The jury is out. Am I certifiably crazy?
I find myself in a very weird situation. I don't know if I should be committed for being mentally crazy or if I'm perfectly sane. But either way I'm torn in two.
A month back I FINALLY had the money and found a road bike for myself. I had been saving and looking for a good deal that was in my budget for quite some time. You see, I have long had some bike events on my bucket list. Events that I really did need a road bike for. I was super excited. I was going to be riding....I was ready and stoked! It was roughly at that same time that I kinda started to
I was immediately torn when I got my new bike. I want to ride my bike yet I want to run. How does one decide what to do? Ohh add into the mix that I love my Zumba. Zumba has been a salvation of sorts for me. In a misguided effort to be the perfect wife and thereby single handedly save my marriage I had boxed myself into a corner. I didn't do anything that might interfere with my marital responsibilities...heaven forbid me not be at the house waiting in case he called needing something while he was at work. (yeah, really boneheaded maneuver on my part, I know that now...but it seemed like a good idea at the time) Zumba helped bring me back out of that bubble. My friends that I made at Zumba helped me to realize and rediscover myself! So dropping Zumba is really not a valid option for me...it keeps me grounded! :-). So in torn between biking and running. Not so difficult, I can do both right?
So I've read a few race reports about people doing half marathons. I used to read them in awe...then a few weeks ago I read one and felt a tingle of interest that went beyond awe, it was tingle of recognition that maybe, just maybe I had it in me to complete a half. The tingle grew and I think I want to aim for a half marathon. Yeah...cue the little man with the straight jacket with my name on it...this is where he is needed! Me do a half marathon? ha ha ha. I'm not committing, I'm just putting the idea out there because I think I could do it. I must be crazy to even ponder this!!!
My biggest deterrent right now is the fact that I want to focus on riding! I'm totally torn. To bike......to run.....that is the question. I could be happy doing either one...but will trying to do both hold me back from achieving my goals???
The only thing I will say about this before I move on. I have tentatively found a few halves that I could conceivably run. One in Hershey on October 20th..( There is also a half in Gettysburg on that same day.)to follow the Hal Higdon 12 week training I would need to start really training the end of July. (and continuing running my 3 miles a few times a week until then). There is one closer, to benefit Habitat for Humanity. That one is in Hancock, MD on a Sunday in September (September 15). (Ironically enough that race was already in my crosshairs as I was pondering doing the 5k race that day). All of those half marathons are on Sunday so no worries about work (there is a half that goes right through the town where I live...in fact it goes right by my work...but it always falls on the weekend I work...and this year is no exception...so once again this year I will be at work and cheering the runners on when I'm not inside with a customer!). The Hancock half I would have to start training diligently the end of June. Hmmmm.......
So anyway.....no commitment to anything...just thinking wild and crazy thoughts!
Meanwhile, this morning I went out for a run. I don't know what struck me but I decided to push myself further. (it was probably sparked by all this talk about half marathons and such). I ran 5.33 miles in just over an hour...That is 2 complete miles longer than I have EVER run in my entire life. I did not stop to walk. I ran every stinkin' step!!!! My average pace was 12:34 (my fastest yet) and one of my miles was in 11:58 YIPPEE! So not only FASTER but longer! And I didn't die.....and my legs seem to be still attached to my body and working relatively well. :-)
Up tomorrow morning.....a bike ride! But in the meantime...off to work I go...followed by an hour of zumba! WEEEEEEEE
7 comments:
Is your debate about whether to focus on biking vs. running, or whether to sign up for a half marathon? I don't see why you can't do both. If you start training for a half marathon, then clearly you would have to focus more on running for your training, but after it was over, you could do both.
I know you want to ride but darling you come ALIVE when you talk about running I say go for the half marathon and train like mad once you get that done you can always sign up for bike rallys and such. you can have them both just mayhaps takin turns would be easier!
You can certainly do both though if you go with the half (which you most certainly can do if your heart wants it), you just may lean more towards the running for awhile. You didn't necessarily ask for advice about the half marathons you listed but I'm familiar with them and will give a little input. The western maryland half will be flat which may make the running easier but it is also small which can make it a little lonely at times. Gettysburg will be a little bit bigger but it's a hilly, tough course. Hershey will be the largest and relatively flat plus lots of spectator encouragement which can really help during times when it feels a little tough!
It feels good to challenge yourself. I love that you're looking in that direction. It's invigorating and motivational.
Your body will love it, too. :)
You make me smile!!! AND you can do both!!! I am in no way an expert!!! But, heres my two cents worth!! Run three days a week (two regular short runs, and one day a week with a longer run). Your long runs should increase slowly!! Dont increase more than a mile per week. AND you can use biking as cross training!
I did Hershey last fall and they had changed the course making it a bit hillier than before. I hear Gettysburg is hilly. Im not familiar with the Hancock one. AND, if its on your bucket list, i say GO FOR IT!!!!!
Let me start by saying that it's great that you want to run a half.
Next let me be the down to earth Dutchie that I am: you should first do a few 10K's before starting to train for a half. You never have done a 10K race if I'm correct? Why should you run a half already in September/October? Get comfortable with running first, take the next 6 months to train for a 10K and do a few and choose a Spring half after that.
I don't want to temper your enthousiasm because that's what I love about Americans, they dare to jump into new challenges. But I really think you should get more comfortable with running.
Just my thoughts about this.
A year ago I thought 13.1 miles was just plain crazy. And now I have decided I definitely want to run a half marathon. It took you way less time than me to hit that level of crazy. :-) I've also contemplated a full marathon, that's a whole other level of insane. :-)
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