Marathon Weekend - Marathon Sunday

Sunday was an early wake-up call. I’m not even sure I can classify it as Sunday morning because it felt more like Saturday night. I slept fitfully but woke up a little more energetic than last year so I was happy. Our alarm went off at 2:15am and from there, my mom and I quietly got ready. The night before, I had laid out all my clothes, taken a shower, and packed up my backpack with all our necessities (hotel key, park pass, Kindle, blanket, food, drinks (which I put in the morning of), flip-flops for when it warmed up, socks and Vaseline for my mom, and the spectating guide of where to go for each checkpoint, to name a few things). I woke my brother up at 2:45 and we were all ready to go by 3:00.

It was only about 54 degrees when we left the hotel and we were all happy, saying how nice the weather was. FAMOUS LAST WORDS! I dressed in a long-sleeved T-shirt, big hoodie, skinny jeans, socks, boots, a hat, and mittens. I felt overdressed for the weather but didn’t care. I was warm so I was happy.

Once we arrived at the race site, we had 45 minutes - 1 hour to wait until my mom had to be in her corral. So we parked ourselves on the ground near a tent and didn’t say much, just watched the other runners getting ready and taking pictures. Around 4:15, two of my mom’s co-workers popped bye to say hi. They ran the Goofy Challenge this year (running the half-marathon on Saturday and the full marathon on Sunday) and then the three of them left to find their corrals. Pictures were taken, “good luck”’s were exchanged, and then my brother and I headed over to the Mile 4 viewing area which was about a five-minute walk from where we left her.

Mhm, that is a blanket. It was 50 degrees and she was wearing shorts.

It was only about 4:30 then and we had at least an hour to wait until the race started and a good two hours until she would pass us. The viewing area was PACKED but we found a spot and I sat down on the blanket and read on my Kindle for most of the wait time. Unfortunately, the weather started dropping until it was 50 degrees and FREEZING. I don’t know how I handled the low thirties last year because I was so incredibly cold while waiting. This part is the worst of marathon spectating because there’s not much to do, it’s super crowded, and nothing is happening. It’s all very boring.

But soon, the race started! Fireworks go off as each corral is “let loose”. There were about 14,000 people racing the marathon so there were a LOT of people to view. At the Mile 4 marker, you can see the runners taking off but they are on the other side of the street so unless your runner is wearing a blinking Tinkerbell costume (yes, there was), you probably won’t be able to see them. It’s very congested and very difficult to distinguish between the runners. So we patiently waited for the runners to come down the other side. It was very slow going to watch as the leaders ran by and then the other 3- and 4-hour marathoners ran by. I knew my mom would be somewhere in the 6-hour pacings but I enjoyed watching all the other runners, especially the ones who dressed up. There were a couple of dudes dressed in princess dresses, lots of runners dressed as Goofy, and even Papa Smurf - right down to blue body paint. I mean, I don’t think I could run a marathon dressed normal -- there is no way I could do it dressed as a character!

We finally saw my mom pass Mile 4 and she handed us her jacket, gave us both a quick hug, and was off! At that time, she was running a little ahead of her goal pace (she wanted to finish in 6 hours) and was looking strong and happy, so I felt a lot of relief!

 
We could see the runners on the monorail. So awesome!

From there, my brother and I hopped onto the monorail that would take us to Epcot where we would see Mom pass at Mile 9. It was pure madness finding a spot to view the runners at each stop and this one was no difference. Luckily, all you have to do is park yourself somewhere and once the person in front of you sees their runner, they leave and you get their spot. I was able to get a great photo of my mom as she stopped for a quick break, telling us she was doing terrible (pace-wise). I handed her two Twizzler’s, told her she was awesome, and off she went!

My brother and I then walked over to Mile 12.5 to await her arrival. Last time, we got crazy-lost while trying to find this spot so I asked a volunteer this time around and was given perfect directions. We still had at least 45 minutes until we would see her so we sat on the grass a little farther away from the runners. At this point, my feet were killing me so I was happy to relieve the pressure on my feet. (Although I know my mom’s were hurting MUCH worse!) When we saw her at this mile, she stopped for a bit to switch out her socks and slather Vaseline all over the bottoms of her feet. Last year, she got terrible blood blisters at the bottom of both her feet a little over halfway through the race so we had made this plan in advance.

And now the next time my brother and I would see my mom was at the end so we got into an incredibly long line on the monorail to Epcot. Once at Epcot, my mom texted me that her leg was seriously hurting her and she didn’t know if she had it in her to finish. This wasn’t like my mother at all so I was pretty worried at this point. She decided to keep going until she got pulled out. From there, my brother and I got a little snack at Epcot and had a great viewpoint of the runners closing in on Mile 26. While there, Mom texted me “5.2 until I FINISH” so I knew she was going to finish the race.

Around noon-ish, I found a place to sit and watch the runners come in. It was so neat to see them finishing up, especially when they heard the finish line was right around the corner. And there were quite a few runners who stopped before the finish line to get a frozen margarita. Ha! I found this hilarious. :) Also, my mom got beat by a blind power walker. Now that? That is impressive! It took a while but my brother and I finally saw her come down the path to the finish! She looked happy so I snapped a quick picture and then we headed out of Epcot to go to our meeting location.

And here she is! Two-time marathoner! I think she looks super hard core in this photo!

My mom had pretty bad knee pain during the last half of the race, which made it basically impossible for her to run at all. She’s never had any kind of knee pain so it’s very odd. She pulled her hamstring muscle sometime in November and though she’s been using a heating pad and gotten two sports massages to try to heal it but it’s been a persistent pain that isn’t going away. That bugged her, too. Other than that, she’s doing great! Her legs feel good and while she did get two blisters on her feet, they are nothing compared to last year.

In any event, this is most likely my mom’s last marathon. This one took a LOT out of her mentally, fighting through the urge to quit. Marathons are no joke and she doesn’t think she has it in her to train for another one. Half-marathons are her sweet spot and I think she’s going to focus on those and improving her speed.

In any event, she ran two marathons. That’s an incredible feat for anyone and no matter if it took you 3 hours or 7 hours, it’s still amazing. As is she.

Marathon Weekend

Today, I am working a half-day at work and then it’s off to Orlando for marathon weekend!

Not mine, though. HA! My mom is running her second marathon on Sunday. I hope to find a way to blog throughout the weekend and most definitely will be tweeting up a storm on marathon day!

Last year, I spectated at the Walt Disney World Marathon  and it was a blast. I made a lot of mistakes as a first-time marathon spectator but spectating at this marathon is not like spectating at other marathons, nor is it for the faint of heart.

I’ve compiled a list of mistakes I made last year and what I’ll be doing differently this time around. Last year was miserable for me. I want a different experience this year.

