Beginning race training - Week 1

So today is the first day of the rest of my life. Isn't that true of every day? No, today is special. I just did my first day of training for my half marathon in April. Guess what?..today I didn't even run. Today was strength and stretch. I decided to do my ab dvd today. I am in the mood to run. That will be tomorrow...3 miles...Wed...2 miles...Thurs...3 miles...Fri...Rest...Sat...Cross...Sun...4 miles. In the middle of that I need to do Zumba on Tuesday and Thursday, plus practice new songs, plus I signed up for a Zumba Zam on Sunday after my long run. I'm either going to be dead or in great shape after all this. Here I go...wish me luck!

Failure

I just have to say a little bit about failure. I don't like to do it. It really bothered me when I had to give up my training last year. I didn't want to talk about it and I didn't want to think about it. Now that I am training again this year I know I need to address it. I'm afraid of failing again. I worry if my knees will hold out. I worry that Cheri will go into labor while I am running. I worry if my heart is strong enough (physically and mentally). I worry that I will let myself down. I worry I will embarrass myself. I worry I don't have enough discipline. Then I remember I had all these worries with every other goal I have given myself and I make sure I am successful in the goals that are important to me. This goal is important so it will be a priority. Wish me luck!

It is getting easier...

I am running 2 miles on a regular basis now and start my 3 miles on Sunday. It seems to be getting easier and easier so that makes me happy. I use Zumba as my crosstraining and yoga, weights, and stomach exercises as my strength training. I'm feeling pretty good except for some knee pain. It doesn't hurt when I am running but it aches afterwards. I was told to get a knee band so I will be picking one up tonight.

My cousin Kelly has been running marathons for a while now and I read her blog detailing all her adventures with her running groups. I have to find a running group here to keep me motivated and accountable. She is a working mother with 2 young girls so I should be able to do it too. The only problem is I have 15 years on her. I still can do this.

I start my half marathon training a week from Monday. I'm ready! Set! Run!

Plan for half marathon

I signed up for the Glass City Half Marathon on April 22nd. I am starting my training today. My official marathon training starts at the beginning of February but I am starting today to get myself comfortable at the 3 mile distance. I'm going to run 1 mile for a couple of weeks, 2 miles for a couple of weeks, then 3 miles for a week or so. At that point the official training starts. I have it all mapped out on a calendar so I am ready and pumped. I'm really excited for this race. I attempted it last year but health issues got in the way. I am healthy, 50 years old, and ready for the challenge! Wish me luck!!!

My thoughts on runners...

I really don't feel like a "runner" yet. People fall into 2 categories - runners and non runners. I have felt like a runner on an off through my life but I haven't felt like a runner in years now. This does not mean I don't run, it means that I only run after everything else in my life is taken care of. If you know me you know that that doesn't happen very often. I am 50 years old now and I am very aware that keeping myself in shape will contribute to my quantity and quality of life. I don't want to be a feeble old woman. I want to be the type of woman that people don't even think about my age. This means I need to make me a priority. I can talk the talk but can I walk the walk? I am challenging myself and setting goals for my life.

Say a little prayer for me...

Let's try this again...

It is October and I just received the sign up email for the Glass City Marathon. I didn't train properly for it last year and ended up skipping the race. I had just had surgery and still did not feel 100%. This year is different. I am 50 years old and have 2 grandbabies on the way. I really, really want to do this so I'm signing up again for the race and I will start my training earlier this year. I want to run the Turkey Trot again on Thanksgiving; I did it last year but quit running after the race because of my gall bladder. It is gone now so I should be physically strong this year. I will prepare for the 5K and work from there for my 1/2 marathon in April. I'm ready...bring it on!

One week down and sprinting into week 2!

I'm starting my second week of training and am really sore. I can't wait until I am over that hump. I am working through it. I am pushing my body everyday and seeing results, even if it is coming slowly. I just keep thinking how I am going to get from today to April 17th? Slow and steady wins the race. I'm just impatient and want to be in fighting condition now!

The treadmill is getting old. I can't wait until this weather warms up and I can take to the road. I have discovered that running to Zumba music helps me run faster. I am learning new music for my classes and taking advantage of the energy from my Latin obsession. The only problem is that I am choreographing songs in my head while running. Sometimes I start dancing to them which can be very dangerous on a treadmill : 0