BOSTON BOUND + February Goals

Usually, I start setting my goals for my next running season as soon as I have recovered from the previous big race. However, after killing it at Dopey (if I do say so myself! recap coming soon - I promise), I sort of put things on hold for a bit.   In less then 6 months, I had finished a half Ironman, marathon, and 48.6 mile running challenge - that is a lot for me, definitely the most I've ever done so close together.  I also had surgery scheduled two days after I returned from Disney, and while I was optimistic it wouldn't keep me down for too long, I didn't know what to expect.  So, no real goals in January.

This turned out to be a smart move, because surgery turned out to be much harder than I expected.  My doctor cleared me to run as soon as the plastic splints came out "based on how I would feel", but what he didn't tell me is how terrible I would continue to fee.

I was able to return to running 9 days post-op, but the first two weeks of running were pretty difficult a huge suckfest. I was running about a minute per mile slower then usual, my legs felt incredibly heavy, and I was getting very fatigued after a mile or two.  By the time I got through my usual 5-6 mile route, I felt as terrible as I do at the end of a marathon, in some ways more terrible. I suppose I was probably pushing a bit too much post-op, but I'm stubborn like that. I was starting to feel very defeated and that was no way a spring marathon would be in the cards for me.

THEN THIS HAPPENED.

Yes, that's right, I AM RUNNING BOSTON! A very kind runner - I call her my fairy godmother - offered me a once-in-a-lifetime chance at an invitational entry.   I am so beyond excited and grateful for this opportunity - something I never saw happening for me.  I had signed up on Tuesday evening, and I got my official letter of acceptance last night. I jumped into week 2 of of Hal Higdon's 12 week Boston plan yesterday, which is a bit short of a time frame, but considering all that I did this past fall/winter, I think I will be okay.  So with that - let's look at this month's goals.

February Goals

Get my legs back on track.  This is one is going to be the hardest to measure because it is most subjective.  Just because I signed up for Boston, doesn't mean all my post Dopey/post op fatigued leg issues magically went away.  But, I am starting to see some upward progress finally, especially since I started upping my iron supplements (iron deficiency is an ongoing issue for me).  Hopefully with continued healing from surgery and smart training, I will start to feel like myself sooner than later.

Make sure to get in one quality workout a week.  800 repeats, hill repeats, tempo runs - I hate all the hard workouts. But if you want to run faster, you gotta run faster right? My plan has these written in, so I just gotta stick with them, and not make excuses for myself.

Start strength training.  I had some restrictions on this one post-op from the doctor, but I expect to be cleared on my 3 week checkout on Monday.  Once that is over with, no more excuses.  I gotta fit it in, starting with twice a week.

Swim once a week.  Again, this is pending clearance from doctor on Monday, but I don't expect this one to be an issue, either.  Swimming is my weakest sport in triathlon, and if I don't keep up with it over the winter, I may drown next tri season.

Drop 2-3 lbs.  I don't have a ton of weight to lose, but I would feel better (and likely run better!) if I get closer to my race weight.  Time to start chipping away at it.

What are your goals for the new month? Tell me!