Time flies...I will too someday!

My absence of posting does not indicate my absence in training! I've actually been sticking to it!  Since recovering from nasty head congestion, I've maintained my same training program, with minimal adjustments.  I'm excited to share a few exciting things today!

1) I SIGNED UP FOR THE DETROIT WOMEN'S HALF MARATHON!!

Detroit Women's Half Marathon

It's Sunday, 9/22/13. 61 days away from today!!  As you recall, the longest official race I've done is a handful of 5Ks.  This is huge to me!  I'm encouraging you to sign up! Seems like it will be a wonderful event and a supportive environment to promote your own health and well-being.

2) Per my training schedule, on 07/13/13 I ran 5.15 miles in 01:01:50.  Average pace: 12:01!  While I appreciate it's not the fastest pace, it is the farthest distance I've ever run to date, and was able to run the whole distance without stopping to walk!  I am beyond thrilled with that.  My workout buddy and I decided to run the local high school track for this one.  At first I enjoyed it.  I was able to leave my keys, water bottle, chews, right on the sidelines and swing by and pick it up when I needed it, freeing myself from the cumbersome weight.  However, after several laps, began to feel like a hamster on a wheel.  To be honest, I was concerned about GI issues and wanted to make sure bathrooms were nearby for "just in case"!  This was a safe way to practice building my distance.  

3) One-upping myself, per my training schedule, on 07/21/13, I ran 6.14 miles in 01:11:44.  Average pace 11:41!  Wait: whaaaaat?!  I went one my further and cut down on my pace?!  It was a real confidence builder yesterday...for the first time I started thinking, "Hey...I might really be able to do this Half Marathon!"  I was planning to do a run/walk combination for the Half.  After running the whole 5 miles last week, this week I did not allow myself to slow down to walking until after 5 miles, since I already had evidence I could do at least that much.  At mile 5, I wasn't sore or in pain, so decided to continue on.  Alas, I made it...and then some!  For this long run, I decided to run the perimeter of my neighborhood, which is 1.27 miles.  This way, I could simply count down from 5 laps...mentally it seemed reasonable!  I enjoyed this approach much more than the track last week.  The track certainly has its uses, but I don't think it's distance running... Also, I've been researching energy supplements.  For this run, 30 minutes beforehand I ate a Honey Stinger Vanilla Waffle.  The reviews I read were right: it has a good taste and texture, without it being too sweet or heavy on the stomach.  At mile three I tried the Honey Stinger Cherry Energy Chews.  Again, they were good tasting and not heavy on the stomach.  My issue was trying to eat while on the run.  It's the first time I've really attempted anything like that and was a little awkward with the package...as well as learning to chew and swallow while maintaining my breathing! HA! I can just imagine what a sight I was...  The point is, I think they worked!  I mean, it shaved 20 seconds of my pace/mile, on a longer distance, I didn't feel "the wall," and I didn't have digestive issues.  To me, this is success!  :)

My workout buddy ran the 5-miler slower than I...and the 6-miler faster than I! My runner's high wasn't enough to dismiss the fury in my belly over being beaten! To be clear, I am not proud of my reaction.  I was feeling so good having covered that 6 miles, to come home and read the posts that my friend had done more miles than I...and faster!  UGH!  Since we are at about the same level of ability right now, I considered this to be my deficit.  This is a mental challenge for myself, and always has been; not feeling good enough, lack of confidence in ability, comparing myself against others...  Of course, I immediately got myself in check, and recognized how awesome my friend's efforts were as well.  I also refocused my attention to recognizing I still ran 6.1 miles yesterday, and can still be very proud of that.  :)

So, that's a lot for the couple of weeks I haven't touched base! It's been a welcome distraction...to not getting pregnant.  I mentioned before some of the reasons I felt I needed to embrace my running and training for this Half Marathon.  Since I'm not pregnant, and not in fertility treatments to get pregnant...this is something I have in my control.  It's so validating to get some positive feedback from my efforts, I can't even describe it to you.  To go through so much effort during fertility treatments, to have it essentially fail every time...this was a much needed reminder that good things do still come from hard work.  It's probably because it's about time for a visit from Aunt Flo that I'm feeling more emotional about it this week, but I've committed to running through it this month, instead of crying in bed with cookies.  *blush* 

Have you used running to cope with anything?

