Major in Your Majors

What I learned in my last marathon....

Even though I have not been posting to this blog in a long time. I have still been training and competing. In fact, I just ran the PF Chang's Rock 'n Roll Marathon in Phoenix this past weekend. I thought I was ready. I have been training for 5 months. I have trained for 4 marathons previously. I expected this would be my best yet. To my dismay, it was not my day on the race course. It was one of my most challenging race experiences. Nonetheless, I did cross the finish line, so I count that a success. I am not talking about my finish time.

Even though I did not have a pleasant race experience, I did learn much through the process. I made a few race day mistakes that cost me on the course. I also was reminded how important it is to Major in you Majors or in other words, to put energy toward your strengths. I know that the marathon is not my best distance, I am a middle distance athlete. My best running distances are 5K and 10K. I am slightly above average as a 1/2 marathoner. I am competitive in the middle distances and I really love and do well in multi-sport races.

So my take home message from the marathon is focus on what you are really good at 5K, 10K, sprint and olympic distance triathlons, and short course duathlons. Although I was bummed about not reaching my 3:38 marathon goal and qualifying for the Boston marathon, I chose to channel that low energy into positive enthusiasm for 2009 mulit-sport goals. Here are where my sights are set now.

2009 ITU World Championships on the Gold Coast of Australia

I can get there one of three ways. First, by qualifying at the Duathlon National Championships on April 25th in Richmond, VA. Second, by qualifying at the Sprint Triathlon National Championships (Pacific Coast Triathlon) on July 26th. Third, by qualifying at the Aquathlon National Championships in Canton, NC on August 2nd. In addition, I intend to qualify for Triathlon Olympic Distance Nationals on August 22nd in Tuscaloosa, AL, which is a qualifier for ITU World Championship 2010 to be held in Budapest, Hungary.

Now it's time to make every day of training count.

Continued Success,

Melissa Guthrie


Melissa Guthrie is an entrpreneur, a business success coach, a nutrition coach/fitness trainer, an athlete, and a healthy cooking enthusiast.