I love running marathons. I love training for marathons. BUT I also want to run a really fast marathon and run until I'm 100. I also really love hiking, backpacking, camping, cooking, reading etc. so running isn't my only passion in life. After struggling with my tempo runs (not hitting the paces exactly where I wanted to be, but they were still pretty good) and having a pretty blah last week (including a planned 15-miler that turned 11-miler and easy pace rather than medium paced), I knew I had to make some decisions. 

I love Vegas and the marathon last year was SO MUCH FUN. I love the accomplishment you feel at the end of running 26.2 miles and feeling like you gave it all you had, BUT I also have had a pretty crazy year thus far. I've PR'd in the marathon by 3 minutes with a smile on my face the entire time (WITH crazy hills), ran multiple back-to-back 20+ mile training runs, ran 175 miles in 7 days, and completed my first-ever 50k ULTRA MARATHON! With all of these great successes, I know that maybe taking a step-back from the marathon (for the moment) may be the best decision for me because I've got even bigger goals that I want to chase in 2019 (I'm coming for you, a BQ late-spring marathon!) and breaking sub-3 hour mark one day in the marathon (and *maybe* even an OTQ in the marathon). 

With all of these goals in mind, I know that getting FASTER now will only help me reach those goals. I've also been struggling with some on-and-off knee pain and plantar faciitis. I know that they probably will not go away until I back off on my mileage, which I can't really do when training for a marathon, BUT I know that I can do that if I were to change my fall racing plans. Which is why I've decided that I'm switching from the Marathon to the Half Marathon in November in Vegas!

I came up with this idea on my long run on Friday and it immediately got me excited to chase down a faster half time and get some speed on my legs to carry me into 2019 and that BQ goal! I thought that I would've had a harder time making this decision, but once it came across my mind I got really excited. It's a great stepping stone towards my other goals and also gives me more flexibility in my training schedule (and just regular life schedule). 

I think I'm going to try for a 1:42-1:41 half marathon time, which slightly scares me, but will put me in a good position for a fast marathon time come Spring! I also really love this race calculator. 

CHECK OUT THESE PACES! 

SO besides making a change in my training plan this weekend, I also took Friday off to meet our landlord (he was planning to do some repairs on our place), but he never showed. So guess who ended up doing a bunch of painting and cleaning and organizing on Friday?!? Yup. I did.  Oh well, I'm pretty sure I got something like 5,000 steps just from walking up and down our stairs. Then to follow it up with an 11 mile long run in 87* heat - total rockstar ; )

I also came down with either a really terrible cold or allergies, but didn't feel well Saturday (I slept for TWELVE HOURS!?!) or Sunday so we layed low. It turned out to be super rainy and stormy most of the day Saturday so we ended up not going backpacking and did some more improvements around our condo (getting ready for Alex's parents to arrive on Thursday)! I made it out for a shorter run on Sunday (didn't run on Saturday) and some strength inbetween resting on the couch and prepping food for the week from the NEW Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow cookbook! I made the mac 'n cheese & oatmeal chocolate chip cookies on Saturday night and both were SO GOOD. Possibly the best cookies I've ever had. 

Sunday night was spent with a mini-marathon of Friends, leftovers for dinner, and drinking my weight in hot tea ; )

How was your weekend?!?

Tea or no tea?

Half marathon or full marathon training? Which one is your favorite? --> I haven't officially trained for a half marathon in YEARS so I'm pretty excited. 

Anyone else enjoy painting a room? --> I really love it and can totally just "jam out" to my favorite tunes. So relaxing.