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“I made a decision to write for my readers, not try to find more readers for my writing”.
(Seth Godin)
Love this quote as it reflects my original thoughts when I started the Walk into The Future blog back in 2018.
My intent has always been to create content others would want to read but not seek out followers for the blog. Some of you are stuck with me because we grew up together, so happy to have you along for this journey. Others have found my writing via WordPress based on my content and/or topics presented.
I’m happy to have you here regardless of how/why you read my thoughts—appreciate the company on this life I live.
WordPress provides authors with daily, monthly, and yearly statistics directly on my dashboard. I’m able to identify when my work is viewed in another country and my reach continues to expand. Again, not driven by this but it is nice to see someone in Spain or India has read my latest blog post. Not sure how I attract folks so far away, but it feels great and inspired me to write a bit more and with more substance.
I’m back in the writing lab working on new topics and adventures I will begin sharing next week. I am also entering the busy portion of my racing schedule so there will be race recaps to include my 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon experience and the next BIG race on my 2024 schedule. Hint—I got accepted into the Chicago Marathon. This is exciting news for me and will be the largest run event I will participate in. Thanks to Orlando Track Shack and the global running impact of this organization—it helped me get into the Chicago Marathon.
My Walk into the Future is closing in on the 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon. I am heading down south on Saturday for my big race on Sunday.
The training this year went by smoother than last year. I chalk this up to having a better mental and physical understanding of the training program and what is required each week. I also view my hydration and nutrition planning as much improved from this time last year.
It is amazing how quickly you learn the things not to do to get prepared for a 26.2-mile race. Excited and terrified at the same time. Runners are a unique group of people with an adventurous mindset.
I didn’t have my friend Lauren training for a marathon with me this year, but she was always available to listen to me share about my progress. Hoping we will both get into the 2024 Chicago Marathon and enjoy this process together again next year. We both signed up for the marathon lottery system and will find out today if we get in. I will focus on the 2024 Chicago Marathon as my big race next year if I get in—fingers crossed!
The 18-week training plan has allowed me to increase my mileage safety as I built up my base miles. I added hill and speed training this year to increase my endurance towards the full marathon distance.
Here are my total weekly miles so far this year:
Week #10: 38 miles
Week #11: 23 miles
Week #12: 32 miles
Week #13: 34 miles
Week #14: 22 miles
Week #15: 39 miles
Week #16: 28 miles
Week #17: 29 miles
Week #18: 33 miles
I have logged 465 total miles during this journey to include multiple 5k and half marathon races. The process of racing brings me a level of enjoyment to my training program and is a lot more exciting (for me) than simply going out for long runs on my own. I got spoiled a bit in Oviedo by having an active running environment with all the Orlando Track Shack events to choose from. There are multiple running clubs in Orlando so finding a running club to get a few miles in with was an easy process there.
This week is dedicated to carb loading, extra stretching and getting a lot of rest. The full marathon beat me down last year so I’m adjusting my daily routine this year to conserve as much energy as possible.
Still have not decided my race strategy—will look to listen to my body and go out with a comfortable pace that I can maintain throughout the race. I started to struggle at the 18-mile marker last year so want to extend my progress beyond this point in 2023.
My goal is to beat my time from last year and set a new PR for myself. I’ve got a race goal time in my head but will not reveal it here just now. I will brag later if I hit my preset goal. 😊
“It’s not the distance you must conquer in running…it’s yourself”.
(Michael D’Aulerio)
I set an aggressive running schedule for myself this year. My goal continues to be multiple race personal records (PR) over the 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon distances.
The 2023 Race for Recovery 5k allowed me to clock my fastest 5k since 2020 back in September. Still not my fastest but less than one minute and twelve seconds off. Not bad for someone still nursing piriformis issues. I’m still able to run fast but must stay careful with my training program and warmups prior to races.
The 2023 Game On Run Hutchinson Island Half Marathon provided me with a local race to help with my full marathon training program. I ran this race last year and thought it would be a great way to get a long run in while competing with local Fort Pierce runners. The 2022 race highlighted I needed additional work to get marathon ready and was an eye-opening experience with humidity and long runs.
The 2023 half marathon identified similar issues. Northern races provide a great break from the Florida humidity, but they also provide a false sense of race preparation. My 10-mile race in Virginia Beach allowed me to navigate the course at a 9:37 per minute pace. This was accomplished in the first week in September and was done with a relaxed format for me. Didn’t press too much during the race and was able to complete with a smile on my face.
