Like many of my old posts, I usually start off with my favorite choice of phrases; "well, it's been a long time since my last post..." And since it has been a long time, I guess I could sum up what has happened since that glorious day at Mt. Taylor.
After that ultra marathon, I attempted to get into shape and hit the roads. I set my sights on the Rock and Roll San Antonio half marathon, which didn't go too well, but well enough for the shape I was actually in. I would use that lousy time as a benchmark as to where I was at and what I needed to do leading up to another important race - USA Cross Country Championships. From December till February, that seemed like plenty of time to get ready and get in good shape for my favorite event. Cross Country is something that I pride myself at being good at, and a place where I love to grind. And since it was coming up very quickly, I should've been training very hard for. Unfortunately, I was struggling to get the workouts needed, and made a last minute decision to not race. That decision made a lot of my teammates concerned and worried. Hell, it made me worried why I didn't prepare myself for the 2 months leading to that race... Needless to say, I wasn't in shape and didn't want to run in a race that I always look forward to. A race where I can usually grind it out with the best of them. Instead, I chickened out and kept my scalp attached for another day.
That other day is coming around the corner. And regardless of sickness or however "outta shape" I may think I am; I will be racing a 15k at the Mountain to Fountain 15k in Arizona. This will be another "test" or "benchmark" of my already well known fact of where my fitness is. And when this race is over, I can finally set my sights to everyday training.
I think I lost a bit of that get-up-and-go mentality over the last few months and after the idea I being healed from my stress fractures. Someone told me that it would take almost a year to fully get over my injury, and after spring break, it will be a year since I got diagnosed with 3 stress fractures. Since that year, I either lost something or became overly worried about something. And if I don't put in the correct training and attempt making the Olympic Trials in the Marathon, I will just be, "a has been." That is something I do not want to be labeled as, so something has to change.
First off, I have to be 100% healthy and ready to put in the work. I need to know that I am capable of logging in the volume and intensity without any major setbacks. At this point, my fractures are more than healed, so all that's left are minor ailments or any sickness that old man winter has in store for me. After that, it's train, train, train. Day in and day out!
I'm very excited to run another road race next month. I am also excited that I am motivated to race a track race this spring and take a shot at a fast half marathon before our wedding! And after the honeymoon... (cue the sexy music) all my focus will be lasered in on the Chicago Marathon and a sub 2:18 Olympic Trials Standard.
