Today marks my return to being “in training” for a race. Just under 10 weeks from now I will be returning to Disney World for a girls weekend with my friend Kathleen to run the Fairy Tale Challenge. On Saturday, February 24th we’ll be running the Princess Enchanted 10k and on Sunday, February 25th we’ll be running the Princess Half Marathon.
My one and only goal for this race weekend is to have fun. Kathleen and I intend to stop for lots of pictures during the races, so our finish time is the last thing on our minds. My only focus for this training cycle is to prepare to run safe races. The furthest that I have run since Chicago is 6 miles, which is far fewer miles than I feel comfortable completing in a training run in preparation to run 19.3 miles over two days.
Kathleen and I ready to cross the start line in Chicago back in October
I have a tentative idea of what my training will look like over the next 10 weeks, but because I’m focused on having fun instead of a finish time I plan to adjust my training plan based on both feel and need. As long as I’m prepared to safely run the races, that’s all that matters to me right now.
In many ways, this training cycle will be different than many of my previous preparations for races. Even though its been just over two months since I crossed the Chicago finish line, I’m still not quite mentally ready to resume rigorous training. Not every race is meant to be a speedy one, so as long as I get the miles in I’ll be more than okay with how my Princess training goes.
With just under ten weeks to go until I run my 15th half marathon, I’m excited to get my training started!
QOTD: Have you ever trained for a race that you knew that you would be running for fun instead of focusing on pace/finish time?
How exciting! You are so right – not every race needs to be speedy or for a PR. I think that can make the training more enjoyable when you take pressure of yourself and not worry about the finish time.
Exactly, and I’m very much looking forward to my Princess training for that very reason.
Sounds like fun! Yes, I’ve trained for a few races just to have fun or run with someone else. It’s a blast!
I can’t wait for race weekend!
I think after all this time, you could pretty much show up and do it! You got this!
Haha, I probably could but I’d also like to be smart about it too.
The Disney races are great ones to run for fun! There’s so much to see and check out along the way.
And don’t forget about stopping for character pictures! 🙂
Most of my races are for fun. I enjoy the training and the race so much more when I’m relaxed. The most fun I had was my first half, at Princess. I wanted to soak everything in and just cross the finish line.
And there’s no better place to do just that than at Disney.
I like your mindset about this run. Maybe it’s what I need to get me back into training and to run a race!
Give it a try and see how it goes.
I hopefully will in the New Year!
Racing for fun is the BEST. That’s my mindset as I train for my first full marathon. I want to finish and run the whole time, but I also want to have fun and enjoy the race.
All great goals. Best of luck with your training! Running your first full marathon is bound to be an incredibly memorable experience.