My Plan to not SCREW UP

Don't Screw Up the Holidays.

Holiday season brings extra festivities,
including FUN RUNS like
the annual Jingle Bell Hell!

It is the start of hibernation pounds for many (myself included). A long stretch of festive celebrating, eating on the go, work parties, family get-togethers and holiday meetups for every social group that you're a member. While the merriment is all fine and dandy, it leaves my jeans a bit tight by New Years. So I have a PLAN to not screw myself quite badly this year. I share it with you as an accountability check...

•  I expertly timed to run a marathon in March. The 16 week training schedule starts Thanksgiving week. Enough said. I'll be running my butt off - starting with a 5 mile Turkey Trot on Thursday morning. Plus I plan on attempting the RW Holiday Streak. This is either an awesome idea or stupid... unsure which yet.

•  I purposely entered a Dietbet contest that ends the week after Thanksgiving. I'm halfway to my goal (to win a share of the $ pot), with 4 more pounds to lose before final weigh-in. It's completely doable, but will require sacrifice of that pumpkin pie and fresh bread (my weaknesses) on Turkey Day. I'm not even a fan of mashed potatoes, gravy, casseroles and all that jazz so it's not terribly difficult for me to stick with just the turkey and veggies. However, my Aunt always has yummy snacks as we watch the football game... and my team usually makes me lose my cool, driving me to munch. It's not a challenge without temptation, right?! As we roll into December, I plan on signing up for another Dietbet. I can't deny it - the investment with money on the line - motivates me to say no to the cookie. I need that to keep my food in check over the holidays.

Don't Screw Up Marathon #6.

My training plan for the Shamrock Marathon started last Monday. I did not. As you may be aware, I was pretty sick this past weekend, so it quickly became a 15 wk training plan. Sigh. It is what it is, and I move forward.

I've finally settled on a training plan that works into my busy life, especially over the holiday season. (I'll share my plan details next week.) Although, I'm still searching for the motivation to train. I love running without a doubt, but training takes the run outside the "fun zone" sometimes. I know some people do, but I don't run full marathons for the fun of it. The only reason I run a full these days is to improve, PR, push my limits. 26.2 is always a big challenge and in the end, a huge high that keeps me coming back more. The distance drives me to push further and faster. To keep me (and you!) accountable to winter training schedules, I will be kicking off the Winter Miles Challenge on January 6... a free 8 week challenge that includes weekly prizes and motivation to keep us from slacking over the snow-riddled winter. More to come on that, so get excited!

Don't Screw Up My Foot. 

No one likes to talk about injuries, but once you suffer one, it's always stewing in the back of your mind. I'm not a very good patient. I don't listen well to the 'rest' philosophy. I have backed off my miles since completing the Marshall Univ Half (where IS that race recap?), but what I really needed was complete REST. My body obviously told me that this past weekend when I was bed-ridden with a fever for three days. It's amazing how your muscles and joints can ache more from laying in bed than running a marathon! I feel so darn stiff. Yoga please! However, after a 0 miles week, I now wake up each morning and walk normal from the get-go. If you've ever had plantar fasciitis (PF), you'll understand what a blessing that is. Therefore, I promise not slack as I pick up miles again. I will continue icing after workouts and my stretching exercises (Trigger Point review coming soon) to prevent another PF flareup. Long may this girl run!


Your turn...
What's your holiday plan? Do you fight it, or just worry about it come January?
Are you a winter runner? Do you have a spring race that you train for over the winter?
What's your current injury?