Back in the day it used to be easier to train for marathons.  I worked full time, had the kids where they needed to be and my schedule was set.  Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter were the same – just different places that the kids were situated while I worked in an office.   Fast forward a few years to my “new” life.  Working part-time from home with the kids also home this summer, add in camping and day trips here and there and splat, my marathon training plan has more white out on it than my fake ID had when I was 17.

So other than curse my Grand Marathon Scheme (10 marathons by age 50) and throw in the towel I took a few days to reflect and make some tough decisions.  Scratch the plan to do Portland and push my plan out a few months to December and once again battle the California International Marathon in Sacramento.  (Insert fireworks here).

For those who haven’t heard the story of the CIM already, here’s what happened.  In 2001 I ran CIM with Team in Training.  Normally the forecast for this race is cold and or foggy, it’s December so duh.  This year however, it rained.  And I’m not talking sprinkles, it was like a monsoon.  40 mph headwinds and driving rain for almost the entire 1st half of the race.  The wind was cold and that rain just soaked us all head to toe within the first mile.  I did not have a great race time wise but was happy that I finished the damn thing.  To this day when I speak with people about that particular day I get “Oh, you ran in THAT one?”  It is on the books as the worst race weather they’ve ever had.  The bonus on this race is it’s a point to point and a net downhill.  It’s one of the fastest marathon courses in the country so I’m hoping with some added speed work I can shave at least a few minutes off my previous pr.

Not that I have this 60 day push out of our training plan I can take the rest of the trips I have planned through September without worrying that my training has gone to the dogs.  I can stay local and pay for the cost of a hotel room instead of worrying about airfare, hotel and a rental car.  I can be home for my daughter’s birthday party, I have something to train for through Halloween and Thanksgiving that will earn me the right to indulge in a few mini snickers and some pumpkin pie.  It’s a win-win!

As long as the weather holds up its end of the bargain and doesn’t rain.  I mean it can’t do that to me again, right?

Now go run!

Keli 🙂