I’ve got a new running goal for next month. I am running 3 half marathons in May. Here is what makes these races so important to me…
Since it is my Stoke/VAD-anniversary coming up, I am planning my 3rd annual Anniversary Half Marathon! I began running this self-routed, solo-ran half marathon in 2020 when the Avenue of the Giants races were canceled due to Covid restrictions and lockdowns. I routed my own run around Arcata and completed it. The entire run was a disaster in which I felt sluggish, fatigued, in constant pain, dizzy and winded; little did I know that I had already had 3 strokes and was only getting about 70%-80% of my normal blood-flow to my brain. 9 days after these 13.1 miles, I was flown to an stroke specialized hospital where I spent 3 days in the ICU.
I originally had planned to run my Stroke Anniversary Half on Sunday, May 7th, however, my mom got inspired to run the Avenue of the Giants Half Marathon this year which is, of course, on Sunday, May 7th. In light of my mom’s new-found running enthusiasm, I decided that I would absolutely love to run alongside her at the Ave. My parents have been to many of my races to support and cheer for me, and I haven’t had the opportunity to be at one of theirs in many, many years. Since the two race dates coincide, I decided that I will now be running my Stroke Anniversary Half on Saturday, May 6th and the Avenue of the Giants Half the following day. This has become my goal for May: to run consecutive half marathons back-to-back. I have never accomplished two races in the same weekend like this. I’ve adjusted my training to try to achieve this goal and it is going pretty well up to this point…a couple minor situations, but nothing I haven’t dealt with before or that I can’t handle.
The 3rd half marathon was a back-up. Before we had a chance to register, the Avenue of the Giants races filled up and closed registration. We got on the waiting list and eventually were able to sign up. In the meantime, my mom decided on a backup race: The Windsor Half Marathon, Sunday, May 21st. I jumped on registering as well. I have participated in the Windsor Half Marathon a handful of times and it is a lovely run through the rolling Sonoma County hills in wine country. Of course I am going to complete this race since I am already registered! Hopefully my body will have recovered from my Half-and-Half weekend early in May. As of now, I am confident in my ability and excited to participate these absolute beautiful races that are so dear to me.
Wish me luck! See you on the course!
