2011 Goals

After much thought over the last few weeks, I have come up with and finalized my running goals for 2011. Originally, I wanted to run a half marathon before Thing 3 is 6 months old.  I also had a tentative goal of running my first full marathon before he was a year old.  However, in the recent weeks I have decided that running a marathon, though physically possible, is not going to be best for my family at this time.    

Physically, I have already run 16 miles, so I know I could do it.  However, I am not ready, right now, to commit the amount of time it takes to properly train for a full marathon.

Thing 3 is 4.5 months old and is nursing, so he needs me, ideally for the 7.5 months.

My husband travels 4 days a week, so spending time with him on the weekends is important. So spending hours out running and then being useless the rest of the day is not the best way to spend time together.

So instead of pushing myself to run/train for a full marathon, I made these 3 challenges for myself.

Challenge 1:  Run at least 12 races before Thing 3 turns one.  Luckily, at this point I am only one race behind, so I can get it done.

Challenge 2:  Run a race every month in 2011.  I was inspired to join Run for the Bling of It!.    Sherry and Lesley have put together this challenge for 2011. This would keep me moving this year and help me build my mileage base.

Challenge 3:  Run White Rock Marathon 2011.

There are many benefits to this new plan.

This would allow me time to build a solid mileage base to train for the Dallas White Rock Marathon in December 2011.

I would have time to work on speed, so that when I start training for a full, I won't be running as long, because in theory I will be faster.

The extra time will give me time to drop weight, which will help me get faster too.

Also, by the time I start training for a full, Thing 3 will no longer be nursing.  So it will make it easier on everyone when I leave for long runs.

I have even picked out most of my races for the year.  This will allow me to financially be as cheap as possible.  (An important consideration for my husband.)

I finally feel at peace with my running goals for next year.  I am also super excited for the upcoming year.  This will allow me one big racing year, because after next year I have a feeling that it will be a long, long, long time before I will be able to run this many races on a year again.

Here is to happy running in 2011!