You know that strange vacuum where you’ve achieved your goals, but you’re not quite sure about the next one? That’s where I am right now. London is done, Cape Town is done, so…what now?
Before jumping into the future, here’s what happened since the Cape Town Marathon:
The first few days were in a post-race daze. One thing that I kept thinking about were the spectators. During a marathon, there is a constant stream of loud roadside enthusiasm, but only a few moments usually stick. For me, there were three:
Around kilometre 22, there was a cardboard sign leaning against an empty camping chair. It had just four words: “No human is limited.” The message was simple, but it arrived at exactly the right moment. It stayed with me all the way to the finish line.
Not long after that, one of our friends on a bike called out: “Beautiful running!” I’m not even sure if he meant me, and if he did, I certainly was NOT running “beautifully”. But once again, it was exactly what I needed to hear at that point.
Then, on the Loop of Death at kilometre 38, someone shouted: “Keep moving forward!” Nothing epic or deep. Just the right words at the right time.
It got me thinking about life outside of running. Maybe the best advice is not always the wisest. Maybe it’s more about timing – about common sense arriving at exactly the right time.
Other signs were less life-changing but arguably more entertaining. Reader Nicola pointed out a few I missed: “Chafe it ’til You Make it,” “Only 8.5 Park Runs,” and “Weird Way to Save Petrol but ok.”
Also, a highly pregnant member of our running club held up this sign:
In other news, we also celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary with a fancy lunch. I had been dreaming about this Gruyère soufflé for WEEKS. It was paired with an apple-celery salad and the combination was delicious!
We also did a “Cape Town Marathon Shirt Run” with our running club:
And we sent off the runners heading for Durban for the 90km ultra “Comrades” next week. They are so excited!
So yes, life has been good.
And yet, the question remains: what next?
For the rest of the year, there are a few smaller races lined up. I am very excited about a half-marathon in the Swiss Alps at the end of this month.
It is a proper mountain race. The start and finish are only accessible on foot or by gondola. There is a glacier en route, and we will be climbing over 1,100 metres, finishing at 2,600 metres above sea level. We will probably end up hiking much of it, which I’d be very happy about.
Later in the year, I also want to do a Hyrox race in Cape Town. Eight kilometres of running, broken up by eight workout stations. We are doing it as a couple, which should be interesting… if neither of us storms off in a huff mid-race, I will count it as a success. I’m hoping for a 34th anniversary!
For next year, I would love to do another Abbott Major Marathon. Let’s see how it will work out!
For now, though, the plan is simple: back to Switzerland next week!
- Have you ever raced as a team of two with a partner or friend? If yes, how did it go for you?
- And what are you aiming for in the second half of the year? Fitness goals or other goals?
I am linking up with Jenny from Runners Fly and Jenn from Runs with Pugs for Tuesday Topics as well as Runners’ Roundup with Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, and Runs with Pugs!
Schön zu lesen, wie du alles ” verdaut ” hast, deine Motivationen unterwegs, deine ” Belohnungen ” danach ! Und die hattest du ja auch in einer sehr charmanten Umgebung das Feiern deines 33. Hochzeitstags !! Kompliment, nicht alle halten so lange durch !! Ihr seid ja auch ein sympathisches, sportliches Paar, muss auch mal gesagt werden !
Dann deine Pläne, man hat das Gefühl, du würdest am liebsten gleich wieder losrennen, wenn du dir Gedanken machst, was dann kommen wird. Das z.B. kenne ich gar nicht, ich war nie besonders ” wettkampforientiert ” , habe auch maximal 4 mal an irgendwelchen Läufen teilgenommen, das hat mir gereicht ! Da bist du ganz anders ! Du findest bestimmt genügend Möglichkeiten, da bin ich sicher !!
Jetzt erst mal wieder die Schweiz, und da gibt es mit Sicherheit genügend Gelegenheiten !
Alles Gute weiterhin für dich – und immer gut aufpassen !!
Regengrüße von ganz oben
Ja, ich glaube dieses “Verdauen” trifft es ganz gut… es braucht bei mir immer ein paar Tage, bis alles wieder sortiert ist.
Und die diese kleinen “Belohnungen” wie ein feines Essen tun einfach gut! Der Hochzeitstag war dann auch ein schöner Kontrast zum ganzen Lauftrubel. Besonders entspannend war auch, dass das Restaurant fast leer war – in der Saison muss man wochenlang im Voraus buchen, und wenn die Touristen weg sind, hat man plötzlich wieder Platz. 😃
Spannend, wie unterschiedlich das bei jedem ist mit diesen Wettkämpfen. Ich glaube, ich brauche dieses Ziel-Gefühl einfach immer wieder, sonst werde ich ein bisschen unruhig. Aber gut zu hören, dass du deinen Weg damit auch gefunden hast, liebe Margitta. Das geht ja auch gut!
Und ja, ich freue mich jetzt sehr auf die Schweiz. Hier ist es wirklich sehr kühl und nass geworden… Zeit für mehr Sonne!
