Plans for my next half marathon

Yes, I plan to run another half marathon. Yes, I beat myself up a little over the last one, but that doesn’t mean that I’m done. Oh no—I’m just getting started, kids.

In my recap of the Pittsburgh half marathon, I mentioned that I was making plans for my next half marathon. Here’s what I’m thinking:

• Run a few 5Ks/10Ks: I did run a pretty solid 10K time during Charm City Run‘s Sole of the City 10K (52: 44) a few weeks ago and I signed up for Boston Street Running‘s Memorial Day 5K. I think running a few quicker races will help me with my speed. I’m going to add some speed days to my training, too.

• Add in strength training/stretching: I fully admit to be a big slacker when it comes to strength training and stretching. I’m going to actually go to yoga on Thursdays at lunch (company perk!) and strength train at least once each week.
• Run hills! Baltimore is a fairly flat city and maybe I seek flatter runs when I train, but I can’t always do that. I occasionally need to take on the hills.
• Sign up for my next half soon: I’m looking at the Baltimore half marathon in October or the Philly half in November. I ran Baltimore last year and Steve did Philly. I liked BMore, but the Philly course was nice. BMore was awesome weather and Philly was very cold. Decisions, decisions.
• Remember why I love running: I do. I’ve been running since I was 14 and, even when I take breaks, I always come back to it. Running has taught me so much and gives me an amazing community.

A few friends, like Katharine and Jess, are getting back into running and it makes me so happy. I also think of Dianne, who loves to run so  much but has battled a nagging IT injury and can’t take on longer distances right now. And there’s Steve, who is the most passionate runner who I know. He’s currently dealing with a bum hip flexor but ran through it in the half—and is now working with a professional trainer to bounce back and be even better.

And, when I get really angry/frustrated/tired, I think of Ali. I’ve never met Ali in real life, but I’ve read her blog for years. (I like to think that if we lived in the same city, we’d be friends.) Ali has Crohn’s disease, which I understand so much from dealing with my own digestive woes. Ali has been really, really, really sick for awhile now and can’t run. She’s missed races and endless morning runs in Central Park, but she still posts Thankful Things Thursdays. I know what it’s like to be so sick that you can’t leave the house, so when I’m out on a run, I try to just be thankful that I can.

Now, tell me—are you training for a race? What are your training plans?