Marathon in a week? *gulp*

Six days from now, I will hopefully be alive after finishing the Surf City USA marathon. After finishing two marathons last November, my motivation to keep training fell off a cliff. Now that I am finally back to a normal routine with the holidays being over, I've been much better about following my running routine. With that said, that only left me with about 3-4 weeks to actually get some decent mileage in.

I successfully ran a 15 miler three weeks ago, braved the ice for a 20 miler two weeks ago, and slogged through a puzzlingly-difficult 12 miler this past weekend. In other news, I have also been fairly good about incorporating some sort of weight training at least twice a week. I never have been one to consistently do weights, but I am eager to keep up the weights routine. I'm aiming to be stronger and less squishy and I know weights will help!

I was actually feeling confident about the race, knowing I would take it easy on myself for my time goal, until this past weekend's 12 miler. I ran it with a friend and while the pace just two months ago would have been fairly easy, I felt like I was ready for a break only 6 miles in. Um, that's not a good sign when there is a race to be run soon and said race is 26.2 miles long.

How will I deal with the impending doom of this race?! By lowering my expectations and planning out my running costume. The last three marathons, I've run in costume and who am I to stop that tradition?! I have some ideas, but I'd love to hear from anyone of some costume suggestions that are still easy to run in and good in 70 degree weather.

Here's to hoping I survive!

Look back on 2011 and what 2012 can bring

Well, I haven't blogged in a while. Nor have I ran in awhile *gulp.* It's been nearly two weeks since I've run/exercised, which is kind of insane! I've been just letting myself be lazy, but it's starting to get to me. I feel gross, but have zero motivation to change it. Now that the holidays are over, I'm planning out my running training for the next few months and hoping it will motivate me.

One thing that is a bit motivating is seeing how much I progressed last year. My schedule included a few 5ks, pacing a friend in his first completed 100 miler, PRing my 12 hour race, struggling with my 24 hour race, PRing my half marathon, PRing my marathon, and becoming a maniac! It has honestly been my best year of running to date, even if my 24 hour race didn't go as I had hoped. All of the hours upon hours of training really paid off and I am pretty proud of what I was able to accomplish.

What will 2012 bring? Who knows! I know I will be running (not racing since I'm not in great shape!) the Surf City USA Marathon on February 5th, hoping to competitively competed in the Mind the Ducks 12 Hour Race on May 12th, and my fall race is still undecided (hoping to race my first 50 miler!).

One way I am attempting to kick-off the year well is by participating in Balanced Bite's 21-Day Sugar Detox. I wouldn't normally do something like this, but when my consistent running stopped around the holidays, my eating has also gone to hell. With all of the sugary and carby things that were ingested over the last month, it will be nice for me to step away from all things sugary so I can just allow my sugar cravings to become slightly more manageable; it's not normal to wake up and immediately want chocolate every day.

I wish I was more motivated and excited for 2012, but that will happen once I get back into the normal swing of things. Here's to hoping 2012 is even better than 2011!