My training for the California International Marathon (CIM) has supposedly been my focus. It has felt as though I am just going through the motions, however. I say this only because I have been comparing it to my training for Grandma’s Marathon where the training felt so intense and focused. I’m already seven weeks into this training program and it still feels like maintenance running. There’s no intensity, no vision of the finish line, and I am a bit nervous about that.

It’s time for a shift – a look at my intermediate goal.

The Nike Women’s Half-Marathon has been planned out since January (perhaps earlier). While the plan was always for this to be a “for fun” run, with no real intentions of racing, I may need to use it as a measure of where my training has taken me so far. I had entertained thoughts of using the San Jose Rock ‘N Roll Half-Marathon to gauge my fitness level, but I just can’t cough up the funds with another race only two weeks later. It doesn’t look like a good plan at this point.

I am left to trying to generate some enthusiasm for making Nike a good race. I need a reason to push hard in these coming weeks so that I can power up those hills. There is one reason that I would want to run a good race, and that would be to be a little more competitive against my older sister. Linda is fast. She BQ’d last year at CIM without even trying to. Then, she didn’t go to Boston because it really “wasn’t her dream”. That’s right; it wasn’t HER dream, it was MINE. She said she would only go if I BQ’d.

Okay, so whatever. Linda is also running Nike. In fact, she urged me, and many of her friends, to register and we are all staying overnight together in the city for the race. I’m excited about that; she has very cool friends who ALL run FAST.

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Last week’s long run felt miserably lonely. It was all I could do to put in the miles. Today’s run, was a different story. It “sort of” surprised me.

I had actually planned to run solo at the open space preserve again. But I had another night of poor sleep, and woke up a little later than planned. I opted for convenience, and went to the local park where there is the paved bike path.

Cindy and Amy were planning to run at the same location. I looked at my clock and resisted the urge to head on without them. It was 7:10 am and they were planning to run at 7:30 am. I “figured” that this meant that they would be arriving at 7:15 am (that’s the usual deal). Today, however, the first to arrive didn’t show up until 7:25 am. In the time that I waited, I re-evaluated my plan to go on without them several times. But, it just seemed silly to leave at that point – and they would probably see me running away. What kind of message would *that* send?

So I waited..and waited…and waited for a LONG time. Cindy arrived, then Brenna, then Fred, and finally Amy. *sigh* I could have been half-way done with my run by the time everyone was there. After hugs, and potty breaks, we were on our way. ALL of us were on our way. It must have been quite a sight to see.

We ran and talked as I clicked off the passing miles. Although I enjoy running with each of the runners that showed up today, I wasn’t enjoying today’s run at all. I was just tolerating it. I don’t really know why. Perhaps it was because I had “intended” a SOLO run. Perhaps it was because I was positioned in the back of the crowd and this just felt awkward. Regardless of the reason, I listened to the various conversations (even kept them going with questions) and counted down the miles until my turn around.

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…and the “real” training begins:

I’m finishing up week 6 of training. It’s the last step-back week before the program rapidly moves into the “real deal.” My training schedule has sort of been paralleling the “pre-season” of football.

As I nervously look forward to BoBo’s 1st game, I am looking forward to the movement towards peak training.

You may, or may not (if you are a newer runner), know the scenario. The 1st many weeks of the training schedule gets your running base set. It gets you used to the pattern of the training program. In my case: Monday = cross training, Tuesday & Thursday = shorter runs + strength and stretching, Wednesday = sort-of-long run, Friday = rest day, Saturday = sort-of-long distance at marathon race pace, and Sunday = Long run.

So, as my “pre-season” training ends, I look forward to 14 – 15 – 17 – 20 mile runs with various races mixed in. Next week, my shorter run and sort-of-long run distances increase and my long run continues to climb. It’s time to get jazzed about my training, to embrace it, and to gear up for marathon day.

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I walked down the stairs to change for today’s run. Time had gotten away from me today. I hadn’t even eaten my morning snack bar yet. Since I began on the JC program, I’ve needed something to carry me through my mid-day run. Today, I grabbed an over-ripe (for me) banana.

The day was off kilter from the very beginning. Just out my front door, I dropped some salsa on the front of my shirt. I tried not to let it fluster me. I drove back home to change and meet my carpool partner after dropping off the kids. But my carpool partner wasn’t there. And she didn’t answer her cell phone. I waited until 7:30 am. No show. Reluctantly, I began my horrible trek to work. The traffic had really built up. There were many accidents along the way. It was rapidly turning into a bad day.

And at work, the funk continued. It seemed wide spread. On my office chair was card being circulated for signatures and well wishes to another employee jumping ship. When will it all end? I began to wonder if I should be resuming my hunt for another job.

During my lunchtime run, and then in the fitness center I could smell a stink. It was foul. Wait a minute…It’s me. My sweaty workout clothes have gotten *really* ripe over the last few days of repeated use. Since I’ve been running hard, I’ve been sweating a lot. They were far more ripe than my banana. Pee-yoo!