MISTAKE #1 - Not getting enough sleep the night before

The first bus that takes runners to the race site leaves at 3:00am. There are other buses that leave later but I read some horror stories from people who waited for the later buses. Getting to the race site is utter chaos and my mom has enough anxiety about making sure she has enough time to get settled once she gets to the race site that we try to make the first one. So it’s an EARLY wake-up call on race day. Last year, we slept in on Saturday and then didn’t get to bed until pretty late. Well, my mom and my brother did. When I was still awake after midnight, I decided it would be harder on my body to get just two hours of sleep than to just stay up so I stayed up. THIS WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA. I was cranky and overly emotional due to my lack of sleep. Also? Really, really really tired.

THIS YEAR, I am going to institute an early wake-up call for both my mom and me on Saturday morning and then? I’m hitting the sack at 7:00pm! I do not do all-nighters. I want to be as well-rested as possible to make it through the following day. (I also didn’t end up sleeping well the following night due to my mom having terrible blood blisters at the bottom of her feet and me freaking out she would have to have her feet cut off and I would have to take care of my crippled mother. Yes. I had nightmares. I never said I was normal.)

MISTAKE #2 - Not buying a ticket to a park or the spectator package

Spectating at a RunDisney event is a vastly different experience than spectating anywhere else. For one, you have to depend on trams and trolleys to get you to specified destinations throughout the course. And for another, unless you buy a special spectating package or a ticket to one of the theme parks, your options for food and drink are severely limited. As in non-existent. The spectating package was expensive but did allow for more access to places around the course and a place to sit down and EAT. If we had a ticket to a park (like Epcot, which was where the runners run through around Mile 9), we could go in there for food and drink and a place to somewhat relax. (After Mile 13, there’s nowhere else to see the runners until the finish. DISLIKE!) We could also hop back ON the bus that would take us back to our hotel where we could either find something to eat there or go out somewhere. But I was nervous about how long it would take us to get there, eat, and come back in time to see my mom finish so we ended up staying at the race site which, in hindsight, was a TERRIBLE idea. But I don’t think I was operating on all cylinders last year...

THIS YEAR... we are all buying park tickets! My brother and sister-in-law are buying annual passes and my mom and I are taking advantage of an awesome “3 days, $99” deal. We can spend 3 days at any Disney park, one of which will be Sunday. (I’m buying the Park Hopper so we won’t be limited in what park we can stop in while we wait during the marathon.) And then we have two more days until May we can come back! I like this idea a whole lot!

MISTAKE #3 - Not having any food or drink to fuel me for the upcoming 9 hours

Oh, this was the biggest mistake of all. Somehow, I didn’t pack anything in my bag so far as nourishment was concerned. I think because I expected my brother and I to head back to the hotel after we saw Mom at Mile 13, I didn’t even think to bring a snack or anything while we waited. And need I remind you we got to the race site a little after 3:00am and didn’t leave until close to 1:00pm? I was a Grumpy Gus, that’s for sure! I do not function well when I’m hungry. The worst part of this marathon is that it’s very hard to find somewhere to eat. (Plus, I was nervous about not seeing my mom finishing so was at the finish line area way earlier than we needed to be.) I’m actually very surprised my brother was still speaking to me after everything I put him through that day. Hehe.

THIS YEAR... I am definitely filling up a backpack with food and drinks to get my brother and I through the first part of this journey. (I’m not sure when my sister-in-law and nephew will be joining us but I imagine not until later in the day.) Then, hopefully, after seeing my mom pass Mile 13, we can stop into a park and get something to eat and relax for a little until we head on over to the finish line to see her finish. Obviously, I am very concerned about eating this time around.

MISTAKE #4 - Not dressing warm enough

It was in the low thirties that day, which is pretty freaking cold for this Florida girl. I wore a pair of jeans, running shoes, a long-sleeved shirt, and a lightweight hoodie. It was not anywhere near warm enough for me. I was basically an icicle from the time I stepped off the bus to the time we got back to the hotel. It never really warmed up enough (especially with the wind) for me to ever feel fully comfortable. I felt really bad for my brother who had on a pair of long shorts and a big hoodie. He doesn’t get cold easily but he was chilled to the bone, too.

THIS YEAR... the weather is looking much nicer. The lows are in the upper 50s and highs in the low 70s. I’m also going to make sure to bundle up and bring some blankets for the morning part (fifty degrees in the middle of the night feels way different than fifty degrees in the afternoon!). But I think the weather is going to play nice this year. And since my mom would prefer to run in the heat than in the cold, she’s especially happy. 

MISTAKE #5 - Not having enough communication with my mom

My mom decided against carrying her phone with her for the race. She didn’t want it weighing her down but it also meant my brother and I didn’t have any communication with her. It wasn’t so bad in the beginning since we were able to see her three different times, but it was AWFUL from Mile 13 on, since there were no places to view her (unless we bought park tickets) until the end. For some reason, even though I set up to receive text alerts when she passed certain points, I never got any so I had to keep refreshing the website on my phone to see where she was. There was always a huge lag between updates (like HOURS!) so it put me in a constant state of worry and paranoia something was terribly wrong.

THIS YEAR... my mom is definitely carrying her phone on her. (I even bought her a Spibelt for Christmas since her other belt was more bulky.) I am not going through THAT again. She’s also set up her Facebook and Twitter feeds to update and I’m going to have myself, my brother, and my sister-in-law all set up to receive text alerts. ONE of those ways has to work, right?

Even though this seems to be a major complain-y post, I am so freaking excited to do this all again. I know I’ll be better prepared and she’s better trained. We know what mistakes we made last year and we have learned our lessons from them. Aside from the lack of spectator spots towards the latter half of the course (seriously, Disney, WHY?), it was so much fun to spectate at this marathon. It’s a fun marathon, not one most people run for time, and what better way to inspire a person than to see people FINISHING A MARATHON? I know my mom is going to crush her time she set at last year’s marathon.

She’s entering into a very nervous “can I really do this again?” time right now. So, if you can, leave her some words of encouragement in the comments or reply to her on Twitter (seriously, she’ll LOVE that!). I can’t believe that in three days time, my mom will be a TWO-TIME MARATHONER. That’s crazy to me!

Race Weekend (Of a Different Sort)

A few weeks ago, my mom texted me about two upcoming races the weekend before our cruise. Miles For Moffitt, benefiting cancer research, and the Inaugural Police Appreciation Run, which is in honor of the three St. Petersburg police officers who were killed in the line of duty earlier this year. There’s something special about running a race that’s benefiting something good so at first, I was all for it. Both races had 5K options so I was like, “Sure!”

But as I got to thinking about it, I decided against running in either race. While there is no doubt I could finish them, even if it meant walking, I just don’t feel like putting that pressure on myself anymore.

After the Iron Girl, I decided to take a big step back from running to re-evaluate why I’m trying so hard for something I don’t think I really like. Running has been something I’m too stubborn to give up completely. There’s this part of me that keeps getting out there, keeps trying, in the hopes that it will one day become easier and I will one day love it as much as other people do.

It still hasn’t happened.

