Two weeks to go

Somehow, race day is less than two weeks away. Now's about the time I should be tapering and reflecting on my training cycle, but I'm sort of in denial that we're already here. I've run so many birthday races—it's a tradition I've truly grown to love, and my birthday just doesn't feel complete without it—but this is the first time I've chosen a destination race. 

The nature of a destination race means I've been thinking about it for a long time, because I've had to be picky about choosing it and proactive about planning travel. In fact, I first thought of running a destination race for my 40th when I turned 38, so I've been dwelling on this race (and this birthday) for years.

So it makes sense that I'm struggling to wrap my mind around the fact that in ten short days, I'll be in Arizona running in the desert and welcoming my 40s.

So how did this training cycle go? Pretty good, actually.

As usual, I started seriously training a little late, and post-sickness to boot. I had planned to keep up my running fitness through late fall after Nick's and my last 12k, but I was sick with a cold that lingered more than two weeks, and that meant when I finally did start training, I was starting from a deficit.

My first run back was a measly three miles on November 19, giving me a mere 12 weeks to get in shape for this half. Miraculously, I did it. Somehow I climbed back in the saddle and committed to my plan, even before I knew which race I'd be running. 

In the midst of this training cycle, there were setbacks. I needed new shoes but, as always happens to me, the ones I like best were discontinued, so I spent a couple weeks trying new models until I found a suitable replacement. (And the ones I did end up getting are desert-sunrise-colored. Very on-theme.)

These are also discontinued so I'll have to go through this entire process again in a year or so.

I skipped a few long runs, which is typical for me. But this time around, I made up for them, and my 10-milers ended up being some of my best runs ever. One of them was supposed to be 9 miles but I felt so good I added an extra!

Views from my first 10-miler, on January 19 in Seattle.

For the first time, I added longer midweek runs, going for 5-6 miles instead of capping them at 4. This meant I experienced shin splints—another first—which probably weren't helped by the search for new shoes. I got myself a set of Graston tools and they took care of the problem.

I kept up with my weightlifting during this training cycle, which definitely took a toll on my legs, especially my thighs and glutes. I adjusted my workouts to be more runner-friendly and began incorporating stretching.

All this is to say, somehow during this training cycle, I haven't let inconveniences or discomfort get in the way. The commitment I made to myself over the last year to be "fit by 40" created a foundation upon which I built my most consistent training cycle ever. I honestly can't remember a time I've felt more confident in my runs and skipped so few.

When I delayed my long runs, it was always because I didn't quite feel up to them, and I think that was me listening to my body. When I gave myself the extra day before tackling those runs, I experienced a calm certainty that I'd get it done, and in a way...they didn't even feel like work. I finally learned to control my pace, fuel correctly, and lock in. Even the day after travel, fighting jet lag, I got my last 10-miler done in Florida and felt great. 

And I even got a gym workout in and a nice run with Elizabeth while on vacation.

There are so many factors that go into having a good race day. I don't know what the weather will be like, how I'll feel post-travel, or how dinner on race-day eve will settle in my stomach...so I don't want to say I'm gunning for a perfect race or a PR. But I can say that I feel the strongest and best-trained I've ever been, and I think whatever happens on race day, I'm going to make myself proud.

And with that said...I finally feel like I can go into my taper feeling like I've done the best I could.

Ali