Anticipating Destination Racing

While I'm waiting for my motivation to return (yes, it's still MIA), I've had plenty of time to think about my upcoming races - especially those that I'm really looking forward to.  Sure, I've got a half here in Dallas next weekend, and a half in San Antonio this fall, but what's got me positively giddy with excitement?  It's my destination racing schedule for 2012:

• Run For the Dream Patriot's Challenge - Williamsburg, VA
• San Francisco 2nd Half Marathon  - San Francisco, CA
• Marine Corps Marathon - Washington D.C.
  
  

Very cool, no?  And the best part is that I have friends and/or family running each race, so not only do I get the excitement of traveling to a fun location, but I can hang out and run with people I have fun with!  Sure, I'm worried about time limits on San Francisco (just like last year) and MCM, but I know that with some serious training and help from friends along the way I can get there.

The Patriot's Challenge race combo is just going to be a fun "girl's weekend" with some awesome ladies from one of my running groups - no pressure, just a good time and a special medal for running both races.  San Francisco is the 2nd half of the course that I started last year, and I get to run with a friend and get a special medal for completing the Half It All Challenge (noticing a trend?).  Lastly, MCM is a race I've wanted to do from the minute I first heard about it - it's known as "the people's marathon" and is supposed to be incredible - I can't wait to run with yet another friend and experience it together!

I appreciate the help y'all have given me with the motivation issue - I'm hoping it'll show back up fairly soon.  But for now, I am keeping the dream alive by eagerly anticipating and planning for these great races that I have on the schedule!

Psst - I actually got a 3 mile run in on the treadmill this evening!  A mid-week run!  That's practically a miracle these days...  Of course, it helps that I ordered a new SparkleSkirt and HAD to try it out.  If that's what it takes to get my rear going, then I might just have to sacrifice and get myself some cute new skirts as motivation...hehehehe.

Where Has All the Motivation Gone?

Remember my last post about being back in the game?  So much for that...because I'm not.  In fact, I'm not even standing on the sidelines - more like I'm up in the nosebleed seats watching the small dots scurry around on the field.  This is not good.

I don't know why my motivation has left me.  But it needs to come back, and it needs to come back SOON!

It certainly hasn't helped that I caught some kind of crud back at the end of January and have not been able to shake it - I still have a lingering cough that is downright miserable/painful at times.  And I'm pretty sure I also had/have a pretty hefty case of post-race blues.  Combine those two, and it's the perfect storm of weeks full of excuses for not running.  But it's more than that, I think...

So, about that darn motivation.  This is something I'm really struggling with right now.  I just completed a MARATHON!!!  I got my Coast-to-Coast medal!(ummm...yes, I know, I still haven't posted my Tink race report).  Why am I not pumped about running more races?  Here's the truly odd part - I am excited about running more races.  I'm signed up for quite a few this year that I can't wait to participate in!  Some are just for fun with friends, some are goal races where I'll need to push myself in training and in racing, and some that are a combination of the two.  So why can't I translate that excitement into energy and motivation to get my butt off my couch and go DO something about it?

I'm know I'll get back in the groove eventually.  While I try to figure this out, anyone have any tips?  Any tricks to fool myself into thinking I want to get back out there until I actually really and truly do?

Back in the Game

Well, after an almost month-long running hiatus, I got back out there yesterday morning.  I certainly wasn't fast - I just wanted to get moving again.  I should've been more active in the past few weeks, especially considering I have another half marathon next weekend...but...well, let's face it...I don't have any good excuses as to why.  After a long training cycle and a very full January, I just needed a break.

It was a bright, crisp, cool morning and a great day to be outside.  Even though I didn't really get into any kind of rythym, and I ended up switching to 30:90's for the majority of the run, I still felt really great when I was done.  It was nice to experience the post-run high again!

Saturday's run:

• 3 mi; 0:43:39; 14:33 min/mi avg pace