Since my half marathon last month, I've been taking a slight run break to recharge my batteries for the new year. I certainly didn't want to burn myself out and start artificially hating something that I actually really loved. I haven't been running my normal training runs during the week but I'm still making my Cave classes to maintain strength and fitness.
However, I have been running on the weekend with my run buddy (who is now training for her first half marathon in April! Yay!) which is keeping me somewhat accountable to not totally quit running. I ran her first "long" training run with her this past Sunday, which was 5 miles. She had never completed a distance that far before and I took it upon myself to help see her through and help pace her. I also was pushing her to run 5k nonstop and was hoping to get her to PR (personal record) that day.
Long story short, we rocked it! She did PR on her 5k and we ran it (albiet slow) completely. This was also my first time to run a 5k without completely walking. In all the time I had been running, I still hadn't managed to do that yet! Def was a huge boost of confidence for me. There really is something to be said about running with a partner. Looking back and thinking of all my training alone, how boring it was at times, how unmotivating.....if I could run with somone, I'd do it all the time! If you have the opportunity to run with someone or a group, I highly recommend doing it! Since we do have a standing running date on the weekend to run her "long run"....it would probably be a good idea for me to start back up on my training runs during the week again. Especially since I've got some runs already lined up in my schedule. Break time was nice, but it's time to hit the grind again!
My first return race is going to be an easy one, the Too Cold to Hold race in Dallas on the first week of Feb. It'll be a beautiful scenic 5 mile run along White Rock Lake in Dallas. I was supposed to be running this race with a good friend of mine that I went to UTA with, but due to injury, I'm not sure if she'll be running afterall. I'm hoping it's not serious and we'll get to freeze our buns off together ;) *crossing my fingers*
My second race is going to be the Tyler Azelea 10k which is the weekend of my birthday (in March) and kind of a birthday tradition now. The course winds through the beautiful azelea district and brick roads of Tyler and is a gorgeous run. The area can be kind of hilly but I'm pushing to PR on this course over my time on it last year. My run buddy will also be running the 10k too and it will be her first time to race. I'm glad she's doing it. It will rid her of some of her racing anxieties and give her an idea of what her half marathon will be like. Thankfully, I'll be joining her for her half and I'm hoping I can help her with everything that I struggled with.
2013 is stacking up to be an amazing year! I've got goals set, my eyes on the prize and taking on a new role of supporter/mentor which is a really awesome feeling. If I can help just one person this year in making a healthy change in their life, then it will all be worthwhile. Making those changes are hard, they aren't easy -- motivation gets you started, but habit keeps you going.
It doesn't matter if you are a slow runner or fast runner. If you want to walk, then go for it! Those steps count and they add up. After all, you're still lapping everybody on the couch ;) Happy running!
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