It's been a while since my last post. That is because life is crazy busy right now. When I get home from work I only have time to make dinner, help with homework and get the kids ready for bed. When I do finally sit down, I don't want to sit at the computer. I hope life slows down a little bit to allow for more blogging time, but I just don't see how or when. I can hope, though.
My second half-marathon is less than two weeks away. I know after running one last year I said I wouldn't do another one, but I guess I lied. I said I was giving up running. It was too hard on my body and I didn't like it. That lasted exactly one week. So, in June I signed up to run another half-marathon. My goal this year is to enjoy it and take in the atmosphere of the run and have fun with my training partner. I would like to beat my time of 2:06, also. We are aiming for a time of right under 2 hours. I hesitate putting this out there, but I really think we can do it. Based on our training times, we are right there. I am hoping the adrenaline will help us reach that goal.
We started our long runs thirteen weeks ago. We have been running on Saturdays with one Sunday mixed in there because of a scheduling conflict. We never missed a week. We started off with four miles and added a half mile or, just recently, a full mile each week. We worked up to 12 miles. That run was yesterday and was definitely the toughest one for me. More on that later.
So, on Saturday we run outside around my neighborhood. During the week we do a variety of activities. On Monday we do the Nike Training Club app for 30 minutes and run 4 miles. Tuesdays and Thursdays we do Nike Training Club for 45 minutes and either the stairclimber or elliptical for 15-20 minutes. Tuesday and Thursday afternoons I teach a Boot Camp class after school. On Wednesdays we run 7-8 miles on the treadmill, depending on our speed and how much time we have. Fridays are our yoga days. Saturdays are long run days. Yeah, it's a lot, but I am SO much stronger this year than I was last year.
Last year I struggled through the long runs and was physically ill for about a day afterward. I have only had a couple of days like that this year and it usually followed a run that was in the heat and or humidity. Yesterday was the first time this "running season" that my knees hurt. They ached SO BAD all day long and into the night. I even went to bed with heat wraps wrapped around each knee. Today they have been a little sore, but definitely less sore than yesterday. It's just something I am going to have to put up with, I guess.
Next Saturday we are doing a short 5 mile run just to give ourselves a little break before we run on the 4th. I think this will help us feel fresh and ready to run the whole 13.1 really strong. I know 13.1 miles doesn't seem like a lot to some serious runners, but I remember a time not that long ago that I could barely run one mile without feeling like I was going to pass out. I have worked really hard to get to where I am today and can finally say that I am proud of what I have accomplished. I can finally say unapologically and with confidence that I am a runner. In the past I wouldn't call myself a runner. Now I am a runner. Not a big deal to most people, but it is a big deal to me.
Nancy and I have already talked about how we are going to change up our training after our run on the 4th. I am excited to have a change and a new focus. We have signed up for the Warrior Dash in April and will probably do a couple of small 5k's in the Spring. I don't know when we will do another half, but I am not going to rule anything out. I would like to do the Tough Mudder, also. We'll see. For now I will focus on our run coming up and see what the future holds.
