I had big goals for my fall/winter racing season coming off Chicago. I traditionally perform better in the half distance than I do the full. Plus, I do much better running in our fall/winter weather than our summer heat and humidity.
I had three races lined up and progressive goals for each one.
I knew the goals would be tough, but I felt that they were doable.
Sweat Tea Half – November = sub 2:25
Kiawah Half – December = sub 2:20
Charleston Half – January = sub 2:15
My last 3 half marathons were run in these same months were a 2:12, 2:10, and 2:08 in 2014/2015 right before my body shut down and started fighting against me. I was aware it had been a long time since I had run this well, but in July and August I started to see my paces improving and was feeling stronger for the first time in a long while.
Then, the poo hit the fan and I fell down the stairs and broke my ankle exactly 50 days ago. Since then it has been all about recovery. 2 weeks on crutches with no workouts at all, then 3 weeks in a boot where I was able to do only upper body and core workouts at Orange Theory. Week 6 I was able to add back in biking and week 7 brought the addition of rowing. My hope is that week 8, this week (doctor’s appointment is on Tuesday), will be the week I am allowed to start walking for fitness.
However, running probably is another 2 weeks out, so by that point I will be 10 weeks off running and coming back very slowly from an ankle break. What does that do to my race schedule?
Sweat Tea Half – November = deferral
Kiawah Half – December = If I can start run walking at 10 weeks I would have 5 weeks to train for this one – I will be walking it.
Charleston Half – January = I would then have 10 weeks to train for this one and my goal would be to go from mostly walking to mostly running. Hopefully something like a 7/1 interval by then.
This is not how I pictured my fall/winter racing season going, but isn’t life that way sometimes.