I’ve been stealthily training for a spring marathon without really making it official. I wanted to make sure I could get through the training before I committed by actually telling people I was doing it. I wasn’t worried about the physical demands, but more so about life’s other demands and balancing it all. I almost completely quit about a month and a half ago and my husband saved my efforts. He knows I’m a much better wife and mother when I’m getting the “me-time” that exercise provides. About two and a half weeks ago, I made it official when I registered for my home-state Lincoln Marathon. I’ve done the half there many times before and I love it. The course runs right through the University of Nebraska campus, past my old sorority house, etc. The whole run is a trip down memory lane and I never know who I’m going to run into on the course as I have lots of old friends and acquaintances that do the race.
I’m getting pretty excited for this one. I’m not stressed out about hitting a certain time and I’m feeling really good. My last long run was this past Sunday and I felt great for most of the 22 miles. I don’t know exactly what it is this time around, but I have not been overly sore or tired after any of my long runs. In fact, I’ve felt like I could run the next day (but I’ve been good and taken the day off). Last year I was tired and always sore during spring marathon training and I had trouble meeting my goal on race day. This year, I was loyal to the post-run ice bath (my kids find that hilarious – they fill the tub with ice for me and like to wait for the noise I make when I get in). I also upped my omega-3 dose post-run. I took two extra omega-3 softgels on my long run days and the day after. I’ve also stuck to a training plan (the best I could with a job, grad school, and keeping my kids priority #1).