But I’m still trying. I decided to start from the basics again. I think I took on too much, too soon and signing up for a half-marathon when I wasn’t even in 5K shape was a big mistake. Every run made me doubt my abilities and hate the sport more and more. When I dropped down to the 5K, I felt major relief and I know I want to be able to run 3 miles with ease. I’m not sure if I will ever run a half-marathon, but I still have this fighting need to be able to run at least 3 miles.

So I went back to my faithful friend, Mr. Couch to 5K. I’m not sure how many times I’ve used this program, but this is probably my fifth or sixth attempt. The problem is, I always have an upcoming race when I start the program and abandon it to just run so I can be ready come race day. This time, I am no longer signing up for races until I finish the program. In fact, I’m not looking to sign up for another race until November. I want to give myself enough time to get into shape and be able to run a successful 5K without having to stop for frequent walking breaks.

Back to this weekend. I decided against running in either race, instead came as my mom’s little cheerleading section as she conquered the Miles for Moffitt 5-Miler and the Inaugural Police Appreciation 10K Run. Since her marathon in January, the farthest my mom has run was four miles so she was a bit worried about how she’d do. She needn’t have worried because she kicked some major arse in both races, absolutely crushing her 10K PR by ten minutes. Have I mentioned lately that my mom is a rock star? Because she is.

And me? I got to enjoy these past two mornings with no pressure on myself. All I had to do was wake up early, don some sweatpants, grab my Kindle, and hit the road. While it certainly was inspirational to watch the runners, I didn’t feel that bite in my side that I should be out there. I felt calm and relaxed, knowing that if I so choose, I could one day be out there running with them.

But maybe not.

Because I’m finally learning that there is nothing wrong with hating to run. I have given the sport enough shots, enough chances, that if I make it through Couch to 5K and still hate running, I can walk away knowing I tried everything I could to like it. And it’s not the end of the world if I don’t.

On Quitting 13.1

I didn't want to write this post.

I didn't want to admit that I took on a challenge too big, that I couldn't do something it seems everyone and their mother has done or will do in the upcoming months. I hate failure more than anything, especially when it comes from myself. Past experiences have led me to an obsession with achievement and winning, never failure.

I've been training to run the IronGirl Half-Marathon for a few weeks now. At first, I was incredibly excited. What an amazing accomplishment this will be! I told myself to enjoy the process, not worry about how long a distance of thirteen miles is. This was for the experience, not for any sort of time goal. The important part was to enjoy it.

At first, I was shooting to finish within 3 hours. If I could make it within that time frame, I would be incredibly happy with myself. Then I started to realize how hard it would be to keep up that pace, when I'm walking a good portion of it. I'm not a fast runner by any means and neither am I a fast walker. (Darn short legs.) I began to tell myself to forget about finishing within 3 hours. Instead, focus on finishing my miles and preparing my mind for race day. Enjoy the experience.

I wasn't enjoying anything. My runs were painful and almost every long run made me cry and beat myself up in frustration. Every run made me question why I was doing this. Why did I shoot for such a lofty goal when it's still hard to run just a mile? Is this something I want to do or am I doing this for other people? Am I doing this to fit in to this crazy blogging world where everyone seems to love running and training for marathons? (At least in the healthy-living world. And not that there's anything wrong with that.)

I stressed myself out to the point of shingles. My body had to physically let me know I was under major stress and needed to make serious changes before things got worse. My low immune system also played a role in this, but so did stress. Stress about training, about the race, about how others would view me as a quitter if I dropped out of the half-marathon.

To be completely honest, I didn't want to admit on this blog that I was quitting again. I didn't want to let everyone down. I had so many people rooting for me, telling me I could do this. I hate the connotation of being a quitter, but I guess it's a label I have to take on. Because I am. I'm quitting. I'm dropping down to the 5K, from 13 miles to 3.

When I made the decision, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt free. I felt as if I could finally breathe again. But it also sucks. I know I'm going to feel awful come race day with all the half-marathon runners and me - still running baby 5K races. But I also know it's the best decision. My body - physically or mentally - isn't prepared for 13 miles. As much as I pushed myself, my body finally pushed back and told me enough is enough. This isn't a decision I made lightly or in the heat of the moment. It's a decision that feels right.

My plan is to keep running, but keep the distances small. Build up my stamina and endurance so my body will be ready to tackle a half-marathon some day in the future. Start with one-mile runs and gradually increase, as I feel my body getting stronger. I want to give this running thing its fair shot because I so badly want to be a runner. I want to be one of you guys.

April 10th doesn't feel like Doomsday anymore. It feels like a normal day where I will go out and try to kill my previous PR of 42:32. So maybe it's not quitting. Maybe it's just being smart.

Sources: x, x

Thursday Tidbits

• First of all, today I’m guest-posting over at Becky’s blog! She asked for a theme of love so I wrote about the boy I love the most: my nephew! This blog post was so much fun to write, even moreso that Becky is also an aunt and knows exactly how I feel! Check it out here.
  
• Today is supposed to be the day I recap my weight loss and tomorrow is supposed to be the day I vlog. I haven’t had time to record a vlog this week and to recap this week in weight loss: Super Bowl. Gained 1.2 pounds. The end. 
  
• I’m finding myself busier and busier with school and kind of loving it. My five-week break was incredibly delightful and relaxing, but I’m realizing that I like to keep busy. It also helps that my classes are quite fun and I get to explore my creative writing side, which is a big no-no when it comes to journalism. The papers I’m writing for my literature and creative writing classes are so much fun and so interesting to write that a part of me is glad I’m taking them at the end of my undergraduate career and not a few semesters ago because it seriously would have tempted me to switch majors. No joke.
  
• Half-marathon training-wise, it’s going okay. I missed my long run on Sunday because it was raining and I just didn’t have it in me to run 5 miles on the treadmill. My training runs have been better than I expected, even though I’m still not running the whole time but I am running more than I’m walking. I’m still extremely nervous leading up to my runs, but they’re getting done. I’m ready to tackle this upcoming week. I have a 3.5-miler scheduled for today and a 5-miler scheduled for Saturday. 5 miles will be a new (running) distance record for me so fingers crossed!
  
• I want to run one of the Gasparilla races at the end of this month. I’m debating on whether I should run the 5K on Saturday or the 8K on Sunday. I’m only scheduled to run 3 miles that weekend, but I’ve never run an 8K distance in a race and it kind of interests me. Make the decision for me! ;)
  
• By the way, March 24th is the day the world will end for me. Also known as the day I have to present my short story for critiques. I’ve never shown my fiction work to anyone and to say I’m nervous is an extreme understatement. I have a million different ideas of what I want my short story to be but nothing I feel comfortable writing down and showing.

It’s All About the ‘Tude!

