Today: Here we go again.

[tweetmeme source=”elizabethev” only_single=false]You know something’s up when you’ve got paper cuts from flipping through old issues of Runner’s World, your blisters grow their own blisters, and giant boxes of Gu Chomps arrive in the mail.

It’s time to train for another marathon.  I learned a lot while training for, and ultimately completing, my first marathon.  That’s one of the great advantages to being a slow runner.  You’re out there for so long, you can’t help but gain experience.  Most of what I learned was really awesome.  For example:

• The marathon is a gift you give yourself. Like most experiences in life, you get out of it what you put into it… but I hobbled away from the marathon feeling like I had hit the jackpot.  I learned a lot about myself during those hours on my feet, and over the course of our training.  I proved to myself that I can do something pretty incredible.   I overcame physical weakness with emotional strength I didn’t know I had.  And on top of that, I had a really, really good time (as in experience, not clock time… obvi).
• The marathon is a gift your fellow runners give you.  Unlike 5k or 10k races, people actually talk to one another during a marathon.  The “we’re all in this together” spirit is pretty unbelievable.  My marathon experience feels sort of like a quilt of people sewn together.  It boasts patches of Endorphin Dude, TNT runners from chapters across the country, and a leukemia survivor from Long Island that I was blessed to run alongside for a quarter mile or so.  These people gave me laughter, inspiration, and courage.
• Running a marathon is hard. That’s sort of the point. There were moments that broke my heart, and miles that nearly broke my legs.  There were times when I wanted to quit, and felt so sick that I worried I would have to quit.  But nothing– nothing– can compare to the overwhelming joy I felt when being thanked by a spectator, encouraged by a coach or fellow runner, and having a big, fat medal draped around my neck.  I did it.  And if I can do it, you can too.

[Read the original marathon recap posts here.]

And everything else I learned can be filed under learn from these mistakes, or else.

The months of training leading up to the marathon are the hard part.  The marathon itself is a party.  Free Gu for everyone, yes even you with the IBS!  As training was winding down the first time around, I felt burned out, stressed out and wanted to punch anyone and everyone wearing Spandex.  Including myself.  Nay, especially myself.  This time around, I have shortened my training plan by a few weeks and am concentrating on making every, single workout count.

I am building in incentives (pedicures, YouTube videos of micro pigs, a new hoodie or twelve, Harry Potter movie marathons, six hour naps, etc. etc.) to stay motivated.  This time around I am more excited than terrified (though I am a little terrified).  My freezer is stocked with ice packs and my cabinet is stocked with peanut butter.  Plus, I have a really cute new sports bra.

I am making time for strength training, cross training that I actually enjoy (and does not involve pedaling a bike to nowhere), stretching, and thoughtful fueling.  My training plan is a mash-up of the NYRR official plan, our old Team in Training plan, excerpts from Four Months to a Four Hour Marathon, and a series of complicated numbers I accidentally typed into the calculator on my iPhone.  Essentially, it looks something like this:

• Sunday is for recovering: 2-3 mile run, no watch, lots of stretching
• Monday is for speed: soccer game or track workout
• Tuesday is for kicking ass: boxing class
• Wednesday is currently a wild card: rest or cross train (will soon be swapped with Friday, as long run mileage increases)
• Thursday is for tempo: 2-6 mile run, focus on pacing with a good warm up/cool down
• Friday is for getting my ass kicked: fighter conditioning class
• Saturday is for long runs: slow and steady

I am ready for Number 2.  Sort of.

Also On Tap for Today:

• Just in time for Shark Week: Cage diving in RI!
• Jerry Garcia Memorial River Run tonight
• Desperately need to get some art framed

What’s your favorite incentive for staying on track?