5 Weeks into the training for my 2nd half marathon, and I am feeling great. This passed weekend I ran in a 4 mile race with an official time of 37:34 which is an average pace of 9:24. I have to stop at think that one year ago I couldn't even run an entire mile without stopping and at my first 5K last April my pace was 11:38 (finish time of 36:03). I can almost run 4 miles in the time I could run 3.1. I feel so much happier and healthier one year later.
Also this weekend I completed a 10 mile run on Sunday. Again, it is crazy that one year ago I couldn't run a mile and now I ran 4 miles in a race one day and completed 10 miles the next. My average pace on my long 10 mile run was 10:22- faster than my 5K pace a year ago--and on a training run! I feel so blessed that I am able to get out and run and continue to improve in my health and athletic abilities. I will never be the fastest person out there, and I will never win a gold medal at the olympics, but I am just happy that I can get out and run.
Tomorrow I have to go have a basal cell skin cancer removed. The doctor said it will need stitches, so I will probably have to take a week off from my running and training. I did my pace work last night at the track and am going to get my long run in today, and then a short recovery run in the morning before I go to the doctor. I hope this week off doesn't affect my training. I think I'll be okay, since I have stuck to the schedule and even done extra as far as the distance runs.
I still find myself constantly thinking about where and when I will do my next run. I am constantly searching through new races. We are signed up for a 7K in March, a half in April and a half in May, so far. My mom and sis are considering trying their first half in June, so if they do I will run that with them. I have started looking into the fall and am considering either 2 half marathons or a half and a full. I have to decide if I will be able to handle training along with our month long trip through Europe.
Time to get ready for work. Happy running! Tonight I'm planning on an 8 miler:)
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
A Year of Runs in 2011
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| My first 10K at St. Charles Community College. April 2011 |
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| My first 5K Crusaders 5K O'Fallon, MO March 2011 |
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| Mom placed in her age division! Quail Ridge Run for Your Life 5K June 2011 |
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| Aimee and I both placed in the Athena Division! Run for Your Life 5K Quail Ridge Park June 2011 |
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| Run for Your Life 5K Quail Ridge Park June 2011 |
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| Hot Chocolate 15K Chicago, IL November 2011 |
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| Dave placed in his Age division! Run for Your Life 5K Quail Ridge Park June 2011 |
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| Fight Like a Firefighter 5K September 2011 We ran in the rain, and I finished in 29 minutes! |
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| Mom, Dad and Anna in their first 5K race. The course was accidently shortened, so it was around 2.5 miles instead. Chesterfield, MO May 2011 |
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| Rock and Roll Half Marathon St. Louis, MO October 23, 2011 |
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| Anna at the 5K June 2011 |
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| 5K and 10K Run at The Mills I finished my 10K in 59 minutes! Aimee's first 10K. Erik ran with Grandpa in the 5K. Grandma placed again in her age division in the 5K! October 2011 |
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| Master's Run for Remembrance 5 mile run Mom, Dad and Erik's longest distance! November 2011 |
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| Dave and I the night before the Rock and Roll Marathon. Dave completed the full marathon and I completed the half. October 2011 |
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| Run for the North Pole 5K We had to run dressed like Santa! December 2011 |
Two Weeks into Training
Two weeks in following the Intermediate Training Plan by Hal Higdon for the Half Marathon. I am changing the long runs, though. I increased the long run distances in the beginning and am following more of an increase/cut back approach. After comparing several different training programs, it seems this is a common approach to the long runs. Also, since I was already able to run at longer distances, I didn't see the point of cutting back to where the plan started.
The weather has been fabulous for this time of year, which has made it easier to get in all of the runs. I ran one run on the treadmill at my friend's gym, and I really did not enjoy running inside on a treadmill. I think I don't feel like I accomplished as much because I didn't have the scenery going by, and I didn't brave the elements and the hills. Silly, I know, but that's what I enjoy about running outside. You see where you are going and where you have been. You see the challenge ahead of you (a distance to get to, a hill to conquer) and then after you make it, you feel a sense of accomplishment.
Week 1: 3 easy 3 mile runs, 1 interval workout (5 400's at 5K pace alternated with 400 recovery jogs), and 1 long run (7 miles)
Week 2: 2 easy 3 mile runs, 1 tempo run (30 minutes-- hit a fastest pace of 8:15!), today is a 3 mile pace run (at half marathon pace), and tomorrow I plan on completing an 8 mile run.