On Thursday, I officially started training for my half-marathon. And it was terrible. I tried sticking to the 5:2 interval but my body was not happy by the time the third interval came around. Out of the 3 miles, I maybe ran one of them.
Yesterday, I had to run 4 miles. I stuck to running 1 mile, walking 1/2 a mile, and so forth, which worked so much better for me. Ideally, I don’t want to walk so much but it was a good practice run for me and I hope to work on cutting down my time. (I think I probably could have only walked 1/4 a mile, but I decided to keep it easy.)
Thursday’s 3 miles took me 49 minutes. Sunday’s 4 miles took me 59 minutes (just 90 seconds off my goal race pace!). Thursday’s run made me regret signing up for a half-marathon. Sunday’s run made me want to sign up for 6 more. Thursday’s run defeated me. I defeated Sunday’s run.
The difference in the two runs can all be boiled down to one word: attitude. I was nervous for both runs, but honestly, I had it in my mind that I wouldn’t be able to handle Thursday’s run. I was worried about how my run would go, not very confident I could even run for 3 minutes after taking a two-week break. And it showed. My mind wasn’t in the run, so my body wasn’t. Sunday was a totally different story. I was determined to have a good run. I wanted to be able to brag about this run, not get discouraged by yet another crappy run. (90% of which is just my own inability to beat the mental game.) I left my heart and soul out on that path. I didn’t give in, even when my body was screaming at me to stop. I kept thinking, “Hey! I’m still running!” I won’t deny that I came close to tears around Mile 3.5 when I realized that I was indeed still running and was going to complete these 4 miles with a big, huge grin on my face.
My confidence is back. I won’t say I’m not nervous about Tuesday’s 3-mile run, but I know it all depends on my attitude and beating the mental game. Physically, I can do it. Mentally…I can also do it.
And before I forget! The winner of the $55 gift certificate to CSN Stores is Becky! Please e-mail me at stephanywrites [@] gmail [.] com within 48 hours to receive your prize!

Half-Marathon Training Plan

First and foremost, bloggers participating in the Blogger Book Swap: please make sure to get your books in the mail by this Sunday! And send me a tweet, e-mail, or comment when you do. Currently, I only know of two who have sent them so just keep me in the loop!

I’ll be running the IronGirl Half-Marathon on April 10th. I’m super nervous about it, especially since running is still a big struggle for me. But I’ve already registered so there’s no turning back now. Must. Do. This!
I’ve made a very tentative training plan, using Hal Higdon’s Novice Half-Marathon plan. I’m really not looking to do anything but complete 13.1 miles in a reasonable amount of time.

	MON	TUES	WED	THURS	FRI	SAT	SUN
1/17	REST	3 (5:2)	XT	3 (5:2)	1	STRENGTH	4 (5:2)
1/24	REST	3 (5:2)	XT	3 (5:2)	1.5	STRENGTH	4 (5:2)
1/31	REST	3.5 (6:2)	XT	3.5 (6:2)	2	STRENGTH	5 (6:2)
2/7	REST	3.5 (6:2)	XT	3.5 (6:2)	2.5	STRENGTH	5 (6:2)
2/14	REST	4 (7:2)	XT	4 (7:2)	3	STRENGTH	6 (7:2)
2/21	REST	4 (7:2)	XT	4 (7:2)	3.5	STRENGTH	5 (RACE)
2/28	REST	4.5 (8:2)	XT	4.5 (8:2)	4	STRENGTH	7 (8:2)
3/7	REST	4.5 (8:2)	XT	4.5 (8:2)	4.5	STRENGTH	8 (8:2)
3/14	REST	5 (9:2)	XT	5 (9:2)	5	STRENGTH	6 (9:2)
3/21	REST	5 (9:2)	XT	5 (9:2)	5.5	STRENGTH	9 (9:2)
3/28	REST	5 (9:1)	XT	5 (9:1)	6	STRENGTH	10 (9:1)
4/4	REST	4 (9:1)	XT	2 (9:1)	REST	REST	13.1

Now, some notes:

• I’ll be using a run/walk interval plan because it’s the only way I’ll get through this training cycle. The numbers in parenthesis on my run days is the interval I’ll be running. I will hopefully be up to doing a 9:1 run/walk interval on race day.
• On Fridays, I’m going to try to run these miles the whole way through. This isn’t on Higdon’s training plan, but it’s something I want to try out. I’m not sure if I’ll be up to 6 miles by March 28th, so these are very tentative.
• XT = cross-training. Generally, this will entail the bike and the elliptical.

And, some questions:

• Do you see any problems with my training plan? I’m eager to do this right, and not injure myself in the process.
• Do you think I need the Friday training runs where I’m just running, or should I use them for rest days?
• At what mileage should I eat a Gu? Is there anything you would suggest, aside from Gu, to eat during a long run?

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway - a $55 gift card to CSN Stores. Giveaway closes at 7pm on Sunday.

2010: A Year in Review

If I take a look back at my resolutions for 2010, this year would be a waste. I attempted to achieve them, but didn’t even come close. Yet when I think of all I accomplished, whether I resolved to or not, I can’t help but think this was a pretty big year for me. It was a year fraught with sadness, challenges, excitement, and a lot of stepping out of my comfort zone.

In 2010, I…

• Created a stunning 18-page magazine. This was by far my biggest challenge of the first four months of the year. I spent hours upon hours trying to make this magazine the best possible. I took days off work and asked big things of some special friends. I began with 18 blank pages in Adobe In Design (a program I previously had never heard of until January) and created a magazine I am fiercely proud of.
• Watched my grandma conquer cancer for the second time. In January, my family was given heart-breaking news that my grandma’s colon cancer had returned. She battled another 12 rounds of chemotherapy and was declared cancer-free in October. Later, we found out that my grandma’s doctor thought this round of cancer would defeat her and also, that the type of cancer she got the second time around has a 2% survival rating. I would say God’s still in the miracle making business, wouldn’t you?
• Ended the relationship with my father. After close to 2 years of not speaking to each other, my father finally initiated contact via a Facebook message. I e-mailed him a letter, detailing all the ways he had hurt me in the past and how much I missed him and our relationship. His scathing reply back made me realize he was never going to change, he would never take responsibility for his actions, and it was time to end this volatile relationship. In June, I replied back with a much nastier e-mail. I had given myself 2 months to calm down from his reply but I had to make my feelings known, for probably the first time in my life. Losing a parent is heartbreaking, but losing a parent because they don’t want you in their life? I can’t even begin to explain the emotional toll it takes on a person. I’m still not even close to dealing with my feelings on this.
  
• Played caretaker to my mom after she was hit by a car. The scariest day of my life happened on August 13, 2010 when my mom arrived home a mere 20 minutes after leaving for a run with blood on her face and all over her clothes. We spent 5 hours in the ER that morning and she emerged with 18 stitches above her right eyebrow, a broken left elbow, a sprained right thumb, severe abrasions on her knees, elbows, and palms, as well as multiple bruises. It was a long healing process, including her using a sling for 8 weeks, unable to work her second job for 10 weeks, and having to take 8 weeks off running (which totally messed with her marathon training). She is now back to normal, but will always have pain in her elbow if she uses it too much.
• Had my first ER visit since I was eleven. August seemed to be the month of hospital visits for my family. While washing the dishes one afternoon, a glass broke and then sliced my thumb as I tried to throw it away. I spent about 2 hours in the ER getting x-rayed and then stitched up by the real Dr. McDreamy. (Seriously, I had some rather inappropriate dreams about him weeks after my visit.) But with that visit came a hefty $2,500 doctor bill.
• Visited Orlando twice. I only took two vacations this year and they were both to Orlando, which is about 90 minutes from me. They were fun getaways, even if I did deal with a sprained ankle during one trip. And, in November, I visited Disney World for the first time since I was a kid!

