Most of you: “I sign up for races to keep me motivated and on track with my training. I need to have a goal.” [creates detailed training schedule and does a fairly good job of sticking to it]

Me (phase 1): “I sign up for races to keep me motivated and on track with my training. I need to have a goal.” [creates detailed training schedule]

Me (phase 2): “Running feels so terrible. I will wait a bit and begin training closer to race day.” [reworks training schedule]

Me (phase 3): “Why should I be miserable during training runs AND during the race? Why not be miserable just once on race day?” [violently rips up training schedule]

Me (race day): “I hate myself so much.”

If you couldn’t tell, 2014 has been the year of running races untrained. The particular races where I sucked at running? Here ya go:

• 2014 Pittsburgh Half Marathon (May)
• Great Race 10K (September)
• Pittsburgh EQT 10 miler (last week)

In Maybe Marathoner fashion, here is the analysis of the last few moments of last week’s race:But, the good news is that the weight lifter in me has been rockin’ in at the gym. Showing up every morning as the doors are unlocked and bouncing  from my pre-workout drink of who-knows-what chemicals to get started. And then very once in awhile, I get a gym bonus – today’s was seeing this lovely lady in her embroidered-pocket jeans on the elliptical.