Post-Race Resolutions

I prefer to make my resolutions at the end of a major race, instead of at New Year's. My New Year's resolutions have never held up longer than a few weeks.

   At the end of my first half marathon in 2011: "I'm going to run a marathon next."

   At the end of my first marathon in 2012: "I'm never doing this again."

   At the end of my second half marathon (and Kirstin's first) in fall 2012: "I need to train way more consistently."

   At the end of my third half marathon in 2013: "I need to focus on recovering."

   And finally, at the end of last week's half marathon, the fourth one for both Kirstin and me: "I need to start acting like a real runner and get my butt in gear to get faster."

I always fall apart toward the end of training. This race, I held my training together fairly well because I joined a running group and kept up with my strength training, but I didn't push myself on any of my runs. And while I felt the best that I have ever felt during the race, it was my slowest time, not even faster than my third half when my electrolytes got out of whack and I spend the last four miles of the race woozy and the next two hours vomiting anything that went into my stomach. But that's another story. 

I know that I've never been a fast runner, but a person would think that after 4 years, I would figure out how to get faster. I've always let that voice in my head say, "It's okay, go ahead, you deserve to walk. You're working hard." Or, "Go ahead and take today off, you've had a long day."

So, today marks the start of ignoring my own laziness and making myself keep going. This morning I ran 4 miles without stopping, and while it wasn't as fast as I would like to be, it was faster than I usually am, even with hills and it being the coldest morning of the fall yet. It's time to push.

-Kaycee :)