• Started running. I am still hesitant to call myself a runner, but I did take up this sport somewhat this year. Over the past few months, I’ve been running pretty consistently (2-3 times a week). It’s been a struggle most days but there’s no greater feeling of accomplishment than finishing a run or crossing a finish line.
• Became a blogger. This blog is my pride and joy. It’s been the one place I can be real and honest. It’s become my mode of therapy as I write down my thoughts for the masses. I went through a lot of blogger crisis as I try to figure out where I fit in this blogging culture, but I think personal blogging is where I belong. I don’t think I’ll ever give up on being completely honest and transparent about my feelings and I like that about me. It’s hard for me to be this honest in public, so these posts have been extremely cathartic for me. And the people I’ve met through blogging makes it all worth it. I have big plans to meet a bunch of you this year, some way or another.

2010 has been a big year for me, even if it hasn’t been the best year. I can’t wait to welcome in 2011 because it’s going to be an amazing, full year with my mom running her first marathon, graduating college, and dealing with my anxiety and thoughts and feelings through therapy. And I’m excited to bring you all along for the ride!

A Running Conundrum

So, I’ve been trying to run for a long time. Or maybe a short time, but it seems long to me. The latter part of 2010 has been spent with me trying to become a runner, first with half-marathon training and then with Couch to 5K. I’ve been frustrated with my progress thus far. I’m frustrated with how slow I am, how low my endurance is, and how I still can’t freaking run 3 miles without stopping.

The truth is, running isn’t fun for me. I worry about it all day until the time rolls around for my run. (I have to be at work at 6:30am so morning runs are not an option Monday – Friday.) I dread it. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve been excited for a run. (And half of those would be race days.) And running is hard. Really, really hard. And not just hard in the way it’s supposed to be. My ankles kill me almost the entire time. I get side stitches that feel like someone is stabbing me with multiple knives from inside my stomach. I spend the majority of my runs hating my life and wondering why I subject myself to this torture.

And I never, ever think these thoughts with any other form of exercise.

I follow 82 blogs currently. A good quarter of those bloggers are runners. And I would estimate 5-10 of those bloggers are hardcore runners. People who run 8-minute miles and think they had a bad run. People who are striving to become ultra marathoners, a feat I cringe at. And while I don’t exactly compare myself to them, the fact the majority of the healthy-living bloggers that I follow are runners, makes me believe I need to be a runner, too. Running is cool! It’s popular! If they can do it, I can do it! But what if I don’t like running? What about the dread I feel leading up to a run and the only part that brings me happiness is being finished?

It’s a debate I come back to again and again. Why am I running? Am I doing it because I love it? My mom loves it. She looks forward to her runs (not every run, but most of them) and absolutely enjoys herself while running. I don’t love it. Am I doing it because that’s what’s popular? All the bloggers are doing it!

I have an intense love for races, though. I love the atmosphere, the swag, the feeling of crossing the finish line. I feel like the only time I enjoy running is during a race.

Basically, I just don’t know what to do. Running has seemed to overtake my life, but it’s still coming incredibly hard for me. And I don’t really enjoy it. On the other hand, I have never felt the kind of accomplishment and happiness that I get when I complete a run. It feels awesome. But I also dread it. I don’t look forward to it and it just plain hurts. And not a good, I’m-getting-a-great-workout hurt. I also miss doing other forms of exercise because I’m trying so hard to run often and build up my endurance. I want to take Spinning classes and yoga. I want to bike more and strength-train.

What say you, blog readers? If you’re a runner, do you love it? How do you deal with these feelings, if you ever have them? Should I give up this “dream” to be a runner (I’m not even sure if it’s a dream I have, or just a way to fit in with healthy-living bloggers)? Should I scale back? WHAT DO I DO?

Race Recap: U.S. AmeriBank Brandon 5K

Good news! This will be my last race recap until late January! :)

I was pretty worried about how I would do during this race. Since the Turkey Trot, I had one run once and while it was a good run, I knew I wanted to better my time and wouldn’t be happy unless that happened.

The race was in Brandon, which meant a 30 minute drive for us. It was a little chilly in the morning, but not too bad. I would say it was in the low 50s around 6am, but headed into the high 50s/low 60s at race time. (My weather app told me it was 55 degrees at race time, but it felt much hotter. And I’m a wimp when it comes to cold weather so 55 degrees would have frozen me solid.)

My mom was running the half-marathon, as a training run for her full next month, so she headed off first at 7am. I was so nervous for her, knowing she wanted a good run after her awful trail run.

My race started at 7:30am and it was a pretty small crowd of people. I was worried that I would get behind quickly, like I did in the trail run, and not see anyone for miles. (Luckily, this didn’t happen. Although I was in the latter part of the group.) Before the race, I met Melanie! I hooked up with her through DailyMile when I saw she was running this race and it was cool to meet, although I didn’t see her afterward to keep chatting.
Boo!

The race was simple and flat. It wound through a shopping center, down a busy street, and through a subdivision, before looping back. I tried not to get too discouraged when I saw the leaders already heading back before I even finished my first mile. (The winner did it in 16:16. Crazy!)

Since I didn’t know if this race would have mile markers, I decided to employ a 12:2 run/walk ratio. The first 12 minutes were horrible, making me question my decision to want to be a runner, especially as I kept falling behind. But I kept running until I hit 12 minutes. About 30 seconds into my walk, I saw the first mile marker. Dang! At least I knew I was going at a pretty good pace.



Once my two minutes of walking were up, I began to run again, stopped for a few seconds at the water stop, and picked up my pace again. This interval wasn’t too bad, although I know I was going pretty slow. I was just focused on running and not stopping.

I took another two-minute walking break when I hit the second mile marker. I had a terrible side stitch that I had to keep massaging. I kept trying to run but it’s hard when it feels like a billion knives are poking you from the inside. I kept massaging my side until it felt like I could run with it and run I did! I ran all the way to the finish, maintaining a pretty good pace and sprinted to the finish.

Finishing time? 42:17. Another personal record for this girl!

 
One day, I will finish a race without looking like death. (Also, chip timing = my time was off by a little.)

For the past few days, I’ve been toying with the idea of training for a 10K or a half-marathon but I think I’m going to stick to 5K’s for the time being until I feel like 3 miles is easy. Right now, it’s still pretty hard and I want to be able to run the entire thing without walking. There’s nothing wrong with walking breaks, but I need to prove to myself I can run a 5K without them. I might shoot for a 10K this summer and maybe (this is a big maybe) a half-marathon next fall.