Liebe Grüsse aus der Nebelsuppe in Cape Town!
It sounds like you had some good cheer crowds during your recent marathon! Would you go to Sydney or Tokyo or something like that (not sure if both are majors)? Your upcoming half marathon sounds perfect for you! And I always enjoy reading about your mountain hikes and races.
I don’t have any big goals right now, and have been wondering if that’s a bad thing! I just want to keep up the good work, keep making progress and increase loads in the gym, as well as walking distances (I’m not caught up with this at all). There is a marathon walk here during the late summer but that will have to wait for another year.
The crowds were so supportive! It was also nice to have a few quieter stretches in between, great to focus a bit more.
I feel that Sydney is too far and Tokyo (also far but not THAT far) is very tricky to get into. You have to pay to get on to a waitlist and then still wait for a couple of years… it seems a bit over the top.
Chicago is very much on the short list though!
You, know Susanne, I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all NOT having big goals right now. There’s a lot to be said for “just” building strength, consistency, and getting those walking distances up. Keep on chipping away, that’s what really counts in the long run.
A marathon WALK? That sounds tough!! I can see how that would take a lot of training!
Have a good flight to Sweden (DESPITE Ryan Air, ha!)
I agree that timing matters just as much! I look forward to see signs on races because they cheer me up so much!
And yes. I always need a next goal on sight to keep training structured and excited. My next one will be florianopolis half and then NYC. Then I’ll explore more trail running in Brazil and of course more major marathons.
I knew you would understand the need for a next goal, Coco! 😄 I think some of us are just wired that way.
Florianopolis is in Brazil, right? That sounds like a great stepping stone before NYC. And NYC… how exciting! I ran it back in 2010, which feels like about three running lifetimes ago. I still remember the incredible crowds and atmosphere.
And yes, race signs are the best. Some are genuinely inspiring, while others are so ridiculous that they make you laugh out loud!
When the first half of the year includes a world major, a marathon PR, and a 33rd anniversary, it’s hard to see how the 2nd half can compete! But I believe in you!
You push now, I push later is a contender for best race sign out there.
So true, Birchie! Such a vacuum right now!!
My parents have suddenly decided they want to go to Paris with me (they’re 88 and 85), so it looks like I’m about to swap race chaos for a completely different kind of adventure 😂
Right?! That sign was BRILLIANT!
Liebe Catrina,
ja dieses seltsame Loch, in das man fällt, nachdem “das” Rennen oder “die” Prüfung, “der” Abschluss oder was auch immer vorbei ist. Brain-Fog trifft das Gefühl ganz gut.
Aber du weißt ja mit dieser Phase umzugehen, wenn ich mir deine Aktivitäten so anschaue. 🙂
Deine Schilderauswahl ist toll. Ich glaube, man nimmt immer gerade die Schilder wahr, die man in dem Moment braucht. Mein liebster Spruch ist: “This is what you came for”.
Schön, dich bald wieder in der Schweiz zu wissen! 😀
Liebe Doris,
ja, genau: LOCH!! Brain-Fog inklusive 😄 Zum Glück gibt es immer wieder neue Events. Und bei dir ist ja auch gerade die heisse Wettkampfphase angesagt!
“This is what you came for” – der ist super! Und “You paid for this” ist die leicht brutalere Schwester davon. Plötzlich wirkt alles wieder erstaunlich freiwillig.
Bald kann ich wieder zu dir rüberwinken! Hallo Nachbarin! 😄👋🏻
ähem… das war ich!
Zum Glück hast du einen unverkennbaren Schreibstil! 😂
I like your goals for the rest of the year–just enough to give you something to train for, but nothing too competitive that you will push so hard to risk injury. Right? Of course, a mountain run sounds tough but you’ve done it before!
That Gruyere souffle looks so good! One of my favorite cheeses and the price has skyrocketed in the US thanks to the tariffs–grrr
Safe travels back to Switzerland. Girl, you are living THE LIFE! 🙂
Yes, exactly! Just enough structure to stay motivated, and also to allow time for my parents. My dad has come up with the idea of going to Paris for a few days, so I will go along with them – by train. It’s going to be…. interesting, Wendy!
I can imagine! Going by the tariffs, Gruyère must have least have doubled in price! I’ve heard Wisconsin does good cheese, so hopefully there’s at least a decent alternative!
Yes – but I think I still prefer your incredible trails!!
Between Cape Town and Switzerland, you have so many fun events to choose from! Look forward to seeing what you do next
The two places are so different – but I’m glad that running is so popular in both places!
I love the clever and motivating signs that you see at a marathon! I am glad the right signs found you at the right time!!
Your Switzerland half marathon sounds awesome! It will feel good to have your next marathon booked so you can set your eyes on that! I can’t wait to see where you race!
I don’t have any big goals for the 2nd half of the year. I want to keep logging OTF classes and increasing the weights I am using!