Feeling good about the runs so far. Printed off the training pace zones off the McMillan Running Calculator. Some of the training paces seem slower than what I feel like running, but I'm trying to stick a little closer to the recommended training zones to see if it truly improves my running better than just running the pace that I feel like running each day. Sometimes, though, a certain pace just feels right on a certain day. Not quite to the year mark of when I started running, so I'm still learning. I have been reading Runner's World, Hal Higdon's Mararthon training book, and various information on the web. I love that I feel calmer and less stressed. When I visited the doctor for a check up, she was pleased with my weight loss and my blood pressure is the best it has been! My blood pressure used to run up near the boarderline range and was even in the high range when I was pregnant with each of the children. I don't remember the last time my numbers were this good!
Dave continues to do the P90X training program and running at the same time. That is more than I want to do at this time. I did the P90X for one month again, but phased it out as I started the running program. I know I need to work in some strength training and yoga or stretching, but there are only so many hours in the day and sometimes I just want to relax. I sometimes feel like I'm not doing enough because I'm not working out as much as Dave, but then I look at how far I have come in the last year, and I think I'm doing alright. Looking back through pics from the last year, I can see the transformation I have undergone. I feel like a healthier, happier person than I was a year ago. I'm just sad that we had to say, "Goodbye" to my mother-in-law along the way. As I was becoming healthier, I saw her losing her health. Dave and I are trying to encourage my father-in-law to stay healthy and take care of himself, but he doesn't think it matters anymore. I'm worried about what the future holds for him if he won't do the things he needs to do to take care of his health. I think he always thought he'd go first, so he never pictured his life alone. Hoping we can help him through this difficult transition time and find life again on the other side. I think taking up running was a life saver for Dave and I. We have had a focus and a release to help us through the life changes going on around us.
Looking forward to the next 10 weeks and completing the next half marathon with a better time. Then a second half marathon 5 weeks later. Hoping to beat a time of 2:10 in at least one of the two half marathons.
The weather has been fabulous for this time of year, which has made it easier to get in all of the runs. I ran one run on the treadmill at my friend's gym, and I really did not enjoy running inside on a treadmill. I think I don't feel like I accomplished as much because I didn't have the scenery going by, and I didn't brave the elements and the hills. Silly, I know, but that's what I enjoy about running outside. You see where you are going and where you have been. You see the challenge ahead of you (a distance to get to, a hill to conquer) and then after you make it, you feel a sense of accomplishment.
Week 1: 3 easy 3 mile runs, 1 interval workout (5 400's at 5K pace alternated with 400 recovery jogs), and 1 long run (7 miles)
Week 2: 2 easy 3 mile runs, 1 tempo run (30 minutes-- hit a fastest pace of 8:15!), today is a 3 mile pace run (at half marathon pace), and tomorrow I plan on completing an 8 mile run.
Feeling good about the runs so far. Printed off the training pace zones off the McMillan Running Calculator. Some of the training paces seem slower than what I feel like running, but I'm trying to stick a little closer to the recommended training zones to see if it truly improves my running better than just running the pace that I feel like running each day. Sometimes, though, a certain pace just feels right on a certain day. Not quite to the year mark of when I started running, so I'm still learning. I have been reading Runner's World, Hal Higdon's Mararthon training book, and various information on the web. I love that I feel calmer and less stressed. When I visited the doctor for a check up, she was pleased with my weight loss and my blood pressure is the best it has been! My blood pressure used to run up near the boarderline range and was even in the high range when I was pregnant with each of the children. I don't remember the last time my numbers were this good!
Dave continues to do the P90X training program and running at the same time. That is more than I want to do at this time. I did the P90X for one month again, but phased it out as I started the running program. I know I need to work in some strength training and yoga or stretching, but there are only so many hours in the day and sometimes I just want to relax. I sometimes feel like I'm not doing enough because I'm not working out as much as Dave, but then I look at how far I have come in the last year, and I think I'm doing alright. Looking back through pics from the last year, I can see the transformation I have undergone. I feel like a healthier, happier person than I was a year ago. I'm just sad that we had to say, "Goodbye" to my mother-in-law along the way. As I was becoming healthier, I saw her losing her health. Dave and I are trying to encourage my father-in-law to stay healthy and take care of himself, but he doesn't think it matters anymore. I'm worried about what the future holds for him if he won't do the things he needs to do to take care of his health. I think he always thought he'd go first, so he never pictured his life alone. Hoping we can help him through this difficult transition time and find life again on the other side. I think taking up running was a life saver for Dave and I. We have had a focus and a release to help us through the life changes going on around us.
Looking forward to the next 10 weeks and completing the next half marathon with a better time. Then a second half marathon 5 weeks later. Hoping to beat a time of 2:10 in at least one of the two half marathons.
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