my life...  maybe 3:19?  maybe faster?  Only time will tell.

Until then, I've got to get back to Ironman training...