New Beginnings

I recently completed the St. George marathon and ran a new personal record. It was a very satisfying and enjoyable experience. A couple of weeks have passed and now I am contemplating my next training plan.

The most effective training approaches in running involve periodization. The beautiful part of breaking your training into periods is that your training focus changes like the seasons. Like the change from Summer to Fall, a liminal space is created that offers a moment to reflect on where you have been and where you would like to be.

I am very satisfied with how St. George went but part of me is not satisfied. I believe that there is more. I will run the Boston marathon next April and want to set a personal record there as well. Boston is a more difficult course with well known challenges. I believe that such an accomplishment is possible and within my ability to reach but only after the trial of miles and miles of trials.

The training that will get me to that level of fitness will involve running distances right up to the ceiling of what my schedule and commitments will allow. Part of me is very excited to take on the challenge; another part feels anxious and a little scared.

I have to simply remind myself that the ideal of the unconquerable runner is made real in the effort and struggle, in stepping up to the line each day. There are no compromises in the pursuit of excellence.