So I just finished registering for the Horsetooth Half Marathon at Active.com. Registration was $50, so I better follow through with this or else that money is going to waste. It's just a little bit more motivation for me to do this :)
This afternoon was a 35 minute run. I've been trying to do these "shorter" runs faster than my "long" run. Today I actually almost made it as far as I did on my 40 minute run on Sunday. What does that mean? I don't know. I just like the idea that when I try to run faster, I can actually go further. Hopefully in the end these short-fast runs will help improve my overall speed come race day.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Week 1: Done!
Davey and I went for a 40 minute run this morning and I feel great! I've never run 40 minutes without stopping before, and I even had energy to spare! This training actually seems to be doing me some good. I think the important part about doing the long runs is making sure that I pace myself and to not try to run too fast. I definitely found a good pace for myself today. Then on short run days, I try to run faster that I normally do to help increase my speed. It feels really good to actually feel myself become a better runner. Now I just need to keep the energy up for the rest of the week. Training schedule for Week 2: Tuesday 35min, Thursday 40min, Friday 30min (this run is really supposed to be on Saturday, but I work that day), Sunday 45min.
Registration opened up this week for the Horsetooth Half Marathon, I'm going to register once I get enough money. The sooner I register the better so I can't back out of this thing.
Registration opened up this week for the Horsetooth Half Marathon, I'm going to register once I get enough money. The sooner I register the better so I can't back out of this thing.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Mucous Making Machine
So I hit my first bump in training this weekend when I got a pretty bad cold which made me miss class on Friday and work on Saturday. Obviously, I wasn't able to go running. I am almost better today, so training will resume this afternoon. Unfortunatly, I am going to have to start my running program over since I missed a couple days and don't think my body is quite ready to start off where I left off. So here is the plan for this week: 30min run today, 35min Thursday, 30min Friday, and 40min Sunday.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Running in Circles
I ran the track at the gym today for the first time in years, which wasn't nearly as fun as running outside. Not only that, but it was really hot in there making my run a lot harder. My legs are definitely feeling it! Two positives about my run today:
-While I kept getting lapped by people that were running really fast, they weren't running for nearly as long as I was. That made me feel a lot better about my slow pace.
-I ran 35 minutes without a break! While I have run for that long before, I usually have to take a break. Not this time!
Even with that, I keep thinking of all those those things that I have going against me with my new goal:
-I'm fairly short, so my strides aren't very long, thus I have to take more steps than taller people.
-I had pneumonia a couple years ago and my lungs have never been the same since then. Hopefully by the end of the journey my lungs will no longer be an issue.
-I have predominantly fast-twitch muscle fibers, which are the type that are better for sprinters and strength training. What I really need is long-twitch muscle fibers, the type found in long distance runners. Once again, I hope this training can help change my predominant muscle type.
-I really should lose some weight so I am carrying less on my runs.
I can't really think of anything I have going for me beside the fact that I am so stubborn and don't like to give up. If any body knows of any other positives please let me know, because I could really need them!
-While I kept getting lapped by people that were running really fast, they weren't running for nearly as long as I was. That made me feel a lot better about my slow pace.
-I ran 35 minutes without a break! While I have run for that long before, I usually have to take a break. Not this time!
Even with that, I keep thinking of all those those things that I have going against me with my new goal:
-I'm fairly short, so my strides aren't very long, thus I have to take more steps than taller people.
-I had pneumonia a couple years ago and my lungs have never been the same since then. Hopefully by the end of the journey my lungs will no longer be an issue.
-I have predominantly fast-twitch muscle fibers, which are the type that are better for sprinters and strength training. What I really need is long-twitch muscle fibers, the type found in long distance runners. Once again, I hope this training can help change my predominant muscle type.
-I really should lose some weight so I am carrying less on my runs.
I can't really think of anything I have going for me beside the fact that I am so stubborn and don't like to give up. If any body knows of any other positives please let me know, because I could really need them!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
WTF??? What and Why
Lets face it, I am a goal oriented freak. But not that normal type of goal oriented freak, that special type of freak. I don't just need a goal, I need dates, times, and schedules.
For the last several years I have started to run outside with Davey. Yes, I wanted to lose weight and become a faster running, but these goals were too vague for me to really stick to them. I would run a lot for a couple weeks and feel really good about it, but would eventually get busy and get out of shape again. The closest I got to staying in shape was running the Fast and the Furriest 5K for the vet school (which was my very first race) and trying to get in shape for the weeding. I have also entertained ideas of "someday" running a marathon ever since watching a Nova episode about everyday people running the Boston Marathon. Until now, I never really thought too seriously about it.
What really prompted this delusion was when Davey started receiving a runner's magazine (we didn't order it and not really sure where it came from). I started reading it and though, "Hey! I could do this!" So being one of those special goal oriented freaks, I got on the computer and started searching for a race that I could start training for. I needed something sufficiently out of my league where I had to actually train for it and not just half ass it until a month before the race. A marathon, though, just seemed like too much too fast. Now, a half marathon, that was more up my league! The Horsetooth Marathon stuck out to me right away. It's in Fort Collins, happening in April (plenty of time to train but also not too far away), and sponsored by my favorite brewery, New Belgium!
So here are the details:
When: April 19, 2009, 8:30am
Where: Fort Collins, CO
Distance: 13 miles
Course: Staring at Hughes Stadium, goes north along Horsetooth Resevoir to the Poudre River, then east along the river ending at the New Belium Brewery in Old Town
Why: Because I need a goal to help me lose some of the vet school pudge. Plus, I think I've finally lost my mind!
How: A training program for beginning runners starting yesterday. It is a 20 week program for a beginner training for a marathon, so if I can get through this I should be good! See the schedule for yourself!
Website: http://www.horsetoothhalfmarathon.com
Heck, you never know, if I get through this maybe I'll do the Colorado Marathon in May!
For the last several years I have started to run outside with Davey. Yes, I wanted to lose weight and become a faster running, but these goals were too vague for me to really stick to them. I would run a lot for a couple weeks and feel really good about it, but would eventually get busy and get out of shape again. The closest I got to staying in shape was running the Fast and the Furriest 5K for the vet school (which was my very first race) and trying to get in shape for the weeding. I have also entertained ideas of "someday" running a marathon ever since watching a Nova episode about everyday people running the Boston Marathon. Until now, I never really thought too seriously about it.
What really prompted this delusion was when Davey started receiving a runner's magazine (we didn't order it and not really sure where it came from). I started reading it and though, "Hey! I could do this!" So being one of those special goal oriented freaks, I got on the computer and started searching for a race that I could start training for. I needed something sufficiently out of my league where I had to actually train for it and not just half ass it until a month before the race. A marathon, though, just seemed like too much too fast. Now, a half marathon, that was more up my league! The Horsetooth Marathon stuck out to me right away. It's in Fort Collins, happening in April (plenty of time to train but also not too far away), and sponsored by my favorite brewery, New Belgium!
So here are the details:
When: April 19, 2009, 8:30am
Where: Fort Collins, CO
Distance: 13 miles
Course: Staring at Hughes Stadium, goes north along Horsetooth Resevoir to the Poudre River, then east along the river ending at the New Belium Brewery in Old Town
Why: Because I need a goal to help me lose some of the vet school pudge. Plus, I think I've finally lost my mind!
How: A training program for beginning runners starting yesterday. It is a 20 week program for a beginner training for a marathon, so if I can get through this I should be good! See the schedule for yourself!
Website: http://www.horsetoothhalfmarathon.com
Heck, you never know, if I get through this maybe I'll do the Colorado Marathon in May!
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