As I continue to make my triumphant return to running, I have my next big goal coming up next weekend – the Space Coast Half Marathon.
This will be my sixth year running this race, and I always look forward to a weekend of spending time with friends, running a great race, and getting into the Christmas spirit.
This year’s race is big for a couple of reasons. It’s my first half marathon of the year. I haven’t raced a half marathon since last year’s Space Coast (and technically, I had to walk the last chunk of it because I pulled my soleus). So this is sort of the last big hurdle in my recovery.
Am I ready? You bet. I’ve been doing a ton of PT, and my coach made me run a 13 mile training run, so I know I can cover the distance. Will it be fast? Nope. Though it probably won’t be my slowest Space Coast either – that honor goes to the first year I ran it, when I woke up with a crushing headache but refused to not at least try. But I’m not letting myself look back at my previous race times. I don’t want to know how much slower I’ve gotten because it doesn’t matter. I don’t want that to be on my mind while I run – I just want to have fun.
Do I have a race plan? Basically, don’t get hurt and have fun. I think my sister may run with me, and I may also end up with some friends. I’m certainly not planning to push myself. The course has a time limit such that I could get lost, have a picnic, get back on the course, and still finish with time to spare, so it’s nice to not have that worry.
I am really hoping to end the year on a high note, since this time last year, I was struggling with hip pain and it was a frustrating way to end the season. But really, finishing at all will be a win in my book. And I’m confident I can accomplish that. It’s been a long road to get here, but it’s been worth all the work.
Have a blast!! I wish I could find a half marathon close by in the next month or two, but there just aren’t any around in the brutal cold, Iowa winters here…wonder why?!?! 😉
This is why I go to Florida to race every November. Highly recommended!