My weeks of slacking off are now, officially over.  Counting backward from the date of my projected first marathon, I had a couple weeks to whip myself back into shape (physically and, it turns out, mentally) and in large part I have done that.  I knocked the dust off my treadmill, built up some calluses (some in places that ought not need them), and covered the miles I’d planned.  My Christmas present to myself is the start of my training in earnest, and I can’t wait to unwrap it!

Of some concern, however, is how this training – particularly when paired with my triathlon goals for 2012 – will fit in with my new job.  My boss has talked a good line about being flexible with respect to our hours (“It doesn’t matter to me if you take a long lunch, as long as you get in the time…”), but talking it and walking it are different things.  I’m planning on talking to him, rather pointedly, about my plans – in particular how I can accomplish what I need to while not violating his trust in any way – but I’m sure I’ll feel conspicuous until I get a couple lunch-time workouts under my belt without incident.

For 2012 I’m changing my approach a little bit, tracking my activity time rather than my activity distance.  I had a hell of a time calculating my annual hours for 2011 in anticipation of establishing my 2012 schedule, and tracking by time will alleviate that problem next time around.  Further, since my limitation tends to be endurance related, tracking by time will help me focus on, and train for, the long haul.  I may be running 10 minute miles, but if I’m doing so for 2 hours then the actual distance will take care of itself.  I’ll likely intermingle some distance-based intervals in the mix, but the goal will still be to train for a period of time, regardless of a the session details.

So the final week of pre-training-program training begins today with a 35 minute run.  I’ll cover the time in the basement, on the treadmill, likely watching television or letting my mind wander.  Too far off to yet be real, next season is full of promise. In the coming weeks I’ll finalize my race schedule, likely registering for the marathon (the price increases on March 14th, but I’ll want it officially on my schedule long before that – gotta have the date set, don’t you know…).  2012 truly is shaping up as foretold – the marathon has stood out there, seemingly far beyond my reach, for decades.  As I begin this training I’m having a hard time picturing the world beyond it.

Here’s to the unknown!