Doing the Full Marathon

The dilemma whether to enter a full marathon or not is starting to nag at me. I didn't think that it was going to be this hard to decide to do the full mary. I'm eyeing the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon this December to do my first ever 42K but then I'm very very scared to do it. The more I think about it, the more butterflies I get in my stomach.  I really want to do it but I chicken out with the monstrosity of the distance.

The training plan is already with me.  It's a 16-week training plan which means I need to start this coming August 07 to be ready for the December 05 road race.  The training plan spells total commitment. It involves not just running but cross-training 2x a week.  The biggest challenge of it all is fitting this plan with work & family schedules. I am lucky to have a very supportive family when it comes to my running. They all gave me a go to do this which means being out almost every night starting August to do my daily runs.  Good thing that my son is already in Grade 5 and totally independent when it comes to school stuff.   Aside from the daily exercise, I will still have to incorporate the training to proper marathon diet. I hate dieting! :) 

To date, I have done 8 half marathons. I have decided to stop stressing myself out joining weekly road races and focus on plain running for now. The popularity of the running sport here in the Philippines is starting to put additional pressure on me when it comes to keeping up with registration schedules.  I started increasing my running speed in the gym which I think is long overdue and I enjoy it tremendously. I've committed to run not less than 3x a week at a comfortable hard effort. I will definitely do speedwork once a week at minimum of 9.7km/hour at 5x400 and yes I will start doing my long runs every Sunday.  This in preparation for the formal training in August.

I do not have a running coach.  The training is going to be a self-training plan with no running group.  I treasure my running hours where I can just keep quiet, hear my breathing & footsteps and listen to music.  These are moments when my mind feels light and fresh. I'm one of those runners who prefer running alone than with a group. 

I have two days before I give my final instruction to my sister to register me for the 42K.  And yes, I WILL DO IT. Let's not talk of target time but I hope I can finish in 6 hours.  Finishing though will be enough.  After almost two years of running, I will do the full marathon.  It's the scariest thing I will be doing so far but then again it will put so much excitement in my life.  I know that if I get to finish one, I will do another and another and another.  Is ultramarathon next in line?  Wahahaha.. Ambisyosa talaga!!