Marathon Training Update

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I'm in week two of marathon training for the Myrtle Beach Marathon and am happy (and relieved) to report that it's going well. Great, even. I don't know why, but after I ran Chicago in '09 and qualified for Boston, I lost my confidence. Even though I had a great run at Boston and set a PR, I went into that marathon with a sense of dread. I knew I'd done the training but mentally I felt off. When I crossed the finish line, my main thought was, "Wow, I got lucky."

That feeling of not quite being ready, of not being as strong as I need to be, has plagued me throughout the summer. Even casual Saturday runs I've approached with a mindset of, "Well, I'll just get through it the best I can." My times were still good, but I was full of doubt. 

Maybe I just needed a goal. I really (really, really, really) want to break 3:40 at Myrtle Beach and I'm fired up to do it. I did a tempo run this morning and had the urge to stop around the 5 mile mark. No! 3:39! 3:39! 3:39! I kept going.

The real test of my resolve comes this weekend. I'm in NY for a writers conference and the days are packed. I'm due for a 15-mile long run and the only way I can see to fit it in is to get up at 4 am on Saturday and hop on the hotel treadmill. Fifteen miles is a long way to run on a treadmill. It feels even longer on an unfamiliar treadmill. And longer still at 4 am. But I'm already psyched to do it. I've got a goal. I'll do what needs to be done to reach it. 

How about any of you? What fires you up to reach your goals? Or, alternatively, what fills you with self-doubt and how do you move past that?

Cheers,

Dena

Back In It: Myrtle Beach Marathon

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Start line at Myrtle Beach MarathonAfter I ran Boston in April of this year, I could tell I needed a break from marathon training. Physically I was tired and mentally I was just done. Over it. Didn't even want to hear the words "18-mile-training-run." 

The break has had the desired effect. I am itching to get back into training. Dying to get on a schedule. Pumped about setting a PR. 

And I get to do it all with my girls. 

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Chicago Marathon 2009: The Full Recap

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As tradition dictates, here it is. My Chicago Marathon 2009 recap. And ah-waaaaay we go!

PRE-RACE

To qualify for Boston, I had to run under a 3:45:59. I’d trained all summer on the Furman program for a 3:45 finishing time, but still wasn’t sure I could do it. I felt pretty confident I could hold the pace until mile 21 but didn’t know what awaited me after that. I told only a few people I was trying for Boston and told everyone else I just wanted to break 4 hours. I do better mentally if I know I’ve lowered people’s expectations and can surprise them with a big win…

RACE DAY

The first thing I did was slice the back of my right ankle open with a razor while shaving. Vanity, vanity…

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