How I'm planning out a plan to plan less

Coming into the finish line at the Air Force Marathon

I saw photos on Facebook of people from last weekend's marathon. Every photo was all smiles and joy and showing off medals and I want that for myself. The photos of me at the end of the race looked as though I had run an ultra marathon in Death Valley.

I'm sure I'm not the only person who doesn't post pictures of this near-death experience, but still. I'm what you might call jealous. I want a happy photo or two! Although after the race, I did hear a non-runner who was standing over a runner lying on the ground say, "You really shouldn't have eaten that pizza." I felt sorry for the runner at the time, but now I'm sort of chuckling.

Sounds like fun, huh?  

Maybe what happened last weekend was a lack of planning. I didn't have a motto, which I always do. I didn't have three goals, which I always do. I plan, plan, plan. And I analyze, analyze, analyze.

So now I've decided on a motto for the October half marathon: Less planning, more fun!

Needless to say, I have a plan for that. I'm almost certain, but haven't quite decided, that I'm going to use Jeff Galloway's run-walk-run. I've started running using a formula of running four minutes, walking one minute. I've been listening to podcasts and reading about this method and people seem really hooked on it.

So that's my motto. But I need goals. Goal-oriented, that's me. A race to the finish is sort of what I'm saying.

Typically, my goals are all time-related goals, like this:

1. I'll be happy with a 2:30 finish (something could happen, bad weather, upset tummy)
2. I'll be delighted with a 2:20 finish (reality based on training)
1. I'll be amazed with a 2:10 finish (the real, secret goal I don't know if I can really pull off)

This time, in the vein of having more fun, I'm going to revise my goals. I want to accomplish all three goals. Here they are; I know you can't stand the suspense:

1. I don't cry at the finish. This doesn't mean I am successful at not crying. This means I don't involuntarily sob like a little girl at the finish line.
2. I feel good ten minutes after I cross the finish line. I need time to bounce back, so I'm thinking roughly ten minutes should be good for the possibility of fainting or vomiting to pass.
3. I feel good the evening of the half marathon. This doesn't mean I won't be sore. This just means I won't want to drown myself in the bathtub that evening to escape the pain.

As for times, I haven't worked that out yet because I don't know how I will do with the new planning for less planning formula plan. Today after work I ran in cool, windy, wet weather. To me, those are good conditions. I ran 3.27 miles in 32 minutes. That's the best time I've had in awhile, but it's still close to normal for me. So maybe I'll have those time goals after all.

Oh, let's face it. I need some time goals. So there you have it. I have six goals now.

No pressure.