NINE WEEKS TO GO!!

I am happy to say my training is going well, and I'm really looking forward to the actual event of the half marathon on October 28th. Like Emily (see her last post) I am also with the Waco group who does the Galloway method (run-walk). I had my reservations about it at first. I thought it would surely make one much slower, but believe me, it doesn't. It saves your legs so you can keep up the pace in the long run. I did 10 miles on Saturday, and felt really good up until about the last mile (at which point I just had to put my head down and just keep moving). The other good thing is the people I run with are total nuts and we end up laughing about the weirdest stuff. That can be bad, though, if you are laughing and out of breathe from running at the same time!

Galloway Way

Well, I made the 8 miles! I ran with the Waco Galloway group for the first time, and I am not sure I would have made it through the distance without them. That group has been on a structured training schedule together for several weeks, but they were very nice to let me join in a little late. The Galloway method of combining walking and jogging made the whole distance much more beareable, plus it was a lot of fun to have a group of people to run with. I alternated looking forward to and dreading the beep of the watch counting our minutes as we switched back and forth from walking and running. Having the group meant I could stop focusing on the details (where are we going, how much further) and really just focus on the running. Very nice.

Change of Scenery... Same Pace

I was in Galveston for a couple of days last weekend, and had a great run on the sea wall! I am really glad I made that trip last week... I think it might not be running weather down there this weekend. It was really nice to be able to run in some new scenery, even though the waves were a little low. I have heard there are benefits to actually running on the sand, but since I am still counting completion as a success, I decided not to push it. I am looking forward to my longest run yet this weekend... 8 miles! It will definitely be a challenge, but I am excited for it.

Picking up speed

I have run 13 miles this week. This is the most I have run in 4 or 5 months. I have a few sore spots but the slow steady increase in my training over the past few weeks have made the difference. And, remarkably, I have run every bit of it. I remember last year struggling to run short distances and feeling tired all the time. This is such an improvement! I encourage all you newbies to hang in there. It is so exciting to see yourself get stronger. I am jazzed! Tonight is the first set of fartleks in my training program. I am looking forward to a good sweat! See you on the road!

Mental Challenge...

I started in on the training a little later than I wish I had, so I have been playing catch-up for the last few weeks. Having never been a strong runner, there has been a lot of catching up to do. One of my biggest obstacles so far has been mentally pushing myself to do the distance (even the shorter starting out distances....) Running is so much of a mental and physical challenge for me, but I am learning to enjoy it for the challenge. When I do make the distance or time I am shooting for, it is such a great feeling! I am training with my dad, Keller, who is also running the half, and having a running partner has really helped me push past my mental obstacles. My dad keeps telling me, the excuse you give yourself to stop running is often the excuse you give yourself to quit in other parts of your life. Thinking about that while running has kept me going. I have been surprised, especially in just the last couple of days, how just a little bit of progress has really encouraged me to work harder.

Time Flies

Wow time does fly, I was glancing at the comments and realized that I haven't made any in a while. Well I feel great and even though I came down with the same crude that has been going around for awhile. I missed running for 3 days last week. I restarted this monday and even though I was still wheezing during the run I actually felt alot better than the week before. I have started finishing my run with a full out run the last .2 and even though it hurts like heck I feel so much better. With my music playing it seems that my route, even though its not very large, is passing by with less strain and aches. to those who are running the full marathon and 1/2 marathon I know this heat is not fun. Just think a week ago we were tired of all the rain! Well with any luck my morning's run will not get too terrible hot until closer to race time. Best of Luck to all in the weeks to come.

Back at it!

I am very pleased with my training efforts this weekend. On Saturday I ran my 3 miles feeling strong and well! My biggest issue is that the days are hot, hot, Hot! Even late at night it is still quite warm. July is finally here! I will need to start getting up early to run...I hate that! On a brighter note, the cross training is beginning to show. I feel stronger and my stomach is beginning to firm up (all the ab work is paying off!). I haven't written about it, but I have an additional motivation in that I have an anniversary trip to Hawaii coming up! Rippling abs in a new bikini was my goal...I may have to settle on less jiggle in a one piece. It's all good! See you on the road!