October 1st Half Lessons

October will be interesting.  I've changed my goals which adds great intensity this month to prepare for November's new goals.  I only have one half run in October and a fun run 10k in costome for Halloween.  However, I've decided the 10miler is now the new 5miler.  I have raised my base run again.  I will be increasing my mileage in October to prepare for November's 6 halfs in 16 days.  Achieving this goal allows me to attain Earth status  (6 moons. 10 moons is the top level) in my Half Fanatics club. My bigger goal is always feel like I could run another half marathon right after I finish one.

I definitely have a hiccup in my personality. When I achieve something, then I have to make a new goal that is harder than the last goal... this has been leading to my family believing I am approaching a new level of insanity.  What's really happening is that part of me is just happy to be in control of something positive in my life.  The unemployement situation is so negative, so depressing that I've been using Swim/Bike/Run as my therapy.  Sure thing interviews have continually fallen apart at the last minute.  However, the more I exercise, the better I get and it makes me happy.  I'm also 5 lbs thinner which I thought would never happen.  So of course now I have a new goal weight too.  The cycling magazines suggest 2 lbs per inch so I should weigh 128.  I have weighed 135 for years. Today, I'm 2 lbs away from my goal weight.  I have certainly exchanged fat for muscle over the last year but the net has been the same number.  Now I'm finally seeing the fat # drop as I get stronger.  Which leads me to another goal dilemma...

Do I continue 15 hrs a week raising it to 20 hours a week and race to fulfill my goal of being an IRONMAN while I am unemployed, since I have the extra day time hours?   To give my all to Ironman training, and still have a life with Marcus, I feel I need to workout mosly during the day.  I am at a good point in training to step up further, we are financially secure without my income since my kids will be independent by the summer 2013, and I will be 50 years old by race day.  So I am not getting any younger and that's a pretty awesome way to celebrate my half century BD - of course with an M-dot tatoo as my BD gift. (This is nearly a requirement for every Ironman Finisher).  So I have taken the first step towards Ironman 2013 and that's volunteering at Ironman 2012.  I will watch the 2500+ mass swim start; I will check out the weather, the head winds, the terrain of the bike route; I will volunteer 3-7pm at the Dry Clothes Pickup near the finishline; I will watch those Ironmen throw themselves over the finishline after hours 12 - 17.  I know 11pm- midnight when the most exhausted racers arrive, will be the moment I will know if that WILL be me next year.  I have to KNOW I will make it through 1 yr of training and 140.6 miles in 17 hours or less.  If the answer is yes, I will stand in line Monday morning and buy my $600 race entry for 2013.

I will know my answer on Nov 18, 2012

October 7:  Long Beach Half Marathon - 2nd leg of the Beach Cities Challenge Triple Run.

 

I'm pretty sure this will be my most favorite half in the series.  I'm definitely considering running the full marathon next year.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  We were near water almost the entire run and we were rarely running just boring straight. We stayed within walking distance of the start line so we didn't fight in traffic with the other 20,000.  They even had a Bike Tour with 1000s cycling 26.2 miles.. ahhh how cute... cycling a marathon distance! hahaha! Anyway they had a race for every level of athlete and age. I loved the shirt, the medal, the volunteers, the cheers every mile, the course, the weather, and downtown Long Beach is just gorgeous.  Although warmer than SF Half, I definitely vote this as tied for 1st place of my favorite halfs run in 2012.  The water works show and running over the bridge with beautiful views and the Queen Mary were just awesome!



 

I have loads of training runs, miles of swimming with Dory , and have added a stationary cycling class for 90 minutes  for bike strengthening skills in additon to the 100+ miles I bike every week. 

 

Therefore, I will have plenty of thinking time to figure out my dilemma.