{on a recent hike}
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I’m walking around on a training high. I’m ridiculously excited about this whole half marathon thing. I think I allowed a fear of failure to control my can-do (or can’t-do) attitude about the half marathon last year, and had talked myself out of even trying. It was just going to be too hard. Recently, however, I haven’t had a firm, long-term goal in front of me and started not liking running as much. It’s funny how having the goal of a race in front of me gets me so jazzed!
Anyhow, I found this Hal Higdon schedule for twelve weeks of training until I should be able to run 13.1 miles. Basically, there are four runs a week, three ‘easy’ runs and one longer run. The mileage increases little by little over the weeks, with two days of strength training/stretching and one day of rest worked in per week. I think I’m going to try to stick to the schedule, except I’m going to work a few slower runs into the beginning and extend the early phase a little bit while I build up my running endurance again. My body gets sore, lately, which tells me that I probably need to start out a little bit slow. Maybe not, but I can make that adjustment as I go.
I think I’m really going to go for it. I feel like if I get going on this project, all of my goals will kind of work themselves out. The training will make me burn calories, thus getting me closer to my goal of weighing 170. Running will make me stronger, both physically and mentally. Committing to the half marathon feels a lot like last year when I committed to my first 5K, I’m terrifically motivated and so excited to prove to myself that I can do it! I have to prove my naysaying side wrong.
Incidentally, I went online to look for some fun, local races and quickly got overwhelmed. There are so many races out there… I’m open to suggestions. I’m looking to run a few races over the summer, culminating in a half marathon in the fall. And only in the fall because I don’t relish running that long in August on a day that might be 100 degrees. Or 75. Whatever, hot is hot and I would like to hedge my bets for cooler weather.
***
On a side note, the kids are getting better and I’m being a good kid in both exercise and nutrition. It feels good to be back on track!