Looking ahead to 2013

Following the obligatory "year in review" post, the next obvious post is what's in store for the coming year.  I have to admit, I am really excited about the upcoming year.  Between battling a knee injury and then infertility, this is my first chance to really train as hard as I want in almost 5 years.  Not only that, but I also have some races on deck that have been long-time "wish-list" races.  The combination of those two things, makes me one very happy girl :)

Race Calendar
So what races do I have on my calendar?  The following are my biggies.  It is by no means an all-inclusive and I will undoubtedly add a smattering of smaller races and maybe a few other halfs.  Here are my biggies so far:

• February 16th: Myrtle Beach Half Marathon 
• April 13th: Hogeye Half Marathon
• May 25th: Bayshore Marathon
• October 13th: Chicago Marathon
• There is one more race, of sorts, on my calendar….but we're (hint, hint) waiting to finalize details before sharing…more to come!

I'd like to find a September half marathon, so feel free to make suggestions…..  Other than that one gap, I'm really excited about my race calendar for 2013.   

Training

If you've read my blog more than once or twice, you likely know that I have a special love for training plans.  I look forward to creating training plans, have made them for friends, and have made all of Brian's for awhile now.  So it would only be natural for me to have a training plan for Myrtle Beach, right?  Yes….but I don't.  I'm winging it.

I did make one...and I tried it, but I found that I really just wanted to run and do what I wanted and have fun with it.  It's been a long time since I was this motivated and excited about running and I just want a few months of doing what I want when I want and not worrying about what the training plan dictates.  I have been doing this for over a month now and have loved every bit of it.  I have also seen faster paces and longer distances than I have in a long time.  I have some loose goals with regard to my weekly training leading up to Myrtle Beach:

• Run 4-5 times a week: one mid-week longish run of 8-10 miles and one long run over the weekend of 10+ miles and the rest are whatever I feel like (mostly tempo/progression runs)
• Minimum weekly mileage of 25 miles, but targeting an average of 30-35 miles per week
• Strength train 2 times a week: 1 day for legs and core and 1 day for upper body and core

And that's it.  For now.  Following Myrtle Beach, I plan to have a detailed training plan and add in regular speed training and hills for Hogeye and Bayshore.  

Goals

I'd like to get a few new PRs.  I know I have a faster marathon in me and the biggest thing I want is a big PR in that distance. I actually feel as if that is the one distance that I have never been able to see what I can truly do if I train properly and run my own race (I've run some with other people and ran at their pace and then went into a few under-trained).  I may not get a new PR in the half marathon or 5K, but I'd like to beat my more recent times in those distances.  Here are my goals:

• Marathon = sub 4:15
• Half marathon = sub 2:00
• 5K = sub 26:00

What's in store for you for 2013, what are your big goals?  

Do you always follow training plans or ever just "wing it"?

Any good September half marathons on your radar?