A Change in Plans

"Second chances are only for those who are not afraid to try again."

I started my morning thinking I was running solo. I would go to church, enjoy breakfast with my family then come home and run 14 miles outside.

Things changed.
Things changed in so many ways.

At mile 9, I was looking up at another looming hill.
My last hill. I just left Lacey. I was still smiling from our unplanned run. We ran a good pace, we had good conversation and dear Lord, we ran a lot of hills.

Here I was heading into my finish, 11 miles sounded like a good number to run for the day.

I looked at my watch, checked my pace and reminded myself, if this is the hardest thing I do all day I better do it RIGHT.
I just needed to maintain my pace coming up that hill. I fixed my eyes at the top, took my infamous heavy breath and little whimper before I dug in my heals.
"All the way up"
I thought of how easy it would be to slow down. How easy it would be to keep whining, make excuses or sell myself short.
All those thoughts did was make me run stronger.

My stomach tightened as I reached the top. I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest. I gasped for breath begging my body to relax and coaxing my legs to keep going strong the half a mile home.
I counted, 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 20, 30...seconds waiting patiently for my body to calm down.
I glanced at my watch, I did it. I maintained my pace.
I DID IT.
I knew I could do it.
I just had to do it.

With my change in plans...I am going to have to do this a whole LOT more.

My weekly Rundown:

MONDAY
Distance: 16 miles
Where: Indian Springs
Pace: 9:45 min/mi

WEDNESDAY
Distance: 8 miles
Where: GAC
Misc: Met Jeff @ the gym. 7 miles on the TM @ 8:15min/mi then 1 mile walk on the track. Abs

THURSDAY
Distance: 10 miles
Where: met at Seven Lakes, ran backroads
Misc: We had a group run filled with snow ball fights, ridiculous miles, goofy jokes and a lot of mud slinging. We somehow ended up with a 10:45min/mi pace. I have no idea how with all the silliness we rocked out. It was a good fun run that I think we all enjoyed.

SUNDAY
Distance: 11 miles
Where: Backroads
Pace: 9:08 min/mi
Misc: Lacey reaffirmed my new change in my training. Today, I made the official decision.

GET MY HEAD IN THE GAME. The game CHANGER. 
I have gone back and forth on this for a couple weeks. Then Andy got a phone call to go to Africa, sealing the deal.
This little phone call made my decision for me with out any hesitation.
I am NOT going to run Three Sisters in April.
Without tears or grief I was surprised at how easy it was for me to let this 50 miler in Tennessee go.

As it was, I was struggling to get my miles up.
The timing of this race was a crap shoot. I really wanted to run a spring marathon and try to qualify for Boston but Three Sisters nestled in the best time frame for a spring marathon.
I looked for spring Marathons from Michigan to Indiana to Illinois back to Ohio and kept lucking out because of Three Sisters.
So I decided to scratch it and run GLASS CITY.
I am going to try AGAIN to qualify for Boston. God Help me. Last year, I didn't qualify in the BEST conditions EVER.
But this year I am given 10 extra minutes.
Time to get my HEAD IN THE GAME. I am just not a natural quitter.

As I came to the end of my 11 mile run, I heard the beep beep beep of my Garmin and chuckled at my last mile. 8:35min/mi.
Time to get serious. Time to adjust my training. Time to invite pain and suffering back to the table.
Time to let go of the fear of failing again.
Deep Breath.

My Serious Side!

ANITA