This was a great race and I would definitely run it again. I love any  race with well-placed mile markers, chip timing, and great spectator support. Even the people taking pictures were giving great support! One of them actually ran over a mile with my mom to the finish and made her keep running! The weather was great and I loved the tech tee I got. I need more long-sleeved ones and this one is perfect! I really can’t think of anything to complain about! They even gave out beer at the finish! :)

Answer me this: what’s the coldest you will walk/run in? For me, it would be anything under 45 degrees. That’s just too cold for this thin-skinned Florida girl!

Race Recap: Turkey Trot 5K Wingding

I know I said I wasn’t going to blog until Tuesday, but I lied. In the month of December, I’m participating in reverb10, where I’ll be using prompts to reflect on the year I’ve had and prepare for the one coming up. I’m really excited about it so check it out!

Anyway, I’ve decided to blog today (and tomorrow, and I’ll be posting another letter to that elusive future husband of mine on Monday) so I have time to write everything I need to write before December rolls around.

Onto today’s post! Today, I ran my fifth Turkey Trot and when I say “ran,” I do mean RAN!

My alarm went off at 5am, which is such a godawful hour for your first day of vacation, but get up I did. I tried eating a granola bar beforehand but I was just too nervous. Luckily, my race was at 7am so I knew I would be OK. I managed to drink a little water, though. That’s something!

My mom and I made our way over to the race start around 6:30am. I realized while making our way over that a) I was starving and b) I had to pee. Luckily, there were Porta-Potties by the race start! Score! And the lines weren’t too bad! Double score!

The race began a little after 7am and we were pretty far back from where the race actually began so I kept my eye on the clock as I passed it to know when I actually started the 3.1 miles.

Here’s my mileage breakdown, thanks to my mom’s fancy Garmin:

Mile 1 – 12:11
Mile 2 – 14:20 <—3 minute walking break
Mile 3 – 14:26 <—3 minute walking break
Mile .1 – 2:38

The first mile was by far the toughest. It’s always hard for me to find my groove in the beginning, but I was determined to make it to the first mile marker. I have to say, I loved how crowded it was. Call me weird, but it’s just fun to race with all these people and my last race wasn’t crowded at all and I was walking by myself for 90% of it. The pushing and shoving is a little annoying, but it was tame this year thankfully. Still, check out that pace for my first mile! I am a rockstar.

I took two 3-minute walking breaks that felt more like 30 seconds. But they were much needed and helped me catch my breath. The only thing that sucks about walking breaks is finding your groove again when you start running.

But I ran most of this race, finishing with a new PR at 43:35. I am extremely proud of that time, even though it may seem like a super slow pace for some runners. I hope to become faster in time but right now, I’m just focusing on running my best race and doing just a little bit better each time.

After running the 5K with me, my mom went and ran the 10K, finishing in 1:18, which meant she ran for two hours today. (She’s also run 26 miles since Sunday – simply crazy!)

It was one of my best runs to date and I’m signed up for two 5K’s in December, one on the 5th and one on the 8th. I think I’ve caught the running bug.

Race Recap: X-Country 5K Trail Run

I'm not going to lie, I was nervous about this race. I've never done a trail run before and I normally run on pretty flat paths. The last hilly race I ran took me 50 minutes to complete. I was hoping to do good, push through the pain, even though I had a few bad runs leading up to this day.

My mom was running the half-marathon, which started a half-hour before mine, so I had to say good-bye to her and wait in anxious anticipation for my race to start. I was incredibly nervous about disappointing myself.

My goals to begin the race were:

• Run in under 40 minutes
• Run each mile, letting myself having 2-3 minute breaks in between
• Enjoy the course and scenery

I'm sad to report, I made none of these goals. I didn't have a good race and didn't enjoy myself in the least. I hated the trail. I had to dodge roots, uneven terrain, and horse poop. For a good mile, I was shuffling hay under my feet. And due to the fact the race didn't start until 8:30am and I had no food in my body, I became weak almost instantly. I really need to work on fueling and hydrating better for my runs, especially on race day. I was also still dealing with some chest congestion, which meant a lot of yucky coughing and clearing my throat.

The first mile of the race was relatively easy. It was on flat road and while most of the runners were ahead of me, I felt like I had a good pace. As much as I wanted to catch up to the other runners, I know I had to keep my own pace. I have this competitive nature that doesn't really match up to my running ability. It's a problem.

I took a break once I got past the first mile, but then we started running on the trail and it was tough. My ankles began hurting immediately, due to the uneven terrain and having to watch my step for overgrown roots and horse poop. I never feel like I got my groove back after that. 

It was a tough race and I'm trying to find solace in the fact that it was my first trail run and there were a lot of serious runners. I'm talking zero body fat, running 6-minute-mile-marathon serious runners. It was the first time I had ever felt intimidated at a race. I'm used to fun races like the Turkey Trot with more first-time runners and lots of walkers. I was out of my league at this race, shown with the fact I was quickly at the back of the pack within the first 15 seconds.

I started running again probably half a mile towards the end and really started hauling when I turned a corner and saw just 44:00 on the clock. It was a horrible, awful, miserable race but I WAS GOING TO PR! I was scared to look at my iPod Touch to see the time so I waited until I hit the finish line. My final time was 44:13, which is a good 41 seconds ahead of my previous PR. It makes me wonder what damage I could do to my PR on a flat, easy course. (Also, this course was more like 3.3 miles.)

I'm probably never going to do a trail run again. I didn't enjoy the trail at all, and couldn't even take in the scenery because I was so annoyed with all the mess. I know it was partly because I had never even walked on a trail like this and partly because I hadn't fueled correctly. Trail running is hard. And it's not for everyone.

My next race is on Thanksgiving, which will by my fifth Turkey Trot. Originally, we weren't going to do it but we have a sentimental value tied to this race. It's a nice way to get some activity in before a day of gorging. And I know the course by heart. I know that it's well-organized, with each mile marked, and plenty of spectator support (they even have bands playing through the course!). I never realized how much I love spectator support until the past few races I've run which has had barely any. And since I managed to PR on my first trail run, I'm pretty determined to hit below the 40-minute mark on this next one.

Have you ever run a trail run? If you have, did you like it? If not, would you ever (after my scary recap!)?

Exercising While Sick

Yesterday, I woke up feeling pretty crummy. I had a swollen throat (which is different from a scratchy throat, or a egg throat or a swallowing-feels-like-knives-slicing-my-throat. You know what I mean.) Shortness of breath, which is something I've been dealing with more and more, convincing me I have congenital heart failure. Or something like that. And a terrible, hacking couch that makes me sound like a smoker with a two-pack-a-day habit. The cough also makes my chest feel like it's going to explode. And a low-grade temperature, although I never really took my temperature but trust me, I felt hot.

