I'm a little behind on blogging, but be assured, I am on a schedule. A half-marathon training schedule that is.
I was never a runner, per say. Sure, I ran during volleyball, soccer and basketball practice during high school, but cross-country was the one sport my high school offered that I did not participate in. Trust me, that was not an accident. I sporadically worked my way up to three or four miles on an off throughout the years mostly because my now-husband IS a runner. (He is that annoying person who sits on the couch for six months and then goes out one day and runs six miles.) We usually ran together and it really can't be beat for burning calories. Still, it was not my chosen form of exercise and I never made it a long-term habit.
I have always admired runners. Really I admire any athlete who is dedicated enough to push past mediocrity. I also have a couple of close friends who have ran marathons, half-marathons and triathlons. Wow! Last month all of my curiosity, admiration and desire ignited and I decided to train for a half-marathon.
The half-marathon race is at the end of September. My husband is training with me, but I will be racing alone. He's stubborn and has his own reasons and I'm ok with running on my own. I am following Hal Higdon's plan. We have stuck to the schedule exactly and the order/routine works for me. Yesterday we ran seven miles. I am a little amazed with myself since the longest I ever ran before this month was four miles. It wasn't easy and there were a few times towards the end where I wondered why I am doing this, but at the same time, I am loving it. I am loving what my body is capable of and I am loving those extra calories I get to eat! I am still in awe that I ran for over an hour straight.
I am also running an IronGirl 10k in early September with my best friend. She was even less of a runner than I was and she's training like crazy. I am so proud of her and can't wait to race together in a couple weeks.
I'm discovering that upcoming races are great motivation. I'm already planning what I will be tackling after the September races are over. What about you - are you running any races this fall?
I was never a runner, per say. Sure, I ran during volleyball, soccer and basketball practice during high school, but cross-country was the one sport my high school offered that I did not participate in. Trust me, that was not an accident. I sporadically worked my way up to three or four miles on an off throughout the years mostly because my now-husband IS a runner. (He is that annoying person who sits on the couch for six months and then goes out one day and runs six miles.) We usually ran together and it really can't be beat for burning calories. Still, it was not my chosen form of exercise and I never made it a long-term habit.
I have always admired runners. Really I admire any athlete who is dedicated enough to push past mediocrity. I also have a couple of close friends who have ran marathons, half-marathons and triathlons. Wow! Last month all of my curiosity, admiration and desire ignited and I decided to train for a half-marathon.
The half-marathon race is at the end of September. My husband is training with me, but I will be racing alone. He's stubborn and has his own reasons and I'm ok with running on my own. I am following Hal Higdon's plan. We have stuck to the schedule exactly and the order/routine works for me. Yesterday we ran seven miles. I am a little amazed with myself since the longest I ever ran before this month was four miles. It wasn't easy and there were a few times towards the end where I wondered why I am doing this, but at the same time, I am loving it. I am loving what my body is capable of and I am loving those extra calories I get to eat! I am still in awe that I ran for over an hour straight.
I am also running an IronGirl 10k in early September with my best friend. She was even less of a runner than I was and she's training like crazy. I am so proud of her and can't wait to race together in a couple weeks.
I'm discovering that upcoming races are great motivation. I'm already planning what I will be tackling after the September races are over. What about you - are you running any races this fall?
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