Races are like a drug.

Folks, have you noticed that there is usually a little widget in the sidebar that lists my upcoming races?  Have you noticed that since last week that widget is GONE?  Yes, indeed.  I currently have no races on my calendar.  Part of this was by design as I had only figured out in the last month and a half where I'll be for 2013-2014.   

My friend P commented that racing was like a drug for me and Barry.  I totally agreed.  I wondered hypothetically how much a cocaine habit would cost me annually and whether that amount was more or less than my current racing habit.  It's only been a week since my last race and I'm ITCHING to sign up and start training and thinking about the next one.

I've decided to not run a marathon this fall.  There aren't really any marathons past mid-November in the Midwest within driving distance, and a November marathon would be too soon to do a good job of training.  I rushed and half-a$$ed the training for my first marathon, and I didn't feel like trying to do that again.  Instead, I have my sights on the LA marathon on March 9.  It'll be an expensive marathon, as all California marathons tend to be, but it's the marathon that first inspired me to dream of running one.

Madison Mini-Marathon 2013

Bottle opener medal

Remember how I had all these plans to train for this half marathon?  Remember how I said I was going to do some speed training, some hill workouts?  Despite our lovely cool summer, I didn't train.  Instead, life decisions happened and I forgot about the running.  Well, I didn't forget so much as running and training just wasn't on my mind and as such, I forgot about the countdown toward the Mini-Marathon.  Instead, I stressed about moving and making life decisions.

So, I didn't have much expectations going in.  My legs were feeling much more fatigued than usual and I knew that was going to be an issue going in.  I had done some speed training on the treadmill this summer and hit some nice PRs in the shorter distance races, but I didn't put the time in to do any long distances.  I knew that I was likely to peter out by mile 8.