I had originally envisioned my Half Moon Bay Half as graduation day of Phase 1 of the Donna Schumacher Goofy Challenge Training Plan, testing out the train less-but-fast philosophy which I did and I was.  ~ So there!   It was such a “pretty” race, what with a route along the cliffs above the Pacific Coast, quite literally the entire way and just a hint of fog in the morning air to cool the small band of running warriors, that I sped along at my intended pace, clickity clack along the track.  The weather was my idea of perfect, a light breeze and none of the unrelenting coastal wind about which I had been warned.  To a San Francisco resident, the elevation was negligible,  qualifying the route as an official deTourist Flat and Fast.

Two challenges spiced up the race just enough that I felt justified confidence in my training approach by the time I crossed the finish line.   Challenge A: I was sick with the stomach flu earlier in the week and even acquiesced to antibiotics on Thursday (which I rarely do) so that I could be race ready by Sunday.  Sunday morning traces of urp lingered in my stomach.  Challenge B: and this is the real one, is that there is a long stretch of single track before the turn around point.  I hadn’t read the route map closely enough to have known beforehand which made me blissfully unaware during the race.  Turn after turn, I was so certain it would end soon, because it had to, that I made no concessions.    I had a goal in mind and while the recession, global warming and general suffering of the world most certainly remains, I was determined to make my time, single track or no.

Graduation day at Half Moon Bay was also meant to be the kick off for Phase 2, the  “Let’s get serious” phase of the Donna Schumacher Goofy Challenge Training Plan, known here forward as DSGCTP.   At first, a bit of a cut back seemed like just rewards, but not long after, if I wasn’t pushing for speed, then the premise of my run less, run faster training program was falling apart at the core.   Drinking wine, sleeping last and eating snacks isn’t really listed anywhere on week 8.  But wait, the holidays are coming.  Humm.  The timing of this race, is a bit odd, isn’t it?

I went back to Half Moon Bay to recapture the magic and indeed, it was a beautiful and peaceful run.  I can highly recommend it.   But ultimately it was sitting upright in my bed, running log at my side,  my running schedule balanced between my knees and the fear of injury turning the hamster wheel of thoughts in my brain, that got me out of bed, into my light green New Balance Running Shoes and finishing 15.5 this Saturday.  That and my running buddy, of course!

Yikes, only eight weeks to go.  It is constantly astounding to me, just how short life is~ Thanksgiving, Christmas and my Disney Double will all be finished in eight little weeks.  Really?