Make A New Plan, Stan

So, I'm back on the training stick again. I've even made a plan and everything! This time the goals are 4-fold.

The first, and most important/exciting/appealing is training "with" someone: my sister, Olivia. I say "with" because we're actually 700 miles apart, but we're working from the same training plan. I've never had a training partner before, and I'm looking forward to sharing the push/pull of the regimen -- especially when it becomes a real grind down the stretch.

The remaining goals are all time-based and would represent PRs in each distance. For the 5k, we're shooting for sub-22 min, which is a 7:04 pace. The 10k is at a 7:45 pace and the time is 48 minutes. Finally, for the Half Marathon, we're targeting sub-1:55 at a 8:45 pace. Considering previous marks and current fitness levels, these goals are a "reach", but not insurmountable.

For each distance, I've identified a race here in Mid TN. 5K will be the "I Run For The Party" race on August 25th. This is the 3rd annual race. I've run the previous 2 races, and they're always a lot of fun. Folks get dressed up in costumes, and there's a great after-race party. For the 10K, it'll be the Franklin Classic on Sept 3rd. This event has been going on for quite some time, and I've never actually participated. It's about time! For the 13.1 mile challenge, we'll participate in the inaugural Murfreesboro Half Marathon. This race fills a middle-distance voind during the fall in the midstate and should be quite popular.

So, I'm almost finished with week 1 of the new training program and I am pretty beat. The weather has been hot and muggy lately and I haven't been hydrating as well as I need to. Consequently, the runs have been more like death-marches. I've forgotten that I need to fuel properly, stretch regularly, and get enough sleep. That is, until just recently. I realize that in a couple short weeks, I'll be able to poke out 4-5 milers without much thought. Just right now, it's a challenge.