The 13 Mile Adventure! Week 1
Ok, so most of you probably don't know but I'm training for a half-marathon!!!! Insane, I know. BELIEVE ME, I know! My legs are dying!!!! lol One of my lifelong goals is to run in a marathon. Since most of can agree I'm not exactly the stereotypical long-distance runner, I figured I would be best served by trying to tackle a half-marathon for starters before I try to chase down the big monster. So I got myself a book (The Nonrunner's Guide to Running a Marathon for Women...It's great! I highly recommend it for the sheer sarcastic humor alone.) and read the whole thing in a matter of days. I started training a couple weeks ago physically, but one of the things the author suggests is keeping a journal or blog of your experiences through this several-hundred-mile journey. And viola! So for those of you who love to laugh at me (you know who you are), enjoy! :D
I originally chose a race in Austin (yes, Daniel, you have to haul your butt out to watch me if I friggin come to Austin) on April 4th. This date was selected back before the book reading and training began, when I was researching on the web and found a 13-week training schedule for a half-marathon. Yeah. Who's freakin idea was that? The person who planned that schedule must have been a lifetime marathoner who only needed 13 weeks to prepare for the half-monster. Ok, let's just go ahead and admit that I most likely do not fall into the category of people who are capable of training to run 13 miles in 13 weeks. My book had a schedule that is 20 weeks long and that put me closer to the middle of May for D-Day. But we all know also that I enjoy a challenge and I love to beat the odds that say my big booty probably won't be able to haul itself 13 miles with only 13 weeks of training. So though I AM trying my best (to die in training, that is) to be ready for ATX on the 4th, it's beginning to look as though May may be more realistic.
On to the physical training. Aka self-inflicted torture. I believe the appropriate term for this condition would be massochism. After a little over a week of training on my own (20-30 minute run/walks for three or four days) I found the place in my book schedule that would set me up to run on April 4th. This put me starting at week seven. Which put me starting with three miles of running/walking. Today I am up to five. Five miles. I know. You don't believe me. But it's true. I did it today and Monday. My to-date mile count since I officially started training is 17. Impressive huh? And my calves, thighs, knees, feet, and ankles are aching to prove it.
But the upside is that I have already experienced some 'proud of me' moments. I went from near-couch potato to running an average of 4 miles a day. I have found the trick to dieting: Make yourself run 5 miles and you WILL eat better. That junk food rides heavy even after several hours and provides zero energy. Even when I was playing soccer I didn't really notice the effect food had on my energy level and my ability to perform well. Man, if only I had! Had I eaten better it probably would have helped me out, and I needed all the help I could get lol. Even though this week has been hard and I know it will only get more difficult, I'm really looking forward to the whole experience of this half-marathon.
Stay tuned for more updates on this crazy experiment.
I originally chose a race in Austin (yes, Daniel, you have to haul your butt out to watch me if I friggin come to Austin) on April 4th. This date was selected back before the book reading and training began, when I was researching on the web and found a 13-week training schedule for a half-marathon. Yeah. Who's freakin idea was that? The person who planned that schedule must have been a lifetime marathoner who only needed 13 weeks to prepare for the half-monster. Ok, let's just go ahead and admit that I most likely do not fall into the category of people who are capable of training to run 13 miles in 13 weeks. My book had a schedule that is 20 weeks long and that put me closer to the middle of May for D-Day. But we all know also that I enjoy a challenge and I love to beat the odds that say my big booty probably won't be able to haul itself 13 miles with only 13 weeks of training. So though I AM trying my best (to die in training, that is) to be ready for ATX on the 4th, it's beginning to look as though May may be more realistic.
On to the physical training. Aka self-inflicted torture. I believe the appropriate term for this condition would be massochism. After a little over a week of training on my own (20-30 minute run/walks for three or four days) I found the place in my book schedule that would set me up to run on April 4th. This put me starting at week seven. Which put me starting with three miles of running/walking. Today I am up to five. Five miles. I know. You don't believe me. But it's true. I did it today and Monday. My to-date mile count since I officially started training is 17. Impressive huh? And my calves, thighs, knees, feet, and ankles are aching to prove it.
But the upside is that I have already experienced some 'proud of me' moments. I went from near-couch potato to running an average of 4 miles a day. I have found the trick to dieting: Make yourself run 5 miles and you WILL eat better. That junk food rides heavy even after several hours and provides zero energy. Even when I was playing soccer I didn't really notice the effect food had on my energy level and my ability to perform well. Man, if only I had! Had I eaten better it probably would have helped me out, and I needed all the help I could get lol. Even though this week has been hard and I know it will only get more difficult, I'm really looking forward to the whole experience of this half-marathon.
Stay tuned for more updates on this crazy experiment.
posted by Heather at
6:59 PM
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