YaYa is sick. I home from work this morning, and we’re sitting here watching Friday Night Lights. In the movie, the star player hurts his knee (torn ACL). He takes 3 weeks off and then the repeat MRI doesn’t look any better. His doctor advises him to stay off the field for longer, but he doesn’t want anything to do with it. He lies to his coach about his MRI results. He returns to the field and then – bam – takes the hit that ruins any future of playing football ever again.
I won’t make that same mistake. But I am looking to the future for my next marathon. I am optimistic of a return to running. Don’t worry; I just said “optimistic.” I didn’t say that I am pony-tailing and suiting up – but I sure do miss it. I am simply looking at the race calendar.
When I let go of CIM for this year, I had hopes of running Napa in March. I love and know the course. I have my PR of 3:55 on that course. But, I also want to allow for some easy running for a while. The only problem is that I don’t see any promising races except Grandma’s when I look to May, June or July.
Grandma’s *was* everything they say, but the black flag warning from 2006 was not anything that I could have prepared for (unless I ran my long runs on a treadmill inside of a sauna). Yet one of the JV football father’s, who I met a BoBo’s football practice, said that he got his PR (2:20) at Grandma’s. Freshman football is over, but JV has one more game – so football continues (but that is another story). This father raved about the course, the crowds, the race organizers, and the *weather*.
If I was to run Grandma’s Marathon again, I wouldn’t want to be there alone again – that finish line was just too lonely. But it was an expensive trip for one; the expense would be huge for four. I remember being so tired, and sad and homesick that I didn’t even want to go out for food afterwards. I just packed my bags to return home and tried to get through on the phone lines to my family.
It seems like it is down to Napa or Grandma’s. I just don’t know. What do you all think?
If it was up to me, I would wait till the last minute and decide based on how I felt. Which ever you choose, it needs to be a happy experience for you, and I don’t think we have any input into that.
Do you think you could be ready for a marathon in March? I assume you still want to BQ.
The hot weather at Grandma’s was a fluke, but it has also snowed. Colder weather also makes for slower times. I’ve read that Grandma’s can be fast if the weather cooperates.
I’m not planning to run Grandma’s in 07. My house should be ready in March and I expect to be too busy to train properly for a marathon. I’m holding out for Nike Women’s next fall.
Have you considered San Diego?
I second San Diego R&R which happens June 3, 2007. It is very fun and the opposite of lonely. They have cheerleaders and many Elivis and lots of great music.
Napa for a warm up, maybe? I don’t think you will be ready to PR by March. You need to assume it will take 8 weeks for your foot to heal.
Here’s a link to San Diego
http://www.rnrmarathon.com/home.html
I have no say on either…maybe pick one out of a hat? ;)
You might enjoy San Diego, though last year’s brutal heat had me saying ‘never again.’ But it is pretty easy to BQ if conditions are good. But the timing may be better than Napa if you remain “off your feet” for some time.
I was in your shoes this summer and have only recently learned to adjust my expectations to fit my new reality. Needless to say, there are no marathons on my horizon.
If you do decide on San Diego, let me know.
Why a summer marathon? Why not take your time with your training and shoot for something in the fall, in a location with more predictable and reasonable running temps? (Plus, that would give your body plenty of time to heal and rebuild.) Maybe do a half-marathon in late summer, as a tune-up?
I don’t know where my comment went but I put in a second for San Diego. When I ran it the weather was perfect – overcast and mid 60s until I was done and then the sun came out. It’s way fun and happens in early June.
Big Sur sounds good, too.
I’m sure you will be ready by then.
i’ll echo dianna. if you’re looking to qualify for boston, then you need to pick the race that will give you the best advantage, and a summer race is not the time to try for that. if you’re back on your feet in january, 8-9 months is a good time frame to train up to bq level. give yourself the opportunity to succeed.
Come meet us in Ohio at the flying Pig!www.flyingpigmarathon.com. It’s may 6th.
I don’t mean to be a downer and I know how badly you want to run, but you may need more time to heal and train properly to run the marathon you really want to run. (just my 2cents) Hang in there!