I took this Virginia pace as a positive sign for my training program and my current marathon preparation. This is still true, but the Florida humidity makes breathing a bit harder with the heavy air and slows me down. I’m sure I’m not the only one but need to remember a September race in Virginia does nothing to identify how fast I will be during an October race in South Florida. Lessons are lessons!
My marathon training called for a 15-mile long run so the 2023 Game On Run Hutchinson Island Half Marathon fit within my training needs. My warm-up, cool down and actual half marathon allowed me to hit my mileage goals with plenty of miles to spare.
This half marathon is completed on Hutchinson Island with most of the course on the actual route I normally train on. We cut through a few neighborhoods before heading south on Ocean Drive and then turnaround due north before heading back towards Causeway Cove.
Made sure I got to Causeway Cove with plenty of time to warmup, stretch and mentally prepare for the miles in front of me. This is a smaller race with 111 runners in 2023. Why does this matter? Well, there are not as many runners available to pace with so most of the race strategy is to find a comfortable pace and then maintain it.
Toed the line towards the middle of the half marathon pack at the start line. This gave me a few runners out front, so I did not have to worry about getting off the correct race route. The start of the race winds through multiple neighborhoods and we start at 6:15 am so it’s dark for a majority of the race. It’s easy to get off course so I like to hang back and follow as many runners as possible to get me through the neighborhood. There are course markers out but again, we are running in the dark for the first 5 miles.
My race strategy was to go out with a comfortable pace through the neighborhoods and then increase my pace once we made it on Ocean Drive. This concept would provide me with a gauge of my fitness and help determine what areas I need to improve (pace, endurance, nutrition, etc.).
Fast forward and the first phase of the race went by without any issues. My pace was balanced, and I felt good through the first 4 miles. I pressed the pace more in the second phase of the race to test my physical fitness to determine how much additional work I needed to put into my training program. Felt good from miles 5 through 8 but it started to rain, and the roads got very slick during this portion of the race. Slick roads, wet shoes and Florida humidity made the final portion of the race a battle to finish. The race organizer has aid stations on the race course but not as plentiful as some of the larger races I participate in. Water and Gatorade are needed to complete a half marathon and there could have been more available to runners. I started to fade in the last portion of the race, but this was part of the learning process. I signed up for this race to gauge my fitness—I still have work to do to prepare for the full marathon.
My prerace and race nutrition needs to improve for me to maximize my race day. I’m still learning this portion of the race game and need to adapt to a Florida specific preparation program. Extra hydration and carb loading prior to races to ensure I don’t deplete my reserves too early in a race. Also, carry extra energy gels and take them more often than I would during a race in Nashville or Virginia Beach.
I’m still learning and working towards maximizing my training to prepare for the 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon. I will be ready! LOL.
What did you learn today?
Irie!
FYI—this may be my last Game On Half Marathon. I entered the 2024 Chicago Marathon lottery and will find out if I’m in next week—fingers crossed! 😊
The month of September was dedicated to getting in speed work by running local 5K races.
I tackled the Run to Stop Hunger 5K in 2022 to test my endurance and work on speed while training for my first full marathon. I enjoyed the race setup, course and participants so decided to leverage this race again this year.
This 5K was convenient to me since it is in Fort Pierce on Hutchingson Island. I used the race as part of my Week #6 training program so I could get some speed work in. Mentally I need a race to make me speed up and racing is a lot more fun than just logging miles by myself. I am not looking for running partners, but the extra motivation racing brings is a welcome change while training.
The race start and finish lines are in the center of the Causeway Cove Marina. I duplicated my warmup from last year by parking on the Fort Pierce mainland and using the Seaway Drive bridge as my race warmup. The bridge was a great way to get my heart rate up and helped me stretch out my legs before tackling the 3.1-mile course.
There was not a huge crowd for this race, but I recognized a lot of the runners present. The Fort Pierce running community is not huge, so I get to see the same folks at most races. I was able to get in additional stretching before we had to line up for the race start.
I didn’t have a set finish time in mind, I just wanted to get some speed work in without injuring myself or anyone else. Mission accomplished on both tasks.
Lined up in the middle of the race corral and decided to just have fun while on the course. The small race lineup did not create a traffic jam as we headed it. This allowed runners to spread out and hit their race pace from the very start.