I felt a little bit better after taking a hot shower and moving around, but I was still functioning at 75%. And I spent the entire day wondering whether or not I should exercise.

You see, I'm not addicted to exercise. (Yet?) I can make up a million excuses of why I can't exercise. I'm tired. I have too much homework. I'm sick. I'm having women problems. I need to spend some quality time with my dog. Anything and everything.

After my 10-hour day, the only thing I wanted to do was go home, cuddle with my dog, and take a nap. I was exhausted, my eyes were burning (which made me believe the culprit for this sickness was allergies. Yay.), and just felt crummy. But I researched about it and came to a disappointing conclusion: it is OK to exercise while sick.

I knew beforehand that the rule of thumb is anything involving the head means you can exercise. Anything involving the chest means no. (And yes, you can exercise when you have cramps. But I never do. Because cramps hurt and make you feel horrible. The end.) And since I was feeling slightly better, and perhaps because I wanted to write a blog post on exercising while sick, I went for a run. (Side note: it's also important to tone down the intensity when exercising while sick. Since my runs have the intensity of a knitting class, I decided to do a regular workout.)

I completed Week 6, Day 1 of Couch to 5K which was a horrible run. I got a side stitch almost immediately and only finished the intervals because my mom was running with me and giving me pep talks, such as "Unless you faint, puke, or die, keep running," and "Stand up and finish what you started!" It took a lot for me not to punch her in the face.

The result was a fairly awful run which made me doubt that I will ever have a natural love for the sport, as I do for napping. (Which is a sport, because you burn calories while doing so. Fact.) I was happy I finished it, but it really made me feel worse. I think I pushed myself too much and I'll probably do something much less strenuous tomorrow. (Like napping.)

What about you? What's your rule of thumb for exercising while sick?


Sources: x and x

It's Been A While

I didn't mean for my break from blogging to last as long as it did, but I must say I'm glad to be back. I needed to get away from my blog and writing for a while, away from a rigid three-day-a-week or five-day-a-week schedule to figure out where I want my blog to go. I feel more secure now.

A lot has happened in the past three weeks.

• I ran my sixth 5K the Thursday before Halloween. Since I was only on Week 3 of Couch to 5K, I wasn't expecting a great PR. I just hoped to run and enjoy my time there. I did that. I didn't set a new personal record. In fact, my time was the exact same time as my previous personal record, which I got from my 5K in April. 44:54. How I managed that, I'll never know. But since it beats the time of my 5K in September, I'll take it! I'm signed up for a trail run on November 21st and ready to smash that 44:54.
  
  
• My blog has changed. I was growing sick of my current design and needed a change. I contacted Designer Blogs about one of their premades and it was installed within a week! Check them out if you want a design. They do custom orders! I added a little race section to my sidebar, which includes my PR's (which are not all that impressive, but they are mine), as well as my upcoming races.
  
  
• I received a lovely letter from a blog friend that uplifted my spirits and made me realize why I have a blog. She mentioned some key facts that have helped me to figure out where I want my blog to go. She said all the things I had been thinking in the back of my mind but was too afraid to voice.
  
  
• I registered for my last semester ever this past week. Well, as an undergrad, although I'm 80% sure I'm not going to attempt grad school. The semester should be an easy one, a fun one, with very little stress. I'm taking Spanish II and Senior Seminar, which are both required. I also signed up for Twentieth Century Literature for my exit course (another required course) and Form and Technique of Fiction, which was the filler course I needed to keep my scholarship. I'm super excited about those last two classes. I think they're going to be fun!
  
  
• I decided to quit my internship. There were a lot of factors leading to this decision but suffice it to say, I'm at peace with it and it was something I had to do. I've only been working there for 3 hours on Wednesdays. My last day there will be November 17 and it will definitely be a bittersweet day.
  
  
• I recently became a contributing writer for the website, Blissfully Domestic. It's a fun little writing gig and allows me to let some creative juices flow. It also gives me a place to have my name in print online, which is always a plus. Check out my first article here, where I talk about writing.
  
  
• I have discovered that it's OK to spend a day or two without checking my Google Reader. The world won't end and the bloggers won't hate me. Sometimes, sanity is more important than popularity. That being said, I love reading blogs and there is so much I derive from your stories, tips, and inspiring notes. And I am never fully away from the blog world. It has captured me.
  
  
• I have oodles and oodles of blog post ideas floating through my head. I can't wait to share my recent epiphanies, funny stories, and moments. The break was much needed, but I also realized my blog is also much needed.

Couch to 5K: Week 1

I restarted Couch to 5K last Friday. This will be my fourth attempt since I usually ditch the plan after Week 4 or 5, thinking I can do it on my own. Which is true, I probably could, but I think the C25K plan is one of the best training plans I've seen. And since I'm still struggling to make it past 1 mile, I really want to see this to completion.

On Friday, I made the decision to just run. My plan was to run 3/4ths of a mile, walk to the 1-mile marker, and then run the 2nd mile. That didn't happen. Instead, I made it a little past 1/2 a mile before stopping. My legs were on fire. And I was really disappointed in myself, thinking running was "not for me" and a stupid decision. Then I thought of C25K and how it really eases you into the running game. I'm going to make it work this time.

I think my mind is getting warped by all the marathon posts I've been reading. Folks, one mile is a long way to run. That's 1,760 yards. Twelve whole minutes of running. (Well, more if you're like me.) While I may not be running a marathon, or even a 10K, in the near future, I need to focus more on the process.

The C25K plan has you running 3 days a week, doing the same interval pattern on these days. It ups the intensity each week. For Week 1, I started with a 5-minute warm-up and then began the intervals of jogging for 60 seconds, then walking for 90 seconds, for 20 minutes. The program ends with a 5-minute cool-down. This would usually take me 1 and 3/4 miles, and I would walk an extra 1.25 miles to round my miles out to 3.

Friday, my run went so smooth. I felt great, my pace was awesome, and I really felt like I was making a great decision to restart this program. (I also went for the run at 6pm.) On Saturday, I went to the park around noon and struggled a little bit more this time. It was a lot hotter and I had only eaten breakfast at that point, which I think had something to do with it. Tuesday was my last day on Week 1. I ran at 6pm and it was cool. I felt a cool breeze while I was running! It felt great, although I dealt with weird pain at the top of my right foot which made it harder. While it didn't hurt while I was running, it was awful pain when I started walking.

For the first 2 weeks, I'll be following the C25K app I have on my iTouch and then using the plan I found on Cool Running to run for distance, instead of time. The app only does time. My mom and I have been running at a park about a half hour away, because it's safe and the trail is marked perfectly. It's a 1-mile or 2-mile trail with markers for every quarter-mile. I've yet to find a better trail in my city.

