K.I.S.S.

I tried to find the right video to go with the title of this post, but nothing showed up that I liked on YouTube.  Kids these days  - no respect for the classics.  In my day our bands wore Kabuki makeup and WE LIKED IT.

Anyway, just to keep you all up to date I'm still on a running streak.  I will be running every day until Feb 29, and then taking a day (or maybe 2!) off.  I have a race March 3 that I will want fresh legs for.

Thinking about that race brings me to the title of this post (ah-ha!).  It's the mnemonic for Keep It Simple, Stupid.  It was probably stupid to spell it out because I'm sure most folks know it, but I like to be clear, just in case.  Anyway in my case the simple part is focusing on one thing at a time.  For example, that race March 3?  It's not my goal race for training - it's a 10 mile race 2 weeks before my goal half in Quincy.  I'm lining up race strategy for the 10 mile race, (including trying to do negative splits - but that's another (soon to be posted) post) but I'm not even 100% focused on the half marathon. I'm already mentally skipping ahead to the marathon in November.

Now I know that it's understandable - first marathon, so of course I'm thinking of it.  But it's something that I do a lot; focus too much on what's in the future and not enjoy what's here.  I do it with vacations and visits, special occasions... I also do it with the bad stuff which can get me into a perpetual anxiety spiral.

My goal for this upcoming race is to race smart for what it is - a warmup/tuneup race - but still stay within that race and not think too much about the half marathon.  I'm looking forward to PRing at both races, even without truly racing the 10 miler.  It's been a year since my last 10 mile race and I know that I can pull more out of myself.

Nothing useful

Nothing really useful here, but I thought I'd share a couple YouTube videos that have been my obsessions the last couple weeks.  I have no idea who any of the people in these videos are, I just love the pretty and the dancing.  And I think I have a total crush on the lead guy in both these.

I love dancing.  Love, love, love.  

It's been a long time...

I shouldn't have left you, without a dope beat to step to....

In other words, hi!  I'm not dead!  Hope you all are good as well.

In running news I kicked off a running streak January 4 that continues through today (February 4th).  I ran at least one mile every day.  A whole month!  Of course when I looked up running streaks I found this page - United States Running Streak Association, Inc .  43 1/2 years of running every day?  Now that's hard core.  Still, I'll keep my streak going for a bit longer.  It gives me something to do every day to clear my head.  I also believe that it's been giving me more confidence in my endurance and power.

On the racing front it's four weeks until my next race.

Image cropped from http://www.blackcatroadrace.com/

I haven't raced since early December so of course I am excited.  I am doing the 10 mile race.  It's actually going to be a warmup/time trial for my half marathon two weeks later.  With that in mind I am going to do my best to go in with a race strategy and execute on it.  It's totally different from my usual "hold on and pray I finish" strategy.  I've run and raced this distance before so there is no excuse for not getting out there and pushing (wisely).  I'm working out my A/B/C goals and will post them soon.  Promise! 

Other than that stuff has been stuff.  I visited my mom a couple weeks ago to help with her first cataract surgery (she came through great), and will probably be visiting her again in the next couple weeks to help with her second.  On the job front I'll be getting a bonus payout in a couple weeks.  I will be banking most of it but am considering splurging on a new purse with some.  We'll see.

I've got some other things to say but am too damn lazy today to say them.  Oh - except for if you want to follow me on Daily Mile, please go ahead and do.  Hi!

More later.