I targeted a couple runners in front of me as my pacers and leveraged them to propel me forward during the first part of the race. This 5k is a simple out and back course that is completely flat. We run a portion of the race on the sidewalk, so it gets tight when runners turn around to head back towards the finish line.
One of my pacers slowed down around the 1-mile marker and the other decided to hit another gear and left me. I did not attempt that pace since it was not comfortable for me at this point of my training process.
Fast forward and I finished the 5K in 27:56 which is an 8:59 per mile pace. Not fast or slow for me at this point of my training schedule. I still have additional training sessions and races coming up so there’s plenty of time for me to improve my pacing, conditioning, and mental preparation.
I’m using my exercise bike as a warmup prior to my long runs and not as a primary training device. This helps me stretch my legs and creates a solid foundation for my planned runs. I’ve got plenty of time to ensure I’m ready for the 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon in December.
Excited to see how far I can push myself this year.
“Every marathon I ran, I knew I had a faster one in me”.
(Dick Beardsley)
My Walk into the Future allowed me to take the deep dive to sign up, train and complete a full marathon in 2022. The concept of running a full marathon had been with me for a while but I never committed to the process prior to 2022.
The 2022 Palm Beaches Garden of Life Marathon was the targeted race, and I am proud of my training efforts and completing the race. I did not think I would want to run another one but was surprised with my recovery and the impact the marathon had on me completing shorter races. I learned how to manage the pain and continue to press forward during races.
I leveraged an 18-week training program last year and decided this got me prepared for my first marathon and it will be the training program for 2023 as well.
I am currently finishing week 9 of the training program so I am halfway through with a lot more miles to come. I thought all miles were equal and incorporated too many miles on my exercise bike last year. I quickly discovered the error in my thinking and training process during the 2022 Game On Treasure Coast Half Marathon. This race was part of my training, but I did not perform as well as I should have—the miles on the bike did not translate to running in the Florida humidity. I completed the race in decent shape but could not find another gear to go faster which was disappointing.
Fast forward to 2023 and I made a concerted effort to ensure my training miles were outside. This meant I had to set a consistent bedtime so I could get up earlier in the morning to get my Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday runs in before work. My bedtime during the week is 8:45 pm with an alarm time of 4:45 am. Never thought I would go to bed this early, but it is necessary for my training program. Getting proper rest is a key component to quality training sessions.
I also invested in my nutrition plan more than I did in 2022. The proper use of carbohydrates and hydration are two of the improvements I’ve made so far. The carbs allow me to perform better during my early morning runs. My increased water intake provides a solid foundation for my training and keeps me fresh. I have increased my form roller use as well to negate muscle soreness throughout the week.
All of this is designed to help me arrive at the 2023 Palm Beaches Garden of Life Marathon ready to perform and run faster than last year. This race is flat and provides an opportunity for runners to go fast—I did not leverage this fact last year and will look to improve my time and enjoyment of the race day atmosphere.
Last year I identified I was excited and terrified to complete a full marathon but now I’m looking forward to each training session and getting closer to race day. Yep, my mindset is completely different this year. LOL.
The 18-week training plan starts out with lower mileage and slowly builds up each week. Here are my total weekly miles so far this year:
Week #1: 16 miles
Week #2: 20 miles
Week #3: 26 miles
Week #4: 30 miles
Week #5: 29 miles
Week #6: 27 miles
Week #7: 30 miles
Week #8: 18 miles
Week #9: 37 miles
My miles during the work week are completed in my new neighborhood. I have an area in the neighborhood that does not have traffic since construction has not started there yet. This gives me a convenient place to run in the mornings safely. I bring my own water or Gatorade and leave it on my route so I can stop and get fuel during the run. This is a new feature of my running. Last year I utilized a hydration backpack, but it seemed to impact my running because it moved around a lot. Ditched the hydration backpack and decided to place my drinks in strategic spots—seems to be working for me so far.
My long runs are still done on Hutchinson Island—this allows me more options to get double digits miles completed safely.
I am happy with my progress so far and look forward to additional miles on this journey.
My next training update will be the week prior to the marathon.
Thanks for following me on this journey!
Irie!
“The marathon never ceases to be a race of joy, a race of wonder”.
“Either you love Virginia Beach, or you are wrong”.
