Base Training Update: Halfway There!

It's been a while since I have posted. Mostly I attribute this lapse from my training becoming routine. The runs, sadly, haven't felt all that special or motivating. I'm officially in my 8th week of training, and so the "newness" of it has faded. In some ways I feel as though I have plateaued, and nothing has really inspired me to reflect on the running. That's a melancholy attitude; in some ways its nice to be in a groove, but it's sad when you hit a series of weeks when it just feels like exercise when I know it's so much more than that.

There have been some highlights, despite the fact that I haven't posted in a while. Once the long run hit 6 miles Kegan and I started to do out "field trip" runs. We ran 6 miles in Sandy Hook, 7 miles in Boston and 8 in New Brunswick. I really love that aspect of training: that my weekends become disciplined (dare I say I like getting up early on a Saturday?!), I get to escape from the familiar and see new places (Boston on foot...so cool) and Kegan and I get quality time together. It's almost like Saturday is our "date morning"! I also crossed the 100 mile mark of training. In fact, as I write I have logged 116 miles since  training began. I've been blessed to have healthy, quality training, and hope that it continues.

It's crazy to think that I am halfway (technically more than halfway) through with this base training program. In 6 weeks I will be finished, and then after 1 week of rest...I'm officially marathon training! I have to admit it's intimidating. When I have tough long runs I have to remind myself that I've run two half-marathons before...that I've run longer distances, and I can conquer the distance I am currently at. That's not going to work when I surpass half marathon distances! The marathon and training seem daunting...but, hopefully, that's the beauty in it.