Full Speed Ahead for Upcoming Ocala Half-Marathon

I am looking forward to returning to Ocala and points south for my second go at their annual race. This year, though, I am forsaking their marathon event for the half-marathon (actually, both races take place simultaneously) in line with my firm decision to pursue the 13.1 mile races (along with 15K races) as a regular, sustainable "hobby". Training for marathons is just too time-consuming and injury-producing for me, and I have other things to do in my life other than just run, run, run. Besides, since I switched my emphasis to the "short" race, I noticed that half-marathon races are much more common and available (and cheaper) than are the marathons. In fact, the two I have run in recently had no marathon component. Also, as is the case with the Ocala Marathon, the 26.2 mile version involves repeating a substantial portion of the course. Still, I prefer that to the "there and back along the same road" courses I've experienced recently on the Hawthorne Trail with November's Tom Walker Memorial race and (Volusia) County Road Three with New Year's De Leon Springs race.

The Ocala Half-Marathon has a non-repeating course, and I am pretty familiar with it from last year's marathon. In fact, I got to know parts of it TOO well as I slowly walked the race's last seven miles due to an IT-band leg injury that made it too painful to run the full distance. This year, although experiencing different health issues, I seem fit enough to handle the course, at least the half-marathon course, that is.

After the January 1 race, I had toned down my training distances, although I still maintained a daily running regimen. Yesterday I ran seven miles with plenty of energy and a good recovery, giving me much-needed confidence for the January 22 Ocala race. I needed that run when I did it, too, because this race's organizers require registration by this weekend in order to participate in it. Today I'll sign up...

The Ocala Half-Marathon will be the third straight race for me that takes place in a primarily rural setting. Personally, I prefer city races, which are more interesting with their landmarks and interesting sites. Next month, if all goes well in Ocala, I should be running in two such races: Tallahassee on February 5 and Gainesville (Five Points) on February 19. We'll see...