The grey morning creeps in through my windows providing me with a perfect excuse for a slow start to our Saturday morning. The intensity of the humid weather and raging sun have been major motivation murderers. So obviously the absence of sun-soaked bedroom this morning should have been a relief. It was the opposite. Dreariness entered my body like a debilitating migraine.
I woke up sent my husband off to HIIT boot camp with a cup of coffee, the to-go cups he bought so I would not take the mugs in the car. It has been an hour. I am sitting in the dining room with my second mug of hot vanilla caramel coffee watching movies from early 2000’s trying to distract myself (maybe). I have mapped my run, double and triple checked my workout, runtime, pace, and weather. It is as easy as it can be.
Today is Flex day with a 4-mile run.
4 miles, cross-train, or day off | Target: 32-34 minutes (7:57-8:36 per mile)
I could do this in my sleep. I could have been done already. But still, I sit here. Comfortably sitting in my slippers with mascara residue smudged on my face, you know, the extra that no matter what doesn’t come off. I have been using the NYRR Virtual Trainer to help me try and reach my goal this upcoming November. This will be my 4th full marathon and my second NYC Marathon. It was 8 years ago, I trained for my first full which was NYC in 2010. Looking back, I barely knew anything about training.
With the memory of the last 6 miles through central park on my mind, the pain the gruel, already have run 20; I should have no issue getting my ass out and running an easy 4. That is just the way it is. I am extremely active and motivated but some days it is a pure struggle. These are the make or break days. The days you do not want to, your brain does not want to, your body does not want to. Tomorrow I have an 11 on the schedule and I have to be out on Long Island by 12. I live on the Hudson in NJ, that is an hour and a half minumim drive, the same time the app is estimating my LR at. Somehow I am more motivated by the anguish of eleven.
At the end of my 33rd year on this revolving earth, I have grown strong, confident, knowledgeable and intent on beating a lifelong goal. The original 2010 time I trained for was 4:15. I raced in that day at 3:59. As I entered in the lottery this year I was not expecting to get accepted, as my first race I raised $5,000 for Team Continuum Charity to get my acceptance. I had plans of starting a family this summer, my husband and I. After the acceptance it was a challenge that has to be beaten before I start the next journey of my life. Qualify for Boston. The qualifying time for Female my age is 3:35. This was disappointing to some of the family, in our mid-thirties, people have expectations and kids are a big one. I choose the right partner because my husband understands my need and want to take this challenge on. So in July, I started my training.
My race goal is(was) 3:25 – 7:49 pace –
Super Goal – 3:19 – 7:35 Pace
Super Goal (adjusted) 3:15 – 7:26 pace
https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/enter/qualify.
I am strong, I am fast, I am in shape. I can always be better. I can always improve. Push yourself. Level up.
That being said it is time to go get that run in before the storms start again. Time to lace up.
Racing your thirties 