Back to it!

Are there people out there that seriously take 3 weeks off from running after a marathon?  I took one week off and by Day 3 I was dying to get back out on the road.  I did wait a few more days, though, because of my poor aching neck. By Saturday, I was thrilled to get in a quick 3 miles before my pump class. The neck still hurt a bit but I think a run was exactly what I needed to loosen me up.  Ahhh, just felt right!

However, after that one run without a training plan, I felt lost.  After just ONE run.  Over the past 5 months,  I've followed 2 separate training plans and now it's like I'm paralyzed without one! I ran for 3 1/2 yrs before ever having any type of plan.  Just ran when I felt like it.  Ran hard when I wanted to. Scaled it back when I needed to. Was just happy to know I was burning calories. Well, apparently that part of me is gone.  Now, I have to know that I'm building speed or mileage or my VO2 max (not that I really know what VO2 max is.)  I just need to feel like I'm working towards something.  Running for no reason makes me feel like I forgot something. You know that feeling when you leave the house some mornings- "I just feel like I'm forgetting something.  I can't think what it is but it's going to drive me crazy until I figure it out."  But still you leave and can't believe you are leaving without "it" even though you don't know what "it" is.  That's how I feel running with no plan.  Just not quite right.  So, in order to calm my crazy side,  I have signed up for my next race- Red Rock Canyon Half Marathon- and I have a new training plan. Yay for training plans!

It's on the fridge and ready to go! In fact, I've already done the first 2 workouts so I need to get "X"-ing all over this bad boy. *sigh* All is well.  (Although, for some reason after uploading this I feel like maybe I should be doing the full.  But the race is at the tail end of our Disneyland vacay.  Not the sort of rest week you need before a full. I'm just aching to do another full!)

A couple things about the race and training plan:

• Red Rock Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon is put on by Calico Racing which is the same racing company that organized my first marathon.  I can't tell you how much I loved the organization of that race. It was small but obviously put together by someone with a pure love of the sport.  I will go back for Calico's races again and again.  In fact, we already have plans to run in the Angel marathon again next year.
• My training plan is from the Furman Institute of Running & Scientific Training (FIRST) and it's seems great. It's based on having just 3 runs a week- speed intervals, tempo and a long run.  This is perfect for me as I love my rest days and I've been wanting to get in more weight-training on my off days.  Can't wait to see how it goes!

And I leave you with a pic of today's cheat- Lindt Dark Chocolate with Chili! Surprisingly spicier than I thought it would be but SO good.  Just what I needed today. 

Have a happy week!!