Post Race Blues...

I haven't run for a week. Up until yesterday I didn't have a plan for future races or a goal of what I wanted to accomplish as a runner. I was wandering around the wilderness and I was lost. I had completed my race, basked in the goal of running 13.1 miles and then realized "now what?"

So yesterday I sat down with a calendar and a list of races and planned. My first question was, did I want to focus on getting faster? Or distance. Well, I know that I want to run a marathon at some point in 2009 so I opted for distance. So here is my plan for this year:

March 8th - Disney Princess Half Marathon - start Hal Higdon Intermediate training Dec. 15th.

Jan. 10, 2010- tentative date - Disney Marathon - Starting training Sept. 7th 2009

I am sure I will throw in a few 5K's and 10K's to make life fun and before the marathon training I will have a mileage buildup plan to keep me busy. I have learned so much about myself through running. I *need* a plan!!!

So I have thrown my blues aside and have now returned to my giddy little running self. Whoo hoo!

My video!

Quick race report!

Oh my goodness what a day!!! My whole race experience was flawless, down to my kids going to bed at a decent hour. Wooo hooo!

We all woke up at 4:15 to get to the race venue by 5:15. The kids weren't too happy about getting up that early but they managed. They accompanied me to the starting line and cheered me on as the race began. It was still dark outside but the sun soon began to peek out and light our course.

About a mile in I noticed that this wasn't an ordinary race. There were spectators lining up dressed as every imaginable space creature! I think Star Wars characters were the most prevalent. People were happy chatting while running and laughter consumed the runners. We were shot at by storm troupers, cheered on by Princess Leia and stalked by Darth Vader.

The course was absolutely beautiful. The Indian River Lagoon is actually the Intercoastal Waterway which is a pretty big body of water going down the coast of Florida. There was a nice breeze on our backs for the first 6 miles or so. At the turn around, the breeze turned into gusts but it was nice and cooling. The houses that lined the streets were ones that I wouldn't have any problem moving into! LOL!

The race really flew by and I was thankful that my shins had no pain whatsoever. About mile 10 the race really started for me. I focused in and thought about all the hard training I had put in. I had never run further than 10 miles so it was all new to me! I watched the miles yet to go get smaller and smaller and was amazed that I could actually do this!

The finish was in Centennial Park which had a circular path that led to the finish line. I caught a glimpse of the clock at 2:29:45 and thought, CRAP! 15 seconds before my goal time! I turned into a bonafide Kenyan and ran like a madwoman to beat my time. Then 5 seconds after finishing I thought, "you blonde! Chip time! It took me forever to get to the start so I had plenty of time!" Fun none the less.

I will definitely put this on my to do list next year. The course was beautiful which is one of the main reasons I run!

So here are the stats:

Chip time: 2:27:40

Age division 55/98

Place 675/1068

So I am pleased at my first attempt!

I am going to do my own video when time allows but for now, enjoy last years promo video!