Yoga Pants Life

Apparently, the best way to become a writer/blogger is to, well, you know, write and post shit to your blog. Novel concept, I know.

It’s been so long since I’ve last posted, I actually forgot that I posted somewhat recently. At the time, I was super pumped to start training for the LA Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon. I even titled the post ‘Don’t Train Like an Asshole.’ Huh. I don’t even remember.

The good news is that I’m not training like an asshole…the bad news is that I’m no longer planning on running the half in 12 days. I made the decision about a month ago that I was not going to run this race this year…and to be perfectly honest, it was based more on logistics and cost rather than my lack of training.

I had a great summer, full of travel – I started off in Minneapolis in July, jumped to Chicago later that week (after returning to California for a few days…yeah, 2 red-eyes in 1 week? No thank you. Never again) then to LA a few weeks later. I thought I was done traveling, but a last-minute trip to Vegas came up and like I was going to say no to that. I ran and kept up my workouts (well, most of them.)

However, as the race started inching closer, I realized the logistics of getting a hotel room and/or figuring out a way to get from the San Fernando Valley to downtown LA at 4:00 am, without my car, was going to be nearly impossible. Sure, I could have dropped $250 on a hotel room close by, but then I realized that I’d be spending nearly 6 times as much as what the registration fee was just to finish this race. Um…no. Not this year. Especially when I have to book a hotel room for an upcoming wedding right before Christmas. I’ve had enough travel/hotel stays for the year. I’m tired of worrying about bed bugs, haha.

Also, while I’ve been keeping up on running and fitness, I knew that best case scenario, I would probably still finish slower than I wanted and it just didn’t make sense anymore.  If I was confident I was going to shatter my PR, then sure, it might have been worth it (or if I had someone to run the race with.) I’m actually proud of myself for dropping out because in the past I would have pushed through and injured myself while finishing with a super-slow time *cough* San Diego *cough* Chicago *cough* Wine Country Half *cough* so this is HUGE for me.

I kind of feel like an asshole and a broken record, but I’m excited for my upcoming races (and potential races) in 2019. I’m for sure planning on the Santa Barbara Wine Country Half (May) and the San Diego Rock n’ Roll Marathon (I’m undecided on the half or full, but it’s in June, so I have time to figure it out.) SB is a local race, so no logistics other than waking up on time and driving 20 miles. Most of my extended family is in San Diego, so that’s easy too.

I really want to run Chicago (October,) the California International Marathon (December,) and the Rock n’ Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon (September). I’m also toying with adding the San Luis Obispo Marathon in April as a warm up to SB and SD. Obviously, running all of those would be stupid, stupid expensive, and stupid painful (for both my body and bank account.) Chicago would be my first choice, but it’s $$$ and lots of travel involved…but I’ve done it twice before and I feel like I need to come back and just kill it. CIM is a 6 hour drive and not-too-expensive trip, but it’s still a lot to think about. My sister lives in Virginia and I REALLY need to get out there soon for a visit. Oh! and I cannot forget about the LA Marathon…I decided that I’d sign up if they won the World Series this year (but that’s looking grim after we got slaughtered by the Brewers last night, so I’m guessing it’s not a concern for me.) 

I’ll be back in a few months to post my final decision – I know y’all will be on the edge of your seats. Most likely, wine/beer will decide for me, as that’s literally how I’ve ended up in every single marathon I’ve run…and probably most half marathons too.