The topic for this week’s Tuesdays on the Run is “goals”, specifically what goals do you have left for the year. Oddly, the main goal I have left for the year wasn’t even on my list of goals for the year. What goal is that? Finishing the Marine Corps Marathon.
At the beginning of the year, I had no intention of running Marine Corps. In fact, I had no intention of running 17.75. But then I got caught up in FOMO and quickly registered for the 17.75 race in the five minutes that it was open. How does that even happen? How does one go from not really wanting to do something to participating in the crazy rush to get into a race? Yep, definitely FOMO. Somehow I also entered the lottery. Seriously people, what was I thinking?
So, I ran the 17.75, totally convinced I would give my code away. Beer Geek called it when he guessed I’d use the code. Yep, I was registered to run again by the time my hair dried from my shower.
I had some lofty goals at the beginning of the summer: I planned to train with Hansons and break 4:30:00. Yeah, I hate summer running, but I was going to train hard and run fast. As you might imagine, it didn’t happen. I didn’t plan to fail quite as amazingly as I did, but I should have known that I will never PR a fall marathon (if I every run a fall marathon again..)
Anyways, so here are my goals for Marine Corps coming up in 12 days…
- Finish!
- Have fun while I’m out there.
- Get a photo WITH the hot dudes in silkies. (A girl’s gotta have dreams.)
- Feel good enough to brave the crowds and buy a finisher’s shirt since this may be my final MCM.
- Smile at every kid, slap every hand, eat every snack… I want this to be 26.2 miles of joy.
Notice that I have no time goals. I won’t be PRing. It’s unlikely that I’ll even have my fastest MCM. But I don’t care. I’m in it for the fun, so if you see me dancing and having a good time. Join me! If you can’t be fast, you might as well be fun.
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I like your goals. You’ve had an epic year. Time to have fun!
I’ve had race FOMO before! And it’s resulted in me signing up for lots of random races I didn’t intend on participating in. But I don’t think I’d PR a fall race either. With as hot as it gets in Florida during the summer, I don’t really want to train or run a lot so it’s kind of my slack off season. Good luck at MCM! I hope you enjoy the race!
Sounds like a great goal! And maybe I’ll see you there. 😉
I got caught in FOMO too, and signed up for a virtual race. I’m OK with not meeting it since I want to take my time increasing my mileage. I’m like you and hate summer running. Good luck with MCM, I can’t believe it’s almost here.
Sounds like a great plan to me! Hope you have a blast!
I think you’re going into it perfectly: to finish and have fun! Who knows, this may be your best MCM yet because you have no expectations. And by best yet, I don’t necessarily mean time-wise! Have a great time!!
I’ve always heard great things about Marine Corps. I may just have to give the lottery a chance one of these years. Best of luck this year!
Fun is good. Although personally I still don’t see how fun & marathon go in the same sentence.
But that was basically my goals for my half last weekend & I achieved them — good luck!
Having “fun” goals is good too! I love the goal about getting a photo with the men in silkies (loved seeing that in your recap last year! #trainingmotivation). My big goal is to hit 4:30 so part of me is torn on how much to “enjoy” the race too… how would I feel if that photo, or selfies with my family, are what kept me a minute off my goal time? Gotta figure that out. Can’t wait to be back in Arlington in less than 2 weeks!
Ha I totally understand FOMO and peer pressure! The only reason I signed up for a full! With no time goals and just to have fun, I’d be shocked this isn’t one of the most memorable ones you’ve done.
I love that you have other goals other than time goals! That’s sort of what I did for my last marathon! I hope you enjoy the race!
I hope you have a blast at MCM! Sometimes it’s better to not worry about time because you can really enjoy being in the moment. I hope to run this marathon one day!
I like your goals. Honestly, I feel like this is how MCM should be run. It is such an incredible experience!
Good luck at MCM! I have never run a marathon without a time goal, but I have also never run a big bucketlist marathon (like MCM, Chicago, Boston, NY), but one day!
Those sound like great goals for a race. Definitely my plan for my first (and probably only marathon) – joy or something like it. If only I had the possibility of hot guys at my race. 🙂 Have a great race!
I love your attitude.
I will be channeling your ‘tude in April at the Oakland Running festival.
IM SO SO IN IT ALL FOR THE FUN.
Awesome, good luck at MCM!! I’d love to run that one year … maybe FOMO will take over and I’ll enter the lottery for 2017’s! 🙂
Sounds like perfect goals to me! I hope to see from an MRTT cheer station!
Love your goals… especially #3 🙂