As cliché as it sounds, I believe…….
I know that the numbers on the treadmill do not define me. I know that I have not been hitting the speeds/durations that I need in order to run as fast as I want. But I believe that my hard work will pay off with positive results. I am working harder than I have ever worked before, logging more miles than in years gone by and I know that when race day arrives, I will bring everything I have to the table. What does that mean? I will bring my attitude and BELIEVE that I can run faster than is possible.
I began simple speed interval work about 5 or 6 weeks ago with the intention of getting back into 22:xx shape for the 5K distance. However, I do not anticipate the upcoming Warm Your Heart 5K at McCormick Place to be a test of the progress of my random speed work since the course map looks as intricate as a good maze. 
After a brief review of this course map, I have decided that this looks like a fun race where I will get to go and hang out with friends but not one that will count as a real test of 5K speed since I can only imagine huge bottlenecks at each of those turns.
However, as I look forward to the next several weeks of training I see the 13.1 Miami Beach race in my immediate future. I anticipate this to be a good test as to my current level of fitness. I haven’t raced a half uninjured since last June and that day ended up being sweltering hot and although I finished in a run/walk fashion, they did end up calling the race and closing it down due to the dangerous conditions. So I don’t feel as if that race was a good indication of half marathon speed since I was in survival mode. I raced a couple other halfs afterwards but they were in a very injured state with the Plantar Fasciitis. Therefore, I have HUGE expectations for 13.1 Miami Beach. I have been trying to get to the 1:50:xx mark in the half marathon for 2 years and I now believe that I will be able to attain this goal with my current level of fitness. 
So I have one more week to train without blowing it and then it will be R&R with my momma in Miami before Ms. TooTall bags a goal that is 2 years in the making. I’m not really sure there will be room for many other people in the race once my attitude hits the start line. Watch out Miami Beach…….I’ll be flying in for you, very soon!
Believe in yourself and know that the impossible really is possible if you BELIEVE.
Do you have any lofty goals which you fully expect to achieve this year?
Amanda – TooTallFritz
TooTallFritz 
How timely! After 2 months of ZERO wt lose (but no gain), I am going to BELIEVE that Feb. is my month. I can shed the 4 lbs that seem to be hanging around holding me back from my 5lbs per month goal in the next 8 days. Thanks for the powerful words!
My goal this year is ALSO to get to a 22:xx 5k, but I’ve never reached that before (current PR is 23:04). I’m sure you’ll get there, but maybe not at the WYH 5k. (that course map… yikes!) You’ve been working hard and you know what its like because you’ve done it before! Best of luck! 🙂
No goals so far….not with the present injuries. I do expect to get a handle on them though at some point this year.
Go for the 1:50 TTF in Miami. Beware of warmer temp and high humidity…something you aren’t acclimated to. Adjust your race plan accordingly….paying attention to hydration and extra electrolyte supplementation.
I’m trying to have a mind shift this year to “allow” myself not to worry as much about speed as I work on increasing mileage. Of course, my mind doesn’t always cooperate and I’m still mentally beating myself up when my run speeds don’t match the goals that I’ve previously set But I think that any of us who have been out there pounding the pavement all winter long have a leg up on the people who have spent the winter in front of their televisions. I know you will do great at your 13.1 goal, and I can’t wait to hear about it! Also can’t wait to hear about the Warm Your Heart. I have to say, I’m glad I’m not doing that one. To me, does not sound fun, but I’m anxious to hear the reviews!
Susan, I think I may have asked you this, but did your Garmin come with a heart rate monitor? If I did, I would recommend looking into how to use it and researching what heart rates you should be targeting. I think a lot of runners get really caught up in trying to hit certain paces, but a number of factors (how you are feeling that day, how you’ve fueled, weather, etc) can affect your pace. It’s much easier mentally to aim for a certain effort (heart rate) and accept whatever pace comes with it, knowing that you ran your best effort – so you did your best regardless of whether or not that was your fastest pace.
My goal this year is to kill my half marathon PR. For my first half marathon, I didn’t really know what I was doing – how to train, what paces to aim for, etc. I finished, but I didn’t finish strong. For my second, I just wanted to finish strong, and was a little nervous about running out of steam with miles to go, so I took it easy. Too easy. For my third, there were a lot of hills (real hills – it was in New Hampshire) and it was pouring rain. It was a PR but considering my first two half marathons, it wasn’t that hard to PR. I feel like I have made so much progress, even since my last half in October, that I am ready to KILL my PR and run a half that is an hour faster than my very first half. (So, run a 1:48.) That probably won’t happen this spring, but maybe it will at a post-marathon fall half.
I think you will make the 1:48 and probably before fall. If not, if you can run a half in Sept you will be in peak condition. The weekend right after the 20 miler is ideal b/c you are in the zone and feeling invinsible. At least that’s when I always run my best. Good luck, you are doing AWESOME!
Hey – Thanks for commenting on my blog! Not sure you have lost any willpower, at least you ARE running when you are supposed to!
That 5K looks CRAZY, I would not want to try for a PR on that course, too many turns for me.
I ran the 13.1 Ft. Lauderdale 2 years ago in November, it was great! Hope you have a great race and just enjoy!