Run 40 Throw Down

Today I planned my 2021 – 40 Throw Down!!! Each year goals are exciting, but people gravitate to a focus on running faster, losing weight, setting a PR, hitting a BQ or just reaching goals that are not made for them. As I celebrate my 40th birthday in February I want to try new things, be a stronger runner and celebrate a new decade. With racing up in the air and virtual races becoming a redundant chore I wanted to create a “throw down” list of new runs, new places and new experiences to make me a better runner, a confident runner and have fun along the way!

Keep working on a plan. Make no little plans. Make the biggest plan you can think of and spend the rest of your life carrying it out. – Harry S. Truman

The list above was easy, yet hard to craft. There are so many things I want to try, but due to Covid, are not going to happen. I expanded some ideas to be more inclusive so they were still archivable, like running a new beach instead of running a new ocean view in Miami. I also tried to sort into categories – Monthly challenges, New Places and People, New Workouts, Fun Runs & Other and races.

This year I set my race goal to run a 50k!!!! What!!!!!! I am not confident this will be pretty, but if there is any race for me to do it, the Marine Corps Marathon 50k would be the event. My first marathon, my annual run streak and my favorite city all scream, “Let’s Do It!!!” It is a crazy goal I never thought I would set my sights on, but if there was ever a time to do it – it is now while I’m tuning 40! I am keeping my fingers crossed the race is a go!!! I have a billion other runs added to my bucket list too, but we will have to wait and see what this year brings!

Speedwork has always been awkward and inconsistent for me. I set my goal to try and set a routine to get my speedwork in each week – hopefully on Workout Wednesday’s! I searched for new kinds of runs – ladders, pyramids, diagonals, and track workouts to search for something that feels comfortable for me. Maybe it is just a way for me to finally get comfortable in running, pushing and embracing being out of the comfort zone. Or maybe I just need to explore what speedwork is and finally feel stronger at the end of a long run when my glutes and hamstrings tend to hate me!!!

New Places and People is a way to try new things, with new running friends and enjoy the running community. This year would have been awful if not for the support of this running community. The motivation from hometown running friends, inspiration from distant teammate adventures and the support from random strangers during races has been incredible. I have logged many solo miles this year, but never do I ever feel alone. I hope to find new routes, explore trails and enjoy some favorites from the running community. I hope to follow along with others friends’ new adventures and remain an avid cheerleader along the way.

My selections for Monthly Challenges and Fun Runs are just fun ways to keep things interesting despite turning 40. I’m trying new trails and added elevation as a cool way to get off the streets and conquer my fears of tripping on rocks. And to be honest, I might find out I win the self proclaimed slowest trail runner award! Both honestly, these fun runs with family, friends, at night, with a new song or exploring new roads in my neighborhood will just help me enjoy running for more than a time, a t-shirt or a medal. It is about the adventure, loving the run, and the journey. Side note – I hope to have a really cool shaded map of my neighborhood by December!!!

This year I’m not reinventing myself or fitting myself into a crazy, wild challenge that might injure myself. I just want to switch things up, try new workouts, and learn more about the journey of running. You only turn 40 once and I hope to embrace a new decade while enjoying new runs during a crazy time!