Gotta Have Focus...

By Deanna

Last week, I decided to register for my 6th half marathon, the More Magazine/Fitness Magazine Half Marathon. When I looked at the calendar and realized that the spring race season is quickly approaching I realized I better sign up for a race or my window to train would be closed!

I love having a race to focus on, even though I get up at the crack of dawn to run, swim, lift or spin I wasn't really putting my heart into any of it. Some days I'd just log two miles, another day I'd lift for just 20 minutes, the next day I'd skip. Yes it was great that I was getting up to exercise but without a focus, an end date, or to cross over a finish line I felt like I was just chasing my tail.

Does that make sense?

Having a race to focus on gives me a goal to work towards, a reason to get up, to improve and a chance to PR again...the operative word is again, as with my last two half marathons I've progressively got slower.

This will be the third time I run this half marathon, and even though it can be a tad boring, I'm determined to kill it! The race is two loops in Central Park (NYC) with some killer rolling hills. Last year I did NO hill work, and bonked at mile 8, not happening this year, I was so disappointed in my performance I can't possibly risk that feeling again.

I have ten weeks to train for this race, and after my first week of training I feel good. I feel focused, I feel like I can absolutely do my best. I am following a great Hal Higdon program, but I need to be flexible with my training because of my husband’s schedule - I can't stress out if I miss a run because that will get me more stressed, and that will get me nowhere fast.

Nevertheless, my goals for this race are to: have fun, be realistic, train properly and to believe in myself.

Don't think that's too much to ask for!