Getting back to business

Back early this year, January to be exact, I thought I was going to pick up the blog again.  Well, 9 months later, I guess it is about time.

I think it is a perfect time to do so, since my prespective with running has changed so much since then.  In March of this year, I signed up for a Running Room clinic.  I have had a negative mindset with running for quite some time, focusing too much on times, and not enough on consistency and just being happy.  I signed up for the clinic thinking that I could at least find one running partner who was at my pace, and could try out the method of 10's and 1's to get faster. 

I definitely got more than that out of it:  I had a great instructor who pushed everyone, and who never left any runner behind.  I tried the 10 and 1 method, and was able to knock a whole 6 minutes of my previous PB for a 10k race.  I gained several running friends.  But most of all, I began to love running in a way I never had before.  I didn't dread having a running schedule, I embraced it.  It became routine, and the distances were no big thing.  When there is someone else who is waiting for you to run with (and when you have paid to get your butt in gear) it is easy to find motivation and avoid saying "I'll do it tomorrow." 

So fast forward to May Race Weekend, I rocked it.  Since then, I have kept my distances up, aside from the past two weeks, and have came up with a running plan for the next year or so. 

Given that it is my 30th birthday this year, I wanted to do some things that were out of my comfort level, that cost more than I would normally spend on myself, that put me first.  So out of the blue, I have decided to do this:

Registration Confirmation for:

2014 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend

Dear Pamela,
Congratulations! You are now registered for 2014 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend. Please check the event's official website for updates: http://www.runDisney.com

This is for the 2014 Glass Slipper Challenge on Saturday, February 22, 2014 and Sunday, February 23, 2014.

So in a little over 150 days, I am going to run a 10k on Saturday, and a half marathon on Sunday.  In costume.  With three of my best girlfriends.  It is daunting, but so much fun.

Training starts October 8th.  I am not sure if I am mentally ready yet, I haven't ran a half marathon in over two years, so it is a big challenge.  I wasn't happy during my first two half marathons, but really, how can you be miserable when running in a tutu through the happiest place on earth?

What is the best race you have ever done?  How can I start to prepare mentally for the journey ahead?