Wednesday, January 31, 2018

RunAPalooza Training: Week 2

The main goal I had for week 2 was to build on what I did in week 1. Here's how I did:

Monday-REST

Tuesday-4.5 miles
I got to run outside again! In January! What a unique experience! This one was tough, as I ran into wind and sprinkles of rain at one point, but it got done! I also made a wrong turn and wound up with an extra half mile. Okay, then...



Wednesday-Ride and Power

Need I say more? ;-)

Thursday-30 minute tempo run and yoga
I. Hate. Tempo. Work. I never do it, and I had to do it inside, which made it worse. Whatever. Next tempo run is 40 minutes and in a few weeks. Hopefully I can make that one outside.


Friday-REST

Saturday-6 miles
I took this week's long run to a trail that runs through my area. So nice to run someplace different. This long run's objective was pace control and consistency. Still working on both, as I had one mile at 11:36. I'll get there.


Sunday-R30 and Power
Since 6 miles on Saturday didn't hurt enough, I went all out on the bike. Plus I took my second Power class of the week. Somehow I felt okay after. Not complaining, but know if it doesn't feel right, adjust as needed.


Total Run Mileage: 13.25
Total Spin Classes: 1.5
Total Weight Training: 2 hours 
Total Mind-Body Work: 1 hour (yoga)
Other Workouts: None

This week went great, other than the tempo run! I felt good with most of each of the other two runs, plus I got some solid spinning and weight training in! Plus I hit 13 miles in a single week! I don't think that happened before! Here's to keeping up the momentum in week 3!


RunAPalooza Training: Week 1

Since I just dusted off my blog, I am starting the training recaps a little late. Oh well.

Here's how week 1 went down:

Monday-REST
Mondays are rest days. Which suck, but at the same time, necessary. Hal Higdon has Mondays as either rest or active recovery (think yoga or any other type of stretching workout) since runners tend to work out so hard on the weekends (long run and usually some cross-training). It just sucks because I'm so used to working out on Mondays. I may sneak in a Barre class here or there depending on how I feel after that weekend. Time will tell.

Tuesday-4 miles
I did this one on the treadmill as I was planning on a yoga class that night too. Never made it to yoga, but the run was good. 

Wednesday-Ride and Power
Usual Wednesday night workout. Felt pretty solid the whole time.

Thursday-Sick day
I woke up on Thursday morning not feeling 100%. Pretty sure it was a bad cold. I left work early that day and spent the rest of the day in bed. I did lose the short run, but my body wanted the rest more.

Friday-REST
I took an extra rest day this week as I wanted to make sure I was really good to go for the weekend.

Saturday-Ride and Team Training
My normal long run day is Saturday (so I can take spin with the gym bestie on Sundays...lol). Since I had work on Saturday morning for a few hours, I decided to go to the gym for spin and interval training after and made Sunday the long run day. Not too shabby.


Sunday-6 miles
First long run of the cycle! This was the longest I ran since May and I was able to go OUTSIDE! I hate running on treadmills. I get bored too easily, plus it's just not the same as running outside. It was chilly and tough, but I did it!


Total Run Mileage:10
Total Spin Classes: 2
Total Weight Training: 1 hour
Total Mind-Body Work: None
Other Workouts: 30 minute interval training class


Not too bad for the first week! I did lose one run do to sickness, and I need to work on getting in the gym for a mind-body class, but I feel like I'm off to a good start!

RunAPalooza 2018: My First Half Marathon!

Hello? Hello? Is this thing still on?

I know it's been a long time since I blogged, and a lot has happened since then (new nephew, adventures at work, changes in position at work, and ALL the races), but I am back!

The title of this post gives it away, and if you follow me on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram, you know the news:

I'M TRAINING FOR A HALF MARATHON!

Say wha?!

Yup, on April 21, I will be racing 13.1 miles in Asbury Park at RunAPalooza!

I was toying around with the idea of a half on and off for a few years. After my 10K last May which didn't go as well as I hoped (I finished, but it wasn't pretty), I swore I would never do anything longer than that again.

Fast forward six months, and the beginning of November, which was one of the biggest race weekends nationwide: NYC Marathon, Rock 'n Roll Savannah, Disney World's Wine and Dine, and the Indy Monumental. That weekend left me wondering if I could do a half. Yup, still thinking about it.

The first I looked at was the New Jersey Half on April 29. After I saw the $100 registration fee, I immediately said, "No way." Plus it is a HUGE event with a full marathon and marathon relay the same day. With everything starting at Monmouth Park. Uh, no.

So then I checked out the Asbury Park Half at RunAPalooza on April 21. I knew it was a much smaller event than the NJ Marathon weekend, with a 5K and marathon relay that morning too. The kicker is that the relay starts in Seaside Heights. That alone made that race seem more appealing. 

I also asked the Old Bridge Road Runners which they would recommend. Well, a few said the Brooklyn Half. Uh, no thanks. I didn't want to go that far for my first, plus that day is the same day as a local 5K that I've been doing since I started racing in 2012. That aside, the majority seemed to like RunAPalooza. Yup, still not signed up.

One Wednesday night, I was taking Ride and Power with my friends Carol and Jen (like I always do). I mentioned to both of them that I was thinking about a half marathon. Both of them told me that I can totally do this, and as Jen put it, "There's no way you're not finishing that."

You can say that was pretty much the final push I needed. 

About 24 hours later, I took the plunge and signed up!


13.1, here I come!

I actually found a training plan that only has three days a week of running: Hal Higdon's Half Marathon 3. Three days of running (a "normal" run, a long run, and a third run that rotates between pace, tempo, and normal) and two days of cross-training. I hate running consecutive days since my run streak in 2016, and I wanted to be able to have my gym time too. I adjusted it to have an extra two weeks of training (it's normally a 12 week plan-I made it 14 to give myself a third double digit run and a taper week).

I'm on my THIRD week of training already! Crazy! I will be using this to recap my training week by week up to the race. 

Here's to the craziest, biggest race adventure yet!