(Anonymous)
My first Virginia Beach adventure was to tackle the 2021 Rock N Roll Half Marathon.
I always heard how great Virginia Beach was and wanted to experience it for myself. I enjoyed the race, beach, board walk and the people. The plan was for the running tourist to make this an annual trip to tackle the Rock N Roll Half Marathon. Turns out the city of Virginia Beach did not enjoy the partnership with the Rock N Roll folks and decided to cancel the race—they didn’t want an outside organization shutting down the streets or boardwalk over a long holiday weekend.
I continued to research Virginia Beach races with an eye to return to the area at some point. Really enjoyed my initial experience and wanted to get back and explore a bit more. I signed up for the 2023 Shamrock Half Marathon in March but decided not to run since it was the same week as my Negril, Jamaica trip. That would have been too much travel for me in one week. I love to see different sights but that was a bit much for the running tourist. LOL.
The city of Virginia Beach and J&A Racing partnered up to host the Chartway Virginia Beach 10 Miler over the Labor Day weekend. Decided this would be a great race for my return to Virginia Beach especially since it was over a long weekend. Never ran a 10-mile race but viewed this as a great training run and an easy way to set a personal record (PR). This distance fit my training schedule and allowed me to see Virginia Beach from a different angle.
Flew out of Vero Beach on Breeze Airways for the first time. I normally drive over to Orlando for a Southwest flight, but Breeze is new to the area and had direct flights to Norfolk. No extra driving and airport parking is free in Vero.
Arrived in Norfolk without any delay and made my way to the Enterprise Holdings rental counter. Norfolk is a smaller airport so getting out of the terminal and then the parking garage was an easy journey. Made my way over to Virginia Beach and checked into my hotel. Decided to book my hotel early this time and stayed directly on the famed boardwalk and beach. Staying directly at the beach allowed me to just park my rental and walk everywhere I needed to go while in Virginia. The beach, restaurants, and live music were easily accessible from my hotel.
The race EXPO was held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center which was two miles from my hotel. Decided to walk over to the EXPO to get my race bib and gear. Used this walk to stretch my legs the day before the 10-mile race. Made a quick stop at a local farmer’s market to check out the goods—didn’t buy anything but got a good vibe for the Virginia Beach farmer’s market scene. Lots of vendors and friendly people out and about the day before the race.
The EXPO was small—just a few vendors available and only one spot to get my customary EXPO photo taken. Picked up my race bib and made my way to check out the vendors. Didn’t need anything but wanted to see if I could pick up another race shirt but the selection was not great. One of the vendors sold race bib magnets—some runners use magnets to hold their race bibs instead of safety pins. Decided it was time for me to step up my game and purchased a set of magnets to use during the 10-miler. Small investment but I will get a ton of use out of these magnets. Carb loaded a bit more after the EXPO and headed back to sit on the beach before going to bed early.
The race start line was only two blocks from my hotel and the finish line was directly below my hotel room on the boardwalk. Got up early on race day so I could stretch and mentally prepare for the race. I didn’t have a set finish time planned but wanted to run as fast as possible to test my fitness over a longer distance.
I was assigned to Corral #2 and made my way towards the front of the waiting runners. This was an opportunity for most of us to continue to warm up and get a few selfies of ourselves standing around in a race line. Made sure to give myself some room to maneuver in case runners around me were not paying attention—didn’t want to trip with so many people in the corral.
I wanted to run a clean race where I could ensure my pace was consistent and provide a good finish to the race. My last race in Virginia Beach was a struggle at the end because I didn’t pace it out correctly AND there was a bridge crossing at the 11-mile marker. NOTE: we crossed that same bridge during this race, but I was physically and mentally prepared for it this year.
The highlight of the race weekend for me was the post-race party. It was on the beach with live music, good pizza, and beer. The best part of this scene is the post-race party was across from my hotel. I got a chance to drink as much beer as I wanted without having to worry about how I was going to get back to my hotel. I simply walked off the beach, got on the elevator and went up to my room when the music stopped. A 3-hour nap awaited me!
There was a ton of live music available during the weekend and I made a point to get back out to check out the bands. Virginia Beach has a cool vibe, and the folks up there are super friendly. Made my way back to Catch 31 for great food and a nice view of the King Neptune statue. The sound stage had a ton of activity, so this was the spot for me to kick back and enjoy my time in Virginia Beach.
