I'm Running a Marathon

I think I have a fear of turning 30. Actually, I know I have a fear of turning 30.

What else would have lead me to sign up for the Marine Corps Marathon the day before I turn 30? Because nothing else says "happy birthday" like running 26.2 miles, right?

I did actually put a decent amount of thought into it - I was looking for a race, either a  half or a full, and nothing was fitting in my schedule. Then an opportunity to run on a charity team came up, it fit in my schedule, and it did seem like something cool to do for my birthday.

Bonus: I'll get to see D.C.! While running myself to death, of course, but look at the route!

Wish me luck - I'll need it, as training was going great until last week. I've had to do a lot of mental adjusting from a slow, but respectable time of 5 hours, to a much slower goal of just finishing. (Thanks hip flexor for always being there for me! Or not!)

Marathon Training #1

With impeccable timing as usual, I did my first marathon training run today. It's not like I don't have enough going on, between prepping for grad school (including trying to prove that, yes, I do have a tetanus shot*,) moving in less than two weeks, maintaining a long-distance relationship and busy work days - I figured why not throw in a marathon in four months?

The nice thing is that the plan I'm following only has me running four days a week (and cross training one day - and trust me, I will be liberal with the definition of "cross-training" - as in, "yes, this two mile bike ride counts.") I've found a new three mile route near my house to do, which only takes me across one moderately busy road, instead of the three I was doing this winter. The downside is I can't decide if it's an awesome road/path run, or a creepy-as-all-get-out path and tunnel. Maybe both, depending on the time of day? Either way, I'm only here 12 or so more days, before I'm a nomad for three weeks and then I've got to find new routes in North Carolina.

Onward and upward!

*Is grad school only achieved by climbing a bed of rusty nails everyday? I really don't understand this.