Race Training Update

Unfortunately, I’ve had to significantly reduce the load and speeds of my workouts due to my achilles tendon issues. I have come to terms with not being able to perform at the level I’d like to this year, BUT I’m ok with it. I have my whole life to run. I was injured in the 2022 half and had to be in a boot for 6wks. I most definitely don’t want this again. I have dialed back my training in efforts to listen to my body. I am learning to differentiate between “pain” and “soreness”. I expect to be sore. I’m pushing my body to grow. With growth of any kind, there’s bound to be soreness. I am learning to toe the line between pain and soreness. I have decided to go with the run/walk approach for the half in December. I plan on running for 5min and walking for 1min. My Coros Pace 3 watch has an interval mode that will vibrate/alert me when each interval ends/starts. This is not what I initially wanted. I was hoping to run the half in sub 2:30. I don't see that being possible at this point. I am aiming for 3hrs flat, UNINJURED. If I accomplish that, I’ll be elated!

This race isn’t for me. This race is to raise money for families going through some of the hardest times we can imagine. My mental efforts are focused more on the fundraising side this year than the physical side. I have bitten off more than I can chew with the fundraising goal. I legitimately don’t know how we are going to reach the goal of $4,000. (Speaking of which, we have a few fundraisers going on right now. Click the “fundraisers” tab up top to go to the page with our active fundraisers.) This race is bigger than me. It’s such a fun event.

PK has started running with me recently. She’s doing fabulous! We do 10 sets of 1min run and 1min walk. She did her 1st 5K in July with that format and did not complain not 1 time! I didn’t write a review of the race because I have nothing positive to say about it unfortunately. We will not be doing that race again. Even through the terrible experience, she wowed me with her determination! That’s a great reason to stay uninjured. She really likes running so we are pursuing that interest she has. Maybe she will continue to enjoy running. Maybe she will lose interest at some point. Either way, I will be encouraging her to do hard things, things that challenge her mentally, psychologically, and physically.