7.16.2013

Updates

Since my last post, there's been a change in my goals. A happy change that I'm proud to have made. The catalyst for this change came when, upon telling about the Stinson Beach 37K I had signed up for, people consistently asked why not the full marathon? Well, I don't know. Maybe it's because PCTR didn't offer a marathon at that time/location. Maybe I felt that I had no right running in a marathon if I'd never run a half, or whatever. Whatever it was that kept my sights on a distance a mere 4 miles short of a marathon, I didn't understand it either. As if the running gods understood and wondered the same thing, they also made sure to make the lodging in Stinson Beach (or any other reasonably close city) ridiculously expensive. I'm talking nothing less than $150 a night. Driving 9 hours and paying that much for a place to stay just didn't seem worth it for an "almost marathon" race.  You may think this is lousy mentality, but I'm a pusher. If there's a little room to push the limit, I do it. (Beware: this can backfire, especially in race training. I'm learning to manage.)

 Anyhow, all that said, I backed out of the Stinson Beach 37K (was refunded the total cost--the people at PCTR are really cool) and signed up for the Moab Trail Marathon instead.  This race offers some spectacular vistas and decent elevation gain that won't make me weep for my mother mid run. Check out this article from Runners' World to see what it's all about.  Best thing about it?  It's in the dry desert in November (see my countdown ticker).  Frankly, not a lot beats the desert in the fall.  The air is pleasant with a bit of a nip, and the sun shines at an angle creating beautiful shadows that make the land forms seem almost surreal.  Also, I have the pleasure of training for and running this race with my other half.  We make a great team and accomplishing such a feat together is priceless.  We're still on track with our training and are now in week 10 of the training plan.