To Run Providence Or Not To Run Providence
That is the question. My friend Perfect Goofy Gail will be running the Providence marathon again this year and invited me to join her. She helped me last year to achieve my marathon PR which I can still use for my corral placement for the 2016 marathon. I have another friend that I used to work with who I saw running near my house last week so I messaged her and asked her what she was training for. She told me she was training for the Providence marathon and I felt a little jealous. 
I specifically did not sign up for the Providence marathon this year because I did not want to train for a Spring marathon. I wanted to focus on half marathons and getting a decent half marathon finish time for my Disney race corral placements. With my current ankle issue it wouldn’t be a pretty marathon at all. My half marathons right now are going to be ugly as it is.
Gail offered to go slow and even to walk the last half of the race. Last year when she helped me get my PR we walked part of it and I still got a good time in my books but we were in the back of the pack. If I were to run the first half and walk the last we would be the last people to cross the line, I’m sure.
So now I am debating if I should do the Providence half. Next dilemma. I want to run the Cheshire half which is the week before Providence. So I think I need to see what happens this weekend with the Middletown half marathon and see how my leg feels during and after the race. I am just walking most of this week so I can give it time to recover and to have it rested for Sunday.
If all goes well. Then I will make some decisions. We are going on our family vacation to Disney and I am also attending the Disney Social Media Moms Conference so I have to pack everything the weekend before because I have a busy workweek prior to leaving. I have to teach the day we are flying out so I have to rush home and pick up my family and our stuff and rush to the airport.
I read a recent blog post on the Another Mother Runner site from Amy Blake where her body was telling her to slow down. I am wondering if my body is also telling me to slow down. After I read her article it made me think if I need to stick to my plan and not push myself into doing a marathon that I am not prepared for.
I have to respect the distance. Sure I may be able to finish it, but will I injure myself in doing so and then would that affect my vacation with walking in the Disney parks? So the big question is to do the half or not to do the half. I guess time will tell after next weekend. It is always fun to get away for a race, even when it is in the next state. I have to see what my daughter’s softball schedule is as well. So many decisions!!!
What would you do?
If you’re not prepared don’t do it. Stick to what you already have planned — Middletown as you know is a toughie!!
See how Middletown and Cheshire go then see what you want to do as far as 26.2!
Good luck!!!
Thanks Anne! I am going to respect the distance and not do the full. I take my marathons seriously and don’t want to regret my decision.