And so it begins...

Today marks Day 1 of an 18 week training program for the Baltimore Marathon. But, if I'm honest, today really marks about a 9 month marathon training block as I find myself registered for marathons in October, November, December and March. Though not all will be PR attempts, I'll still need to be putting in the work as we all know marathons aren't an easy task.

Today is bittersweet for me. For the past 2 months, I haven't been running a whole lot. 4-5 days a week and only 1 or 2 runs were over 11 miles. I've been swimming instead, and doing a boot camp (which I will review in another blog post) but for the most part, I've been sleeping in on the weekends, have had little regard to nutrition and just doing whatever the heck I want. It was a break I needed, and a break I enjoyed (probably too much). Point blank: I have a lot of work to do over the next few months. It will require early mornings every day of the week (there is no sleeping in when trying to get a long run done in the Texas summer), it will require dedication and hard work and it will require focus.

I'm ready though. As much as I enjoy being a sloth (well my version of a sloth - Dan argues I still work out more than a normal person even when I'm not training for something), I can only go so long before I crave the hard training, structure and routine necessary to prepare for an event like the marathon.

I decided to follow the same plan I used last year training for Baltimore (stick with what works?) - Pfitzinger's 18/70 plan. I'll continue with swimming and boot camp for core work/recovery. Once August hits, I'll have the opportunity to start training with the local college cross country team coached by my incredibly talented friend who is a 5 time Olympian (but you would never know it from talking to her because she's so humble). If chasing around college kids about 15 years younger than you isn't motivation to get faster, then I don't know what is. I'm really excited for this opportunity as I know it will push me outside my comfort zone, which I seem to have a hard time doing sometimes.

This week kicks off with a challenge of back to back races this weekend - a 5k on Saturday on a particularly tough course and a triathlon (my only one of the summer) on Sunday. Let's not talk about the fact that I haven't been on my bike in a year... guess I'll be winging it :)

LET THE FUN BEGIN.