Looking forward to my next race weekend in Virginia Beach—just got to figure out which race I will tackle up there next.
The 2023 running season kicked off with the 2023 Celebration of Running 5k in Winter Park.
I have run this race three years in a row and love the experience. It’s August in Florida so the heat and humidity are high, so this adds to the challenge. I don’t run a lot of 5ks but this one remains on my list because it is flat and provides a training gauge for the year.
I never set out to run a PR here but want to test my physical and mental stamina. The race crowd is not too large, so this helps when trying to avoid other runners at the start.
Decided to line up closer to the front pack of runners to give myself room to operate without having to dodge folks. Still amazing that I know runners from when I lived in Oviedo. It’s almost like they don’t know I’ve been gone 9 years now.
My race goal was to go out and find an even pace. The secondary goal was to run faster than last year. I met both of my goals and enjoyed the race from start to finish.
I found a couple of runners with great paces and decided to hitch a ride with them to challenge myself. This was a fun activity since I train by myself. It was great having others around to inspire me to find another gear. Felt good enough at the end to leave my running companions and put in a good kick to complete the 5k. Crossed the finish line in 28:50.
Collected my medal, water, and banana before making my way to the beer garden. Yes, we drink beer at 8:30 am after races. We eat donuts too! LOL.
This was week 2 of marathon training so needed to get additional miles in after the race. Headed back over to the Seminole Cross Trail to complete my training with 6 miles there. Got a total of 10 miles completed on the day.
Made my way back to the hotel to shower and find some real food. Wanted breakfast so went by First Watch close to UCF for a huge pancake, eggs, and bacon. Favorite meal when I eat there.
Feeling good about my training so far and look forward to a fantastic running season. Heading to Virginia Beach again for the 2023 Virginia Beach 10-miler over the Labor Day weekend. Should be fun getting back up to Virgina.
Will ramp up my marathon training when I return from Virginia. Time to lock in mentally and physically to prep for my 26.2-mile challenge in December. 😊
“Running is my private time, my therapy, my religion”.
(Gail W. Kislevitz)
The Walk into the Future blog continues to roll along and provides me space to share a small portion of my world with readers. Yes, this is a simple concept but one I take seriously to find new content to share with others.
Running is a huge part of my life and I am happy to be at this point of the journey. I started running as a small hobby to get in more cardio, but it has morphed into a lifestyle that energizes me daily. Who knew I would enjoy going to bed early so I could wake up before the sun comes up for a run? Well, that’s what I do now, and love every minute of it—even in the south Florida humidity.
So, why do I run? That’s a great question and I will provide some context to why with this post.
Solitude
The ability to go out for a run without having to coordinate or schedule the activity is appealing to me. There is a level of peace for me when I’m out for a run. I lace up my running shoes and just put one foot in front of the other until I hit my mileage goal for the session. The solitude comes in handy on days where I don’t feel like running faster—I can just move forward at my own pace without worrying about slowing someone else down. Also, I can enjoy my music and sing out loud when I want to. Not many folks come out at 5 am to hear my bad singing but it helps me when the miles get tough. The solitude of my run is a highlight for me and one of the main reasons I’m still out putting in the work.
Time to think
The solitude of my runs is great, and it provides me with a lot of free time to think and change the world—hyperbole here! LOL. The space and time to think are enjoyable aspects while I’m out training. This time has helped me come up with solutions to work problems, generate new ideas for the Walk into the Future blog and new topics for my leadership consulting side hustle. There are times when I just run without thinking about ways to change the world but running provides me with a platform to simply think and be me. Sounds simple but this keeps me lacing up my running shoes and logging the weekly miles. Who knows, there may be another blog article coming from my next running session.
Physical wellbeing
An obvious outcome of my running program is the physical wellbeing it brings. I leverage running to help me maintain my weight without having to count calories. I practice intermittent fasting daily but can eat whatever I want because of my running program. Running is also a great way to build up leg strength and muscles. The development I have in my legs rivals muscle growth I saw when I was more active lifting weights (squats, leg presses, etc.). Again, the physical aspects of running leads to a better mental outlook as well.
So, there you have it—I run for solitude, time to think and physical wellbeing.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies…The man who never reads lives only one”.
(George R. R. Martin)
My Walk into the Future provides me with the flexibility to add new adventures daily. I continue to view this life I lead to engage my mind, body, and soul. This blog gives me a space to highlight what I am doing, thinking, or getting ready to accomplish.
