Each year I run the (used to be National, is now Rock ‘n’ Roll) half marathon in DC in mid March. I used it as my baseline for my running year ahead. The first time I ran it, it was my very first half marathon. I had no other goals than to compete it in under 2 hours. I did - 1:57:48. Which was pretty impressive because my training had really fallen by the wayside during swim and dive season, as it does every year.

The following year, I ran it 18 days after having my tonsils out. When I asked if I could start running that weekend, 5 days before the half, my doctor literally said “I wouldn’t go run a marathon or anything” and I asked “how about a half?” I finished that one in 2:05:55.

Last year I ran it as a training run, 2 weeks before my the OBX Flying Pirate 1/2 which I planned to try to PR at since it was mostly flat and I had done so well there in November. The plan was to stick in a group, but since Josh was running ahead at the beginning, I broke off with him, leaving Manda and Jenny to run it together. We did that one in 2:23:00. Setting a PR as planned two weeks later of 1:53:26.

Now with only 5 weeks till the half, and being under trained from getting sick and being busy, I am really wondering if I can run it under 2 hours this year! My joints are still really sore from this last infection/immune system reaction. And I still have a lot of fear about racing with all my joints and stuff. But I am trying to just get over it and do what I know will prepare me - get back to twice a week weekday runs and once a week long runs.

So, even though I am in a cycle of unshakeable infections (not seen since having my tonsils out) and know why my joints are all loose and wobbly, it doesn’t change the fact that these are not new things. I have been through them before and it didn’t stop me then. I need to get over my head and on with my life/training!