What milestones have you reached lately?

A mini-goal, accomplished!

So, this nasty cold/sinus/whatever is hanging on with the force of my former self holding a peanut butter cookie! Bad cough, sore throat, and some weird sinus stuff.  So, guess how many times I worked out over the holiday weekend? Riiiight...not able to follow my own modified version of my training program.

Here's what I did do tho:

Friday, July 5, 2013
     Activity: Run
     Distance: 2.40 miles
     Time: 30:03
     Avg. Pace: 12:30/mile

Saturday, July 6, 2013
     Activity: Trail Hiking
     Distance: 3.47 miles
     Time: 1:03
     Avg. Pace: 22:30/mile
           (not bad with my 3-year-old in tow!)

Not at all what I had planned, but I'm happy I got some activity in, especially with this illness & heat! Whew!

I was so worried about getting behind on my training program, that I committed myself to doing last Saturday's scheduled 4-mile long run, today.  I've never run over 3.1... I DID IT!!

4.0 miles in 47:44! Average pace 11:56!

My longest ever with one of my faster paces; I'll take it!  Once again I feel invincible.  Again, I'll try to carry this feeling through this week of training because as excited as I am today, I know I have another mini-goal this Saturday of 5 MILES...WHEW!

Hope everyone had a safe, happy, and got some miles in this holiday weekend!

I made it over the hill, yet now I'm sliding back.

OH NO!  After such a successful race on Saturday, I really did harness that feeling and emotion to put into my training program this week...and was looking forward to it!

Alas...illness set in.  I believe it to be some kind of sinus issue with chest congestion.  I haven't been to the doctor yet, feeling I should be able to combat it myself, introducing increased Vitamin C, Zinc, Magnesium, fluids, and eucalyptus salve on my sinuses and chest.   I don't smell very sexy, but my raspy voice has appeal, I suppose.  ;)

I've had to take two days in a row off now.  I have this whirlwind of feelings and emotions ranging from anxiety about "losing" what I've recently accomplished, guilt because my training program will know I've had to skip out, sad because I'm honestly sick, and...a familiar ol' feeling of, "See?  I told you so."  That's a tough one to stand up against; this idea that I'm not really athletic, that just because I got through a couple 5Ks doesn't make me a real runner, and there was really no way I would sustain a 16-week training program to do something as monumental as a Half Marathon.

As the universe would have it, I came across very timely articles and blogs regarding the mental aspect of running being so much more demanding than the physical aspect.  With that in mind, I'm marching on.  I have figured out how to adjust my training schedule this week to accommodate my 4-mile run this weekend, even around camping.  I am re-training my 38-year-old brain to believe positively, and come to terms with we are training because I am a runner, in sickness and in health.  And we are running the Detroit Women's Half Marathon...in 81 more days! :)"THE

 KEY IS THAT I CONTROL MY LIFE: MY LIFE DOESN'T CONTROL ME" - GABRIEL

Small pleasures = big success!

I DID IT!!!

I finished the 5K race in 34:57, a huge accomplishment for me! AND, 12 whole minutes faster than last year! HAHA!  I felt invincible after.  I am trying to harness this feeling and carry it through the next several weeks of training.  It was just such validation to me that my hard work is making a positive impact!

In addition, my 3-year-old daughter (with the support of her daddy, of course), also finished her first 5K in 1:03!  He didn't carry her for any of it! Her face running across the finish line was glowing, happy, and unmatched by any other experience.  She can't wait to race again, she says. :)

As for me...I'm elated.  I'm actually bummed my training program scheduled a rest day tomorrow! But, I remained focused and am enjoying planning my training around weekends away, events, and other things that could get in the way.  Helps me feel I'm "doing" something to prepare! Soon... I'm officially going to register for the Detroit Women's Half Marathon.  I visit their site almost daily, reading the same information, but getting increasingly more excited nonetheless.  

Is it weird that in some way...I still cannot believe I'm going to do this?? HA!

5K Eve...

