Another training plan!

So I finally read my book. Although the last book I read was a funny anecdote, this current book was written by a group of people who had 97% of their non runner trainees finish a marathon successfully. According to their research, you have to be able to run thirty minutes comfortably in order to be able to even start marathon training. Since I have until next January to get ready I am not that concerned. They provide another training program that gets you to that point. I think this may have been why my past races were so miserable. I realize now hoe imprtant every training run is. I really like this new program and am on track for ultimate success.

Yesterday I ran 2.25 miles, walked until I hit 2.75 and ran the rest of my 5K. I shaved a whole minute of my 5K time so I am happy with that progress. I did not run on Monday because of some dental issues (root canal) but I am feeling much better this morning. I am having some hip pain but I am sure it will dissipate as I rebuild my "running muscles". I should run tonight but am going to run in the morning instead. The building to the training program is not as intense and is allowing me some time to work on some choreography that I neglected this week.

A lot of the book is about getting ready mentally for the race. It is good advice that can be applied to every day challenges and not just running. The author encourages you to tag each negative thing that you say with the phrase.... "and that's okay." For example... My hip muscles feel as if they are being torn off my pelvic bone... and that's okay. It is so cold when I run outside I feel like I have frostbite on all my internal organs... and that's okay. The idea is that if you start talking positively then you will think likewise. If I say I love hill training then will I love hill training? I am kind of skeptical on this issue but I will try it anyway. I will keep everyone posted on the progress!

The first run!

Currently I am following a half marathon training schedule. I am going to do a half at some point this spring. Typically marathon training programs don't start until six months before the race. I am going to train for a half until then with the goal being to run the whole thing and not stop for walking breaks. I am probably going to have to walk/run the 26.2 miles but I would like to be able to run the 13.1!

Today the training schedule called for 35 minutes of run/walking. I actually did it. I went 3.2 miles. It is very fast but I have plenty of time to get there. I was also really sluggish because I could not sleep last night and I had to get up at 4:45 to teach BodyPump. Hitting the gym twice is day is exhausting and I am not really feeling up to going to a dinner party tonight. Mostly I feel up to curling up on the couch and watching all the old episodes of the Cosby show I have saved in the DVR. I do not do well unless I get eight hours of sleep.

I bought a book!

So far all I have done to get myself closer to the finish line is buy a book from Amazon.com about training for a marathon. Most marathon training programs do not start until the Spring but I want to get a head start. I am also searching local running clubs so I can get some professional advice on how to get started. I plan on starting my outside runs on Monday. The only outside runs I completed were the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile and the Baltimore Half Marathon. I only trained on a treadmill. This was a huge mistake as it left me completely unprepared for pounding out mile after mile on a paved road that lacks the courtesty to move under you at a set pace. I completed both my races but my times were awful and I cried a lot.

What am I thinking?

After several of what I can only describe as "failed finishes" to two longer distance races I spent the fall determined that my running shoes were where they belonged, buried underneath a pile of discarded shoes in the back of my closet. The memories of the long untrained miles of the past were too painful to even consider a 5 or 10k fun race. I was done running forever.

After visiting with one of my oldest friends from high school I was inspired to lace up my running shoes again. She is going to run the WDW Marathon this weekend. I thought to myself, if she can do the whole thing I can surely do the half marathon next year.

Of course I am never one to do things halfway. So I am commiting myself to running the whole 26.2 a year from now. Join me in my journey to a higher level of fitness and insanity!