Off to the races

My last run of 2012 was not a big send out. There weren't fireworks shooting off from the treadmill and "Auld Lang Syne" didn't blare from the speakers. I wasn't magically faster nor did it feel fantastically effortless. And the only thing that dropped was my iPod ... onto the ground.

In fact, the run was more of a beginning than an ending. The 5 miles of hill repeats was the first run on a training plan that will take me through not one but two spring half marathons and help me build a base for - gasp - a fall marathon.

I know, I know. I said I wasn't going to do a marathon in 2013 but then I told Mark if we  have a second baby, I wanted to run a second marathon first. And though I'm still uncertain on baby No. 2, Mark agreed. Then, on Saturday, I was chatting with the Veterans Marathon race director and there was this deal if you register today, you could do the full for $40 and well, yeah. I'm running the Veterans Marathon in November.

But back to things of more immediate importance: the half marathons.

On March 30, I am participating in Run the Bluegrass, formerly Rock 'n' Roll Lexington. The race starts in Keenland Race Park and promises fun with my favorite tweep, gorgeous scenery and hills. Lots of hills. Then, the first weekend in May, I will be headed up to the Chicagoland area to cheese it up at the Wisconsin half marathon. The race promises to be fun, with some of my fantastic ladies in attendance, and will hopefully earn me a nice, shiny PR.

Every workout between now and May 4 will be working toward that sub-1:54. And, yes, I have them mapped. Sort of.

My training for Run the Bluegrass is all about getting strong and getting ready for the hills. I'm finally womaning up and committing to doing hill work on the treadmill. One week will be longer repeats {Monday's workout: 2 minutes at 4% incline, 2 minutes at 6% incline, 2 minutes at 4% with 4 minutes recovery} and the next will be sprints. I'll also be doing interval and tempo workout under the principles of "Run Less, Run Faster" in the event I can only manage three runs a week. I'm not really set on distances - I'll just run as far as time allows in the morning.

The clincher of this plan, initially, is getting strong via a RAW class at the YMCA. We managed to snag a free month, and this class is high intensity, interval training ala Cross Fit or P90X. The instructor (my new hero) is a triathlete and is able to complete the races - and do it strong - with the cardio base she has from these classes.

I'll take that fitness and endurance base to the Wisconsin plan and take the training up a notch in the hopes to PR.

I know it's a lot and, if I think about it too much, I get overwhelmed. But I posted on the Nathan Performance Gear website that I wanted 2013 to be epic. I wanted to take it up. And when I got scared, I wouldn't run away; I would run harder.

And that's what I'm going to do.