It's here:  the one-year anniversary of the very first race I ever ran.  The "Run The Plank 5K, 3 Miles of Faith."  Appropriately titled, as last year I thought I would die trying to finish it.  I remember in my "training" I was still at the Run 4 min/Walk 2 min approach.  I'm surprised I didn't run into more people, as when I was running I was staring at my watch willing those 4 minutes to go by faster!

This year is different, though.  I have finished 35-minute runs (still jogs, really) without stopping to walk, but...my fears are getting the best of me and I'm doubting if I can finish tomorrow without stopping.  That, as well as my time, is really my goal for this race.  Last year's race, as I've mentioned before, was 46:43.  Certainly I'll come in under that this year...I just really hope it's under 35:00.  That'd be kind of aggressive for me, but...it's my desire anyway.  Last weekend I ran 3.2 miles in 35:11, but had paused for 2 minutes, so...does that count?? At any rate, I'm truly excited for this race.  The fact that I'm even looking forward to it means I'm doing better than last year, for goodness sake!

I read recently of the importance of your mantra to get you through to the end.  Runner's World wrote an article (The Magic of Mantras) with a formula to create your own positive, inspiring mantra if you don't already have one.  Do you?  I really want a meaningful phrase, but felt kind of silly behind it because it's difficult for me to still believe... Even the simplest, "You've got this! You can do this!" begs the question..."Can I?  Are you sure??"  So.  I'm in the market for something that'll get me through, potentially highlight some hidden confidence...and well, make me a believer.  :)

I came across another article chronicling a woman who would remind herself to "run for those who can't."  I liked that one.  My grandma can't run, barely walk in fact.  I think about how she would like to move as fast as I am believing is my slow.  It reminds me I have the power to keep my feet moving forward, and to bear down and get it done!

I'm off for my good night's sleep in preparation for tomorrow! Good night!

Consistency in training is key...but is consistency in training programs??

Ok, so I wasn't feeling the Jeff Galloway program for training for a half marathon.  It's nothing personal against him or the program, but maybe I'm just too new at all of this to jump right into it.  What I felt I was missing was the type of specific instruction for which I was looking.

For example, when you tell me to "Run 30 Minutes," I need to know:

1. Pace
2. Can I run/walk?
3. Is there a distance for which I should be striving?

When you say "Cross-train," I need to know:

1. Um...what do you recommend?
2. Is it balls-to-the-wall the whole 30 minutes, or....?
3. Does lifting weights count?

See?  Specific.  I need specific.  The thing is, I just don't trust myself yet.  I need to make it dummy-proof (rather, ME proof!)  So, after much research (again, I wish research burned more calories), I've decided to change to a program issued by "Walk Jog Run."  It is very user friendly, and you guessed it: very specific in its training guidelines/instruction.  It does have an app for $4.99 to map runs, and the reviews were 4.5/5.0 stars.  However, upon further review noticed users complained because the actual training programs are an additional $5.99.  I've chosen the cheap route for now (since I have commitment issues), and am working strictly off their website (free), and seems to be adequate support for now.  Here's the link for the Half Marathon training program.

Walk Jog Run Beginner 1/2 Marathon Training Program

What do you think?

What do you use?

Change of scenery

I scour the internet for validation that I'm not the only one that has some "bad" runs, left feeling uncoordinated, out of sync, and at the mercy of the devil on my shoulder ready to taunt me out of running at all times.  As it turns out, it seems everyone has a few of these days every now and again! Somehow, call it "misery loves company," I find this comforting and as if I'm still on the right track.

The most positive thing I took away from my research (again, I wish research burned more calories as much as I put into it.  ;)), was no matter how bad I feel my run went, it's absolutely, 100% more than I would have done before, and that alone makes it better.  Awesome!

To help shake out of this rut, I'm looking forward to camping in Ludington, MI this week.  Running the beach, the trails...to the ice cream shoppe! HA! I intend to try some "naked" running, that is, running without technology, while there.  Hope to post some of the pics of the breath-taking landscape, too, to reflect on should I find myself in a similar rut in the future. Planning forward! This would be my first vacation ever that I've looked forward to doing anything this active.  AND my family is just as excited with the anticipation of all of it! Couldn't feel better...

In the back of my head, I have that I'm still "training" for that Half in September...I haven't signed up, for fear of the accountability, but...so far my heart is still in it. ;)