Break 3...Take 2...And 1...Go!

Let's try this again, shall we?

I know, I know. It's been a long time since we last spoke. Honestly, there has been a lot going on. Such is life, right? One day, we will dive headlong into all that life has been for these past few months. It has been full of highs, lows, and everything in between. But for now, just for right now, I'd prefer to focus on the future, rather than the past. While I can confidently say that 2024 was exceptionally challenging, I am looking forward to the coming weeks, for I believe they are going to prove themselves to be unbelievably exciting. And for that, I am very thankful.

Where We Left Off

The last time that we had a little chit chat was right after I had tried to break three hours at the Rock'n'Roll Marathon in San Diego. It was June, it was beautiful, but wow did I really fall short of my goal finishing time. It was a rough day. So rough, in fact, that I would prefer to leave that race experience in the recesses of my memory. If you are brave enough to relive all of the gory details, please, be my guest. You can read all about it in my last blog post, "Race Recap - We're Breaking Three!" In hindsight, a more apt title may have been something akin to, "Expletive, Expletive, Read All About It!"

Unfortunately, that was where we, or should I say I, left things. I had trained for months, raced my heart out, and had a truly terrible run. Despite the difficulties and the admitted disappointment, I felt confident in my ability to regroup and try again. And that is how our paths have crossed here, today.

Where We Are Going

Over the past few months, I have done a number of things. These include:

1. Nursing my wounds and self-confidence back to health

2. Enjoying running without the pressure of training for a race

3. Completing my first, albiet self-directed, 100 mile race. But that is a story for another day.

   
   

Those things, among others, have brought me full circle and I am once again ready to try my hand at racing the almighty marathon. And seeing as "run a sub-3 hour marathon" has yet to have been crossed off of my bucket list, I am ready to try my hand at that again, too. So, without further ado, I present my latest project.

Break 3 Take 2

I designed the Break 3 Take 2 project as a gesture of acceptance that we don't always accomplish our goals during the first take. Truth be told, we often have to try, try, and then try again. The "Break 3" is my goal and the "Take 2" is an embracing of the journey that I am on to accomplish it. If you are looking for guarantees of athletic prowess or promises about highly specific finishing times, then you will be thoroughly disappointed. The only guarantee or promise that I can offer is that you will get an inside look at the adventure of it all.

And now for the part you have all been waiting for...the race announcement!

On the Fourth of July, I will attempt to break 3 hours at the Foot Traffic Flat Marathon.

As I am writing this, that is approximately 18 weeks away. Today is the first day of my training cycle, so after this, I will be lacing up my shoes for a nice easy run. Please don't ask me about the weather right now, as I am studiously ignoring the looming rain clouds on the horizon. Rain or shine, it will be a great first run for the Break 3 Take 2 project.

Need Plans for the Fourth of July?

The Foot Traffic Flat race series is held every Fourth of July on Sauvie Island in Portland, OR. They offer multiple race distances, including a marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon, and 5K, so there is something for everyone. This is the only opportunity for racing on Sauvie Island and it has been a staple in the community for many years. If this race isn't really your thing, I totally get it. Maybe there is another race in your local area that weekend, as there so often are around holidays. Or perhaps you've decided to challenge yourself to something entirely unrelated to running. And to that I say, "That's AWESOME and I'd love to hear all about it!"

P.S. There will be Alden's ice cream at the finish. Just saying...

Bringing It Back Around

At this point, we all know how I feel about full circle moments. And if you don't, well, I love

them! The last time I ran this race was exactly nine years ago on July 4, 2016. Something feels very special about this race. Maybe it's the fact that it will be my personal 9 year "runniversary" or maybe it's because I am challenging myself once again to accomplish something I once thought to be impossible. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because the past few months of my life have shown me that I am a true endurance athlete, one of mind, body, heart, and soul. I have weathered the physical, psychological, and emotional storms of life, some of my own devising (see my future post about the aforementioned 100 miler for more information) and some born of external factors. Through it all, I have learned that I am more capable than I ever imagined and it has only reaffirmed my conviction that there is power in vulnerability.

In that spirit, welcome to this journey. Sometimes it is messy. Sometimes it is devastating. But, if you look close enough, it is always beautiful.

What's Next?

Follow along here and on social media for regular updates about the Break 3 Take 2 project. I will be providing a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to miss a goal and get back up to take another swing at it. I hope you decide to leap into the abyss of the unkown alongside me and try to tackle one of your goals, too. We may not succeed the first time, but we will definitely be in for an adventure. And what more could we really ask for, right?

Wishing you all the best!

Hailey

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