Fitness Swellness: My future running goals

October 18, 2016

 

With my 16th half-marathon behind me–I ran the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half-marathon two days ago on Sunday–and no races on my schedule for the rest of this year (although that could change at any time…), I’m looking ahead and planning my next running goals.

Sunday was rough (more on that in my race recap), and I haven’t raced seriously this year. I’ve been traveling more often than ever, and that makes training very difficult. I was interviewing a run coach this week for work and he was talking about how marathon training calls for routine and patterning, and to live like a clock. Which is true. And which my life has been the complete opposite of for all of 2016, and even 2015.

Right now, I’d like to plan to run a marathon in the spring. It’s been a full year since I’ve run that distance, which is the longest break I’ve taken from doing a marathon since I first ran that distance (I’ve completed a total of nine marathons). And I feel like the longer break I take, the less likely I’ll be to return to the marathon distance. With how awful Sunday’s run felt, and how horribly long it seemed, it boggles my mind that I’ve run twice that distance. It’s actually unfathomable to me.

Which is why I’m planning on a spring 2017 marathon…but I’ll have to see how life plays out. If my schedule continues to be as scattered as it has been, I won’t be able to train properly. It will definitely mean choosing to travel less if I’m hoping to PB. And I’m not sure if I’m yet willing to prioritize PBing over seeing parts of the world I’ve never seen before.

But staying after my half on Sunday to cheer marathoners with just 300 metres to go until they crossed that finish line, it was so inspiring and it did give me the itch to give it another go…

So, we’ll see. A marathon for spring 2017 is what I’d like to plan for. And possibly entering the lottery for the Chicago Marathon, which takes place in the fall.

What’re your running goals for the rest of the year and for next year?

Filed under: Fitness Swellness