Mayoral note: Karla was away in Australia prior to the New Year and was kind enough to write this post before she left. Due to mayoral incompetence, this post hasn't seen the light of day until now. But it's never too late to start (or in some cases re-start) you New Year's resolution.
It’s a New Year. And that can only mean one thing: time to make some New Year’s resolutions.
I’m a goal-oriented person. So along with my general resolutions—which usually include things like “run a marathon”—I’m making a list of running resolutions. Here goes.
1. Get faster
2. Fast enough to race a sub 2-hour half-marathon
3. Even faster to race a sub 4-hour marathon
Sounds simple enough, right? Well…
Getting faster is a constant goal of mine. Fast is fun, but it’s also practical—the faster I get, the quicker I complete long runs.
I once read that people who start running as adults can expect up to 10 years of constant improvement before they peak. That makes me very happy, having been a dedicated runner for less than 10 years. (I had a rare bone tumor in my leg that prevented me from running for 12 years, but I’ll write about that another day.) So I still have a lot of improvement left in me. I hope.
So what am I going to do to get faster?
I’m going to attend team speed workouts once a week in addition to my regular runs. I’m always amazed how much better I perform with other folks around than I do on my own, and how it inspires me to work harder.
I’m also going to do my best to keep up with yoga once a week, and add some weight training. I used to be a big fan of weights, back when I couldn’t run. But since I’ve rediscovered the joys of putting one foot in front of another, I’ve foregone weights completely. But I used to really love “hitting the gym” and I know how much I’ll benefit from it, so I’m going to try to incorporate that into my routine twice a week.
As for racing a half-marathon under two hours, well, I’ve never actually raced one before. My fastest half to gauge by was the first half of the 2009 Chicago Marathon—I ran it in 2:14:28 and then went on to finish a marathon. Based on that, I think I could do it in 2:05. And with some nose to the grind, maybe sub-2. I’ve targeted a race in May for my big half-marathon debut. So I’ve got five months to train. Gulp.
Running a sub-4 hour marathon? That’s a whole other story. If I can do a half under two, I’ll be in striking distance with another five months to train before the ING New York City Marathon in November. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
Thankfully, a friend of mine has the same goal. So we’ve made a pact to train together, which I think will help immensely. My first marathon, I trained by myself. My second marathon, I trained solo and with a few faster friends. My third marathon, I trained solo, with a few faster friends and with a team. I’m starting to get the idea. More is definitely merrier for me. And running with a pal who has the same goal with probably push me to get ‘er done.
The Yasso 800s I’ve run suggest I have a 4-hour marathon in me. (If you’re not familiar with my frenemy workout, the Yasso 800s, check it out.) I’ve thought of myself as a “slow and steady” runner for so long that it’s hard to break out of that mindset. But “fast and steady,” here I come.
2010 is barely here, and I’m already excited for what a whole new year of running will bring. Will I get ‘er done? Who knows, but I sure am resolved to try.
What are your running resolutions for 2010?
Photo © 学君 李/PhotoXpress.com
Karla Bruning is an award-winning journalist and running nerd. She has completed three marathons, trains with the New York Harriers and is a member of New York Road Runners. Follow Karla’s “Notes From a Running Nerd” at RunKarlaRun.com and Twitter@KBruning.
This article is the copyrighted property of the writer and Communities @ WashingtonTimes.com. Written permission must be obtained before reprint in online or print media. REPRINTING TWTC CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND/OR PAYMENT IS THEFT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.
