Without actively looking through my old posts, I cannot recall the last thing that I wrote about which tells me that it's been entirely too long since I've written anything. And I miss writing. Sure, I do some writing at work, but it's all about what flaws I see in your investment portfolio and what my company can do to better diversify your assets and how we can transition those assets in a tax-sensitive manner. It's fine, but it's not the same as a blog.
The original premise of After One Crazy Summer was to document all my travels with the kids during our "Summer of Fun" (also known as the summer I was unemployed). I love to look back over those posts, to see the things we were doing back then. And to remember what a gift the Summer of 2011 really was.
But since the kids are both in school and I am working full-time, if I limit myself to trips with the kids, I won't write all that much this year (see 2012 if you don't believe me).
So instead, I am going to do something different. A new blog about this crazy notion that at 43, I can run my first marathon. For the record, I am not 43 yet. But I would be on marathon day...
When I first started running again almost four years ago, a good friend planted the idea of running a marathon in my head... he wanted to run something like the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington DC and suggested it be a really great accomplishment and why don't I just think about doing it with him.
For a long time I was pretty adamant that I wouldn't do it.
I compromised. Said I would try a half and see how it went... I ran the Nittany Valley Half Marathon back in 2010 and I've run two ten-mile races (the Broad Street Run in Philadelphia) since then as well. I can do that 'middle' distance and still walk the next day.
Everyone I know who has run a marathon has told me that it's a completely different experience compared to the half-marathon (beyond the notion that it takes twice as long). That the recovery is much longer and more painful. But, what the heck... I am not getting any younger. I even have the roots to prove it. If I am ever going to do it, this is probably as good a time as any.
This September, the Mount Nittany Conservancy is sponsoring the inaugural Mount Nittany Marathon. It's local. And it's a $50 entry fee. It would be impossible to find something, anything else, so convenient and affordable. So, I have a race in mind... but that is the easy part.
The hard part is where I actually train for the race. I've been looking for marathon training programs and think a six-month program is the best approach for a 'beginner' (you are considered a 'beginner' if you are currently running 15 to 20 miles per week). I'm close to the low end of that distance now, running about 12 to 15 miles a week, so my first goal is to tack on a few extra miles a week. Come March 1, I'll start following a yet-to-be determined training program.
And I'll write about it here, in this new blog. Hopefully not in that dull, oh-my-God, how can she want us to read this sort of way. But in a way that's a little entertaining and maybe a little inspiring as you are looking at your own fitness goals for the new year.
At least that's the plan for now... stay tuned!
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