While some people can cross a finish line and feel fulfilled, content, and done, I always–no matter how tired, sore or injured–always feel fired up to do it again, ten times over. And do it better. So without further ado, here are my post-race goals (that were going through my head even AS I ran the marathon on Sunday)…
To run faster, train faster: In the next few weeks, my goal is to do at least one speed run and one marathon pace run per week. Naturally (and unfortunately), I need to recover first. I’m pretty sore from the chilly, rainy, surprisingly hilly day I had on Sunday (my left calf is still feeling pretty gnarly), so this week is all about stretching, foam rolling, and a handful of easy miles leading up to my first speed workout on Sunday: the Silver Strand Half Marathon!
To run stronger, strength train: I need to stop thinking about doing it and just do it! Three times a week, no excuses!
To run smarter, run SMARTER!: My #1 goal is to run another sub-4, because I’m beginning to feel like the last (and only) one was a fluke, so I am determined to run with the four-hour pace group in Vegas. I’ve been struggling with pacing myself–going out too fast, then bonking, so my #2 goal is to run a strong and steady race at a consistent pace.
Eat right: I faithfully keep a food log Monday through Friday and almost always fall off track on the weekends when we go out to eat, have a drink, or run a race and eat mountains of candy, cheese, and ice cream. After Sunday night’s pizza and ice cream splurge, I am ready to tighten the reigns for the next four weeks and log everything, even on the weekends. We’ll be in Chicago for the week of Thanksgiving, where I know it won’t be realistic (or maybe even possible) to track everything, so my goal will be to at least write everything down for accountability. Dear food journal, please be the key to my success!
Stay excited: Shoot, nothing keeps me more motivated than races, so I guess it’s a good thing I’ve got a bunch on the books, as in, these puppies are paid for (however, there are lots more camped out on my “wish list,” waiting to persuade hubby… or perhaps to win the lottery…): Silver Strand Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon, Carlsbad Marathon, and LA Marathon.
Remember why: A few years ago, I may have said running was “just a hobby,” but now it is a passion. It’s a way of life. Running does not define me, in and of itself, but it’s underlying message does: I do not want to be better than anyone else. I just want to be better than yesterday’s version of myself. Every day is a new opportunity to attack this. And with this “race,” there is no finish line.
