It’s cold and I’m slowly trying to run consistently again so that I can at least pretend that I am some sort of athlete.

Hoping this serves as some sort of motivation. (c) Stacey Cooper

Once again, I have given up on making the Miami Half Marathon a goal race. This happens every year but I always start out thinking that this year will be different and I will kill it and be awesome on race day. Everyone who does this race every year reminds me that Miami is not the best race to make a goal race but I still try to do it anyway. The one thing I have gotten over is getting upset that it doesn’t turn out to be what I want. That doesn’t mean that I don’t get disappointed with my result, I just don’t dwell on it as much as I would another race.

So after readjusting the training a lot I have decided to lower my expectations a lot. I still have an idea of a goal time but it’s nothing to write home about. I just want to enjoy the warm weather on a beautiful course.

I’m attempting a 10 mile long run this weekend and 11 the next week and then of course the half is the week after that. That is how you cram for a half marathon without expecting an awesome result!

Prior to all this I have just been trying to get back into some sort of rhythm. (OT – I actually spelled rhythm correctly the first time!) I’ve been trying to go to the gym on a regular basis so that I can remember what it feels like to run. But most of the time I feel incredibly out of shape and because of my schedule my running has had more restarts than consistency and that has not helped. Aside from being out of shape my foot on the whole feels ok when I run. It still hurts when I walk sometimes or stand on it for extended periods of time. (Note to self: Going to concerts where you have to stand the entire time may not be the best idea for the foot.)

Last week was a wee bit better on the consistency front. I ran a couple of miles on the treadmill during lunch then rode my bike trainer that evening and I think I rant two more times and once even outdoors! I even did some yoga for runners (you know how I love that!) to try and stretch out some tight muscles. There is a whole re-enactment below.

This week is off to a better start. I ran four miles on the treadmill on Tuesday and made it to Deep Water Running last night and got a good, solid workout in. Today I’ll be back on the treadmill and maybe do a quick ride on the bike trainer tonight. I’m not trying to overdo it but just trying to keep things moving. I’m supposed to do a race on Saturday (if the temps cooperate and yeah, I’m wimping out a bit on that.) and then of course my aforementioned 10 miles on Sunday. Fingers crossed!

Now for that yoga re-enactment!