Goal setting remains a huge part of my success in life, and I look for ways to leverage my goals to help me continue to move forward. I review my goals daily to ensure my energy and focus are consistent to meet or exceed them.
I set reading goals each year in January with intent to read something daily. My daily readings center around Proverbs and a few companion books by Joel Osteen. I started reading Proverbs daily when I lived in Warner Robins, Georgia and this Atomic Habit remains strong. Joel Osteen created a 31-day Proverbs companion book which I utilize when completing my daily Proverbs readings. This little book has helped me understand more and brings Proverbs to life with language for my current Walk into the Future.
My larger reading goal is to read 1 book monthly. There were years where I would be super aggressive with this goal but decided to create a reading goal that provides me an opportunity to stay on track. Please note, just because it says 1 book monthly does not mean I can’t read more, and I do. I am an avid reader and love to sit on the beach with a good book and cold beer to practice this hobby. My love for reading started in middle school and it has not slowed down except when my schedule gets in the way.
The books I select range from leadership, communication, and inspiration topics. These are topics of interest for me so stick to areas I seek growth. I have a couple friends who inquire about my reading selections and have started to read the same books—you can say we have an informal book club going. We discuss the books after everyone has completed them and look for ways to incorporate the content into life and the work environment. This little book club motivates me to stay on track and focus on my reading. It has also provided me with access to books I may have missed on my own. I tend to stick to authors I know but the book club expands my focus and challenges me to explore other authors to enhance my Walk into the Future.
The following books were referred by book club members:
Disruptive Thinking / TD Jakes
Wisdom of the Bullfrog / Admiral William H. McRaven
16 Undeniable Laws of Communication: Apply Them and Make the Most of your Message / John C. Maxwell
FYI—this was my first TD Jakes book, and I was pleasantly surprised by the content and enjoyed reading his thoughts on Disruptive Thinking. It is something we can all practice daily, but it was great gaining new insights on how to move forward in life daily.
I have read multiple books by Admiral McRaven and his wisdom comes through within the context of leadership and helping teams get better.
Lastly, John Maxwell communication strategies can be leveraged in most work settings and enhance overall operations for the team.
I am on pace to meet my stated reading goals and continue to seek additional books to add to my library. This will continue and help me to Walk into the Future.
How are you doing on meeting your goals? What books are you reading in 2023?
My marathon training program begins again next week. Decided to stick with the 18-week training program I used last year. This program provides a gradual mileage build-up and allows me flexibility to train and still get normal life activities completed.
The 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon will provide another mental and physical test for me to continue to challenge myself to get better daily. I feel like a veteran this time around since I got my initial marathon under my belt last year. I’m excited for the opportunity to train and improve my race outcome this year. There were several lessons from 2022 that will help me with my journey this year.
Exercise bike
I mistakenly believed I could replace running miles with miles on my exercise bike. Numerically the miles are equal but there is a difference between hard work on an exercise bike and outside miles in Florida. There is a time and place for the exercise bike, but I will not lean on this form of training as much as I did in 2022.
Speed work
I concentrated on building up my mileage base in 2022 but not as much on speed work. I did several sessions on the local track to work on tempo and speed but know I will need to work pace runs in more this year. My training plan has several tempo runs inserted and I will do a better job of following the pace days as outlined. The tempo runs will help me convert my physical fitness into a better race day pace.
Heat and humidity
My weekday training runs were completed with 5 am training sessions. I started my runs at 5 am to beat the heat and completed them prior to my workday during the week. My weekend runs started around 7:30 am to get out and back before the south Florida heat kicked in. This was a solid plan, but I did not log many miles in the heat of the day. Sounds like a smart training plan but the second half of the Palm Beaches Marathon is run in direct sunlight with minimal shade. It was not overly hot in December, but the sun was on me from the 18-mile marker until the end of the marathon. I did not handle this part of the race well since I avoided running in/with the sun during my training phase. I will SMARTLY look for ways to incorporate more training to leverage the south Florida heat and humidity to enhance my training program.
Here’s the 18-week training program I will launch next week:
I will document my training progress again this year with updates on how I’m doing with mileage, nutrition, and thoughts. Excited to Walk into the Future again and tackle the 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon. Looking to run substantially faster than 2022 and cross the finish line again with a smile on my face.
Walk Into the Future 