Let the running begin (again!)

I fell off the wagon a bit on my initial racing plan for 2014 – we only did 2 of the 4 Foxy Racing Trail runs. I did have fun doing that new 10k event right in my backyard in September, but I’ve otherwise been only fitting in runs to keep from becoming a full on sloth again (let’s just say that all that travel made it hard to put together a routine, as did the long, hot, humid summer). Anyhow, I am sticking with my plan to do the 2nd Annual Holiday Half Marathon. The first one went so well that I thought I would go for it again. Besides, training now should be 1000 times easier than it was last year given that Alex was still here and I was still volunteering with the football team.

So here’s my training plan again – using Hal Higdon again but this time stepping up to the Novice 2 plan:

That was how I knew I had to do 6 miles while I was in Albuquerque 🙂

I actually enjoy doing these gradually longer runs on the weekends. That’s when we discover or re-discover trails that we love and go further on them than we normally would. I especially love running after our first ever overnight rain in months! There was steam coming off of everything at San Elijo on Sunday morning as we did 7 miles. The air was so clean and the surfaces were nicely packed and the smells of the freshly washed foliage seemed more intense. Of course, it’s even better when you can slug through those long runs with friends!

Now with the time change, the fun part begins. Those mid-week runs? Those will have to be before work now. And we all know how much I love early mornings (not even a little!). Ah well, all in the name of fitness & health and personal challenges.

They race is again just before NYE so a week before my birthday. I figured I should hit 50 running, right?