Tuesday Training

I did my first 5-mile run last week! And I felt pretty good, too. It took me 55 minutes, so I'm averaging an 11-minute mile. Back in the day I averaged a 9 to 10-minute mile, so I'm slowing down. But speed isn't a main issue for me. I'm more concerned about endurance. I'm hoping to hit a 6-mile run by the end of this week. That's it for today.

Tuesday Training

I know I didn't have a training post last week, and that was just pure laziness on my part. But I haven't been lazy when it comes to training. I've kept my runs at around 3 miles, and even had one 4-mile run last week. I felt pretty good during and after, so I think I'm progressing at a good pace. The key has been the rest days. I did my 4-mile run after a rest day, and I don't think I could (or should) have done it after another day of running. I also started lifting weights last week. I really need to tone up all over, so strength training is a must.

My son started his training last week, too. He's more of a natural runner than I am, so he's already doing 3-mile runs. Sheesh. So far so good for him.

This week I hope to continue to progress, and I'd like to make my long run at the end of the week a 5-miler. I can do it. :)

Tuesday Training

I'm late in posting this week's training results. I'm still a bit of a slacker due to the holidays. But I did manage to get in one 4-mile run last Tuesday. Wow - it wiped me out! I did a couple miles on Jan. 1 (you have to work out on Jan. 1!), then 3+ miles the last three days. So since New Year's Day, I've logged 12.1 miles. Not even a half-marathon in four days. But I'm still plugging away. I'm drinking a TON of water so I don't have those dehydration issues. My knee bothers me a little, but it doesn't hurt, more of a discomfort. I'm thinking that I need a new pair of running shoes. Now that's an understatement. Mine are a couple years old and they have obviously had it. Plus, I bought them on my own and wasn't properly fitted, so who knows if they are the right shoe for me. I will definitely have to splurge on new, quality running shoes if I'm going to run a half-marathon in 3 months. Then I will stop saying if and start saying when.

Tuesday Training

There's not a whole lot to report this week. I kind of took it easy with the holidays and everything. I did get some running in, though. And the one day I logged 3 miles I made sure I had water with me at the treadmill (and I drank it!), and then I took the water bottle with me and kept drinking all day. I didn't have any dehydration issues.

My kids are still home for winter break, so it's been tricky to fit in my running. I will definitely run today, and by next week I hope to have some 4-mile days under my belt. If I'm feeling good, I'll make the big investment and get fitted for running shoes. The ones I've been wearing are over a year old and they have had it.

A Half Marathon? What Am I - Half-Crazy?

I've always enjoyed running for exercise and as a way to relieve stress. I'm not very fast, but I have decent stamina. After my son was born (about 14 years ago) I did my first 10K. I ran terribly, but I finished. Since then I've run a few more 10Ks, sometimes improving on my time, sometimes not. Just a few years ago my alma mater, Indiana University, announced it would host its first half-marathon. At the time I was in somewhat decent shape, but I had been having knee issues and was only running occasionally. The race was also scheduled for an early Fall weekend, which didn't exactly work for me having three school-aged kids. Each year I think about running in that half-marathon, and then either my knee keeps me from it or just my laziness and overall nervousness of trying something like that. But now some things have shifted in my favor. Just last week I received a Cortizone shot in my knee and it feels so much better I can't believe it. What was I waiting for? So the IU half-marathon crept back into my thoughts. The next one is scheduled for April, 2011, which just happens to be when my kids are on Spring Break. The timing would work. My knee is feeling good. We replaced our old broken treadmill . . .

I'm not a competitive person - this isn't something I'm thinking about doing because I want to win. In fact, a runner friend of mine asked me to run the Chicago Marathon with her a few years back, and I said no way. I trained with her and did some long runs, but the thought of running 26 miles just seemed (and still seems) crazy. I don't need to say I ran a marathon. I don't even need to say I ran a half-marathon. I just think it would be pretty flippin' cool to run through my old beloved campus - just about 20 years after I left. I imagine my iPod would be filled with John Mellencamp (Cherry Bomb) as I'd puff past McNutt, my old dorm. I'd remember my crazy roomie and her big hair and wild partying that kept me up most nights. I'd jog on by Ernie Pyle Hall, where I found my niche in Journalism and wrote for and edited the Indiana Daily Student. It would be like a step (well, lots of steps) back in time.

My son is 14 and he is a runner. A pretty fast runner. I mentioned the half-marathon to him and he didn't hesitate - he said he's in. What a neat way to introduce him to my old campus. The last time he was there he was 2, and he spent most of the time napping. He's now at an age when he could appreciate the beauty and charm of IU and Bloomington. It would be a very cool mother-son bonding experience for us to run the half-marathon together - except that he'd leave me in his dust. So we'd have to do our bonding during the 5-hour drive there and when I show him around my old haunts.

I haven't registered for the race - yet. I'm going to do some preliminary training and see how I feel. I want to do it right. I will follow a plan for a beginner's first (and possibly last) half-marathon. I will rest on the days it says to rest (always a tough one for me to follow) and log the miles on the days I need to do them. I'll try to share my training here (oooh, now that's exciting!) - probably on Tuesdays. But I'd love to hear from anyone who has done a half-marathon - any advice?