After a lot of Google-searching, schedule changing, and adjusting to the higher altitude, I finally picked one out.  Another race. Another 13.1 miles to conquer.

I did my first half-marathon in March, and told you guys all about it here. Right away I was addicted. The excitement when you can finally see the finish line and that feeling of accomplishment when you do….that can’t be beat.

Finding a race in the summer is a little bit harder.  This may partly be due to the fact that people want to vacation, not train, and um, it’s hoooooot.  Very hot. Since I live in a desert area, my selection was limited. Obviously none of the above has stopped me. I found a few to choose from, and decided I would wait and see how the altitude here affected me once I got back for the summer.

Oh, did I mention we’re about a mile high? Yes, approximately 5,500 ft. This means a lot less oxygen and an unhappy me.

Every race and every trail are completely their own—different in so many ways.  Some are longer, some are shorter; some are uphill, some are downhill; some are in the city, some are on a mountain trail; some require a six hour drive, while some would require about ten.  You have to find one that fits.

I realized that I used this same philosophy when I searched for my internship program. It had to be just right.  I had no idea how different each one would be until I started looking. I remember seeing the  differences—some are longer, some are shorter; some are through a hospital, some are through a University; some are clinical-based, some are food service-based; some are close to home, some are close to where I went to school; some are in a big city, and some are in the suburbs.  I had to find one that fit.

Choosing a college was difficult—but I knew any choice would lead me to a school for four years, where I could get the degree of my choice, then graduate and go where I wanted to.

Choosing my internship was more challenging—I knew that the location could potentially determine my job and where I live afterwards. The program itself will determine whether or not I have a specialty, or expertise, in any certain area. The curriculum will affect whether or not I’m ready for the RD exam once I’m done. And passing that exam is pretty much the purpose of the whole thing.

Passing that finish line is the reason you run the race.

I ruled out Vail, because it was actually 14.5 miles (instead of the standard 13.1). Over the course of the race you climb about 4,000 ft in elevation, and don’t start to come back down until mile nine.  You’re running switchbacks (back and forth) up a mountain. It’s on a narrow trail, so I wondered….if I want to pass somebody, how would I do that?  This setting would definitely provide some beautiful scenery, but one hell of a race.  You end at 11,000 feet. So, basically, when you’re tired and gasping for air…it won’t be there.  With only a month and a half to train, I knew I wasn’t ready for that.

I decided on Utah. A closer drive (saving money), a scenic run along an old highway (early in the morning, don’t worry, I’m not going to get run over), some hills for a challenge, and some slow declines to even it out.  I’ll travel the 13.1 miles, from one town to the next.  And while I’ll miss the company of LB (my previous running partner) and our two roomies cheering us on, this time I’ll see my family on the sidelines. 

I’m right on schedule with the training, with only about three weeks until the big day.

In the meantime, I’ve been completing small homework assignments, doing some reading and even a little studying, and preparing for the fall. It’s a different kind of training, and a different kind of race.  And  I want to be ready.

Posted by Mary Ellen Nunes at 07/01/2008 02:29:10 PM