So I just finished registering for the Chilly Cheeks on January 20th, and then setting the plan for the months to follow. I decided to check out the ocean drive 10-miler again and somehow it motivated me to consider running the OD Marathon again this year, in hopes of doing better than last year. I would have to start training at this point since its only 14 weeks out from now, but in some theory, I already am training, I just have to get serious.

The question is whether I want to go through the cold and agony of running 20 milers in the winter… I also think I have the benefit of having done more marathons since then, so I know the strategy and know what it takes. I’m not convinced I want to do it, but I am considering it. I intend to register for the NJ marathon in early May as well, because we’ll definitely do that one since I can count on the weather being better… Alot of the motivation I think for doing more races is because I’ve just about wrapped up my teaching career I think. I don’t mind doing a class here or there, but doing 2 classes in a semester is TOO much for me, it doesn’t leave me any free time, which to me is important. So now i only have one class that will meet 3 times and have 3 people in it, VERY BASIC, so I have time to enjoy a bit.

I’ll probably do the other trail race in February thats offered by Pretzel City Sports, if I enjoy the one this month, and then head off to Ocean Drive in March, then another trail run in April, then NJ in early May, then maybe another marathon shortly after that…

If you’ve read all along in my blog about my ongoing sinus problems, I finally took the steps to get it resolved here in the offseason. It turns out that I have fluid trapped in my maxillary sinus that is either blocked by polyps or by a cyst or by something, so I’m going to get my sinuses drained on Thursday. Its going to suck, but at least I can get out of this sinus haze (and ear blockage) that i’ve felt for so long now … that along with the allergy shots should help me run better. So I hope i’m on the way to better health in that regard.

I’ve still been eating pretty good, and working out good, and plan to get 12 miles in today, then 6 miles tomorrow. I don’t expect the surgery to put me out for more than a day, it should actually help me in the long term…. I will do about 35 miles this week and make this the norm for a few weeks as I step up my long run. I just hope the weather holds on for me this year ….. (no MAJOR snowstorms I hope!)

I also hope to update more often now since I’m really starting training, but we’ll see how that goes I guess….