I've been disappointed with my shoes thus far. I am still dealing with arch pain, although it's not as intense as before. And I'm once again dealing with shin splints. Again, they aren't as painful and I'm usually fine once I stop running. And on Tuesday, I began experiencing pain on the top of my right foot up to my ankle. I tightened my shoes, hoping it would help which it somewhat did. My only problem with keeping my shoes tight is that it makes my feet go numb, which I'm guessing isn't a good thing. I'm not sure how much longer I should give them before returning them for another pair. These shoes (with custom insoles) cost me over $200, so I kind of want them to be gold on my feet. The fact that I'm still experiencing a whole lot of pain is starting to annoy me.

How did you get started with running? Have you ever used Couch to 5K?

Halfsies?

Lately, I've begun to question if I can really pull off this half-marathon. While my training is going pretty good and I am surprising myself so much with how far I can run, I feel like I am going to die after just running 2 miles. I do it, but the going gets really hard. I'm not aiming to place or set any great records, but I do want to run most of the race. I know I have 3 more months, but it's only going to get tougher from here.

Another issue I have is the price of the race. I haven't registered yet and the price now until race day is $100. That is a lot of money for me considering I have credit cards to pay, school tuition due in October, books to buy for school, a parking pass to purchase... I really don't know where I'm going to come up with another hundred bucks. Add to the fact that I really need to buy new running shoes as the ones I have now are literally falling apart and sometimes causing me shin splints, I don't know what to do.

This decision is made even harder by the fact that Caitlin, my go-to girl for running advice (even if she doesn't know it!), says she wouldn't pay more than $60 for a half-marathon. Am I paying too much for this one? It's not even benefiting any type of great cause!

My training schedule is going pretty good, all things considering. I've been able to complete my runs, but they are hard. A part of me wants to work towards running a 5K in September, a 10K in November or December, and a half-marathon in March or April. It seems like it might be a more normal racing plan for someone who hasn't done many races and doesn't consider herself a runner. (And currently talks about herself in third person.)

In a way, quitting this half-marathon training seems like another failure to check off on my list of Things I've Started But Never Finished. I make these grand plans of things I'm going to do (get to bed at a decent hour, make straight A's, lose weight, write a novel), but never seem them come to fruition. I know it doesn't mean I'm quitting running and I'll still be training to run a 5K, but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Then again, I don't know if this was just an insane plan to give myself - me, someone who has never been able to complete even a 5K. Maybe it would be easier to ease myself into running.

Tell me: what do you think? Should I just put the half-marathon on hold until Spring? Or find a way to pay the race fee and get over myself?

Training Plan

I've been training for my half-marathon in November for just about a week now and I must say, training is going better than expected. Of course, I’ve only had to run a mile-and-a-half for the four days I’ve had runs scheduled, but I’m still surprised I’ve managed to run that distance after being such a lazy bum at running for the past few years.

I thought I would take time today to detail out my training schedule for the next 4 months so you can see what it looks like and give me advice. Like I mentioned before, I'm using Hal Higdon's 5K and half-marathon plan for the next 19 weeks and the schedule isn't as overwhelming as I thought it would be. The longest run I do is 10 miles and I have until November to work up to that.

Coming up with the training plan was incredibly hard and time-consuming. July and most of August was pretty easy and then I had to factor in school and my internship. I redid August-November probably 3-4 times because I don't want to set myself up to fail. I want to do everything in my power to insure I'll be able to train for this successfully and not work myself too hard.

So here's my plan, complete with rest days and cross-training. I'm not as concerned as fitting in cross-training as I am with my runs. I am 110% committed to getting in the 3-4 runs a week, but can also use those cross-training days as a rest day if need be. I really don't have a problem with taking rest days and listening to my body. That's not a big issue for me. The big issue is deciding if I really need a rest day, or if I'm just being lazy.

I have the plan written on a printed-out calendar because I just need a visual representation of everything.





  


 
Some notes:

• NMTZ = No More Trouble Zones, a workout DVD by Jillian Michaels. (AKA: HELL!)
• I followed Hal Higdon’s plan with a few switches, including making sure I had my long runs on Saturday and Sunday. I know I should give myself a shorter run on Saturday and my longest on Sunday, but it just didn’t work with my schedule. Also, I took off the last week of 5K training because I only have 19 weeks until my half, not 20 as I had previously thought.
• Once I school starts back up on August 23rd, my schedule gets a little crazy. (But not as crazy as Spring semester! Yay!) Basically, I tried to schedule my workouts according to what my day at school looked like. And I didn’t want to overwhelm myself.
• Bike/yoga/elliptical relates to cross-training, which Higdon recommends.
• When I start the half training, I’ll be doing 4 runs every other week. On Higdon’s schedule, he gives the option of doing a run or cross-training once a week so I just decided to rotate weeks when I would do one or the other.
• My mom, whose training for a marathon, is running this half-marathon with me. She checked her training schedule to find out she has to run 21 miles on November 21st. I find this extremely hilarious!

I’d love any feedback you guys can give me on the schedule. Did I make it too easy, too hard, just right? Do you have any tips for my long runs? Am I totally crazy for doing this?!

Wherein I Do Something Crazy

I think it's pretty safe to say I'm not a runner. For the most part, I don't enjoy it save a few rare runs where I feel awesome before, during, and after. It takes everything in me to lace up my shoes and hit the road. And I fail terribly at beating the mind game.

So what I'm going to say next it going to sound a little crazy.

I'm signing up to run a half-marathon in November.

Did you get that, Interwebs? I. AM. SIGNING. UP. TO. RUN. A. HALF. MARATHON. IN. NOVEMBER.

Hello, who is this girl? I can barely run one mile and I want to shoot for 13 in just 5 short months? I have to be crazy.

Crazy as I am, I'm going to do this. I saw a commercial on TV advertising a half-marathon in my city on November 21st and an idea started forming in my head of signing up. Never in my life have I thought I would want to run a half-marathon. I don't have the same love and passion for running as my mom does, or as many runners I've come across do. I do it because it's good exercise.

But I was drawn to this idea. I was drawn to being able to say I'm training for a half-marathon, run it with a bunch of women, and say I've run a half-marathon. The goal isn't to run for the entire 13.1 miles. The goal is to train successfully and do the best I can, even if it means frequent walking breaks.

There is a part of me that's excited and a part of me that's nervous. Running a half-marathon is no joke and I think I just want to prove to myself that I can do it. Who says I can't run a half-marathon? Nobody but myself. I'm my own worst enemy, giving myself limits and telling myself I can't do it. The less vocal but more confident side of me wants to banish that voice forever. If I can do this, I can do anything. I just have to prove it to myself first.

I'm using Hal Higdon's plans for training for your first 5K and training for your first half-marathon. The 5K plan is 8 weeks long and the half plan is 12 weeks long. My half-marathon is 20 weeks away. Perfect, no? So I'll be starting off with his 5K plan this week, with a few tweaks of adding my own exercise in on rest days.

I still think I'm absolutely crazy for doing this. But I also think I'm incredibly brave and I'm just going to hold on to that image of me crossing the finish line throughout the next 5 months to keep me motivated.

But I'm really going to need new running shoes now.