I’ve decided to train for a running race, again. It took awhile to get here!

The last time I signed up to compete was in 2019, for the 2020 Garry Bjorklund half marathon. Like everything else in 2020, that turned out differently than expected: the race was cancelled. With my relay-running college friends, we opted to keep running that summer by doing a remote relay. Fun because it was inventive, competitive in a new, different way (à la: let’s wear masks while running! It’s all we can do!), and one desperately-needed way to stay connected to other people.

My last competitive race was the Bjorklund half marathon in 2017.

These last few years have brought two large, athletic and gluey dogs into my life. One of whom was a very small puppy in 2021, and so that summer was dedicated to his upbringing. This translated to less sleep (in the first few months), lots of very slow walks that covered not miles but inches, or eventually, feet and blocks. Oh and tons of fun.

Dream of getting a dog: achieved.

Rollo wasn’t allowed to run much until he was well over a year old, but when Cooper arrived in early 2022, I gained an experienced and extremely willing run buddy.

We had another cycling trip planned for September 2023. I prioritized getting my butt ready for many hours in the saddle, at least when I wasn’t working or enjoying adventures with Steve and the dogs.

And yet, running more than once twice a week just wasn’t in the cards, or even in the desire since even before the pandemic. 2018 held some job changes. I had joined Toastmasters, and was busy with those weekly speech projects. In 2019, we had a big bike trip planned, and I wanted to prepare well for it by biking more in the summer.

And so I’ve lined up my excuses for my lackluster running from 2017-2024 like a proper runner, getting ready for a track workout.

In the last month or so, while continuing with my strength training and doing a few exploratory hikes around Albuquerque with the fam, I’m starting to jones for not just a race. And for some rigorous training for it. Maybe it’s the turn in weather, the well-led running group I’ve joined in New Mexico, or my relative lack of interest in signing up for a weightlifting competition. It could be that I crave a return to something familiar (i.e. training), when so much of my life is different, now (see this post for the main reason, AKA retirement from my UX work, but also: we’ve been wintering in New Mexico).

However we slice it, it’s begun. Here’s what’s happened so far:

1. Decide to train for a race, maybe a 10k or possibly a 13.1 miler
2. Tell the guy leading the run group
3. Choose a race. Tell him which one (Newport Half). Share how many days per week I plan to run. Share also what my goal for this race is, or might be
4. Take a look at the training plan he concocts
5. Meet with him to review some of the terminology, distances, and how to set my expectations, given the gap since my last real race
6. Start running! Day one had a track workout

The first track workout, comprised of warmup, 4×400, and cooldown went better than expected (mainly, I completed it and at not too much slower of a pace than I expected).

Back in 2019 I was hoping to beat a 2-hour half marathon. It’d be cool if that could happen in this race, but if I race and feel I’ve given it my best effort, I’ll be satisfied. And ready to figure out what to do with the rest of the summer!

Stay tuned: I want to keep you looped in on my progress.