HMT: on to tha next one.

That's right, I'm training again.

If you're new here you may not know that earlier this year I ran my first ever half-marathon. I had a great time, and even after I finished the race and my legs were aching I knew I wanted to run another half. I've been terrible about running since the end of March. But, I've resolved to start training again.

So, last week I started my 12 week training. And, although I have several more weeks than 12 before the half that I want to run, my plan is to jump right in and if I need a little cushion here and there, I have it. And maybe I can talk another novice runner into training with me?? Anyone? Bueller?

What race am I running, you ask?

This one. It's in Tulsa on November 21. Nice and cool running weather, just the way it should be. I haven't signed up ... but that's definitely on my to-do list!

I'm hoping my friend Libby will run it with me. She's having knee issues, but I have a little something up my sleeve to help alleviate her pain. And, no it's not a cortisone shot.

Anyway, so my first week back to training went pretty well. My only issue is that I know I can run 3, 4, 5, 13 miles, but it's getting back on the horse, so the speak, that's difficult. I have to recondition my body to get my runs in. And, let me tell ya, the heat {specifically 94 with a heat index of 108} is not helping.

So, back to the HMT updates, and if anyone wants to join in on the fun, there's only 18 weeks until the big race!

Payoff!

Since this is the only picture I have from this morning's half-marathon {sorry guys, I'm not SkinnyRunner}, I'm posting it with a little recap of the race. 

The gun went off at 8 am, and the girls I was going to run with took off! I knew there was no way I'd be able to keep up that pace, much less get back to my normal one if I ran that fast at the beginning so I lagged back.

I was feeling GREAT until about mile 11. I got a little crampy {I think I'd had too much water/gatorade -- is that even possible, or am I just making an excuse??} and I slowed down for a few, but I knew I didn't have far to go, so I kept pushing it. 

{By the way, my 10 mile time was 4 minutes faster than it was when I did that length training run!}

Then I saw the mile 12 marker and told myself I'd walk for 15-20 seconds. Uhh, then I saw that some of our friends were right next to that marker and there was no way I was going to walk right in front of them! Ha ... so I pushed a little farther and walked for 20 seconds and then picked it up again and ran to the finish. 

I ended up only a couple minutes behind one of the girls I started with and only about 20 seconds behind another one.

All in all, I feel really good about my first half. My time was about 2:07 -- I forgot to stop my Garmin, so I'm not sure what my exact time was, but I definitely pushed it in the end to stay under/at 2:07. 

The time has come

This Sunday is my very first half-marathon.

I've been training for {an absurd} 4 months or so. And, after running 10 miles {and feeling really great during and after}, I guess I'm ready.

I've been taking it easy this week {as my training guide said I should} and I've run a total of 9 miles.

Everyone that I talk to tells me that if I can do ten, I'll be fine. And, I have to say that I'm beyond glad that I'll have other girls to run with to encourage me and push me through the entire 13! Thanks guys! {I wish John could be there -- he has a bachelor party in OKC this weekend}

I know I've mentioned that this course is mostly downhill, but some of my friends have run it recently and said that those hills at the end are kinda killer. Ok, maybe not killer, but they're definitely hills and we'll definitely notice them.

Here's the elevation map of the course:

It's not Mount Everest, but let's be honest: Around mile 8 or 9 I'm not so sure I'll be too excited about climbing a couple hundred feet. And, if I'm being totally honest, I try to avoid hills if at all possible, so this should be interesting. Oh well, it's what I signed up for. 

I have my shoes, my Garmin, my dri-fit socks, my music and my Jelly Belly Energy beans and Gu {which I'm still not sure I'll take}. I plan on taking my camera, which means I'm planning on a race recap, complete with pictures! 

Wish me luck!

HMT: Update

I'm on my last week of half workouts before I'm supposed to run the race. And, since the Ardmore race is about four weeks away, I'm doing really well.

I ran 9 miles this weekend, and I'm so proud of my pace and ability to finish!

I had plans to do my long run on Sunday {as usual}, but the weathermen were preaching all-day rain, so I had to do a quick change of plans and run on Saturday. I'm really glad I did. Even though it didn't rain all day, it was definitely colder on Sunday and the wind was a little fiercer.

Anyway, onto how my run went.

I ate the Jelly Belly energy beans before my run {like usual}. I love those! I think they work really well. I can feel the energy they give me before I even hit the pavement. By about mile 6.5 or so, I thought I'd try a Gu. I've been really hesitant to try these because I have a serious issue with food texture and the fact that they're gels worried me.

So, I stopped {and stopped my Garmin thankyouverymuch} and opened the Gu. I sucked down half of the berry flavored Gu and I almost gave it all back. It took all that I had to keep it down.

Although I had issues with the texture, it tasted fine and it definitely helped out my energy and was probably a big help in getting me through all 9 miles.

I've been taking a water bottle with me on my long runs, too. I'm really trying to get used to eating and drinking while I run, because I know I'll need to do that during the actual race.

So, I finished 9 and I couldn't have been much happier with my pace and time. I kept my pace at 9:20 {which I haven't really been able to do on my long runs recently -- I usually slow down when I get past 5 miles}, so I think I have the Gu to thank for that. And I'm thinking if I can keep my pace at 9:20 during the actual race, I can run a sub-2 hour half. Yes! But, this half isn't about time or pace, it's about finishing. I have a goal of running a half-marathon and as long as I cross the finish line, no matter my time, I will have accomplished my goal.

Anyway, I have a 10 miler this weekend, and then I think, since I still have a couple weeks until the race, I'm going to try to get as close to 13 as possible.

HMT: Update

Last Sunday was my 5 mile run. I had run 5 miles on the treadmill {during our coldsnap} and thought there wouldn't be a problem doing it outside.

Oh boy... Turns out I had a problem. I was at probably 4.25 miles and my legs just wouldn't go anymore. I had to stop and walk for a couple minutes. And, even though I walked some, I ended up finishing my 5 miles strong. But, the fact that I had to walk really hit me hard.

If I have to walk when I'm doing a 5 mile run, how am I ever going to be able to finish 13?

I did my training all week {4 on Tuesday, 2 on Wednesday and 4 on Friday} and I knew that I had 6 mile run coming up today.

Well, on Friday for my 4-miler, I tried a little trick I saw on a running website. At about 2.5 or 3 miles, I popped a peppermint in my mouth and I had the.best.run! I was ecstatic! I know four miles isn't really that much, but after being so bummed about my 5 miles on Sunday, this was awesome!

So, today, I had my 6-miler slated.

We went to a {super fun} 30th birthday party last night, and I was a little worried that my 2 glasses of sangria and beer drinking was going to hinder my run.

NOPE!! I ate some energy beans {I tried the fruit punch flavor} about 30 minutes before and put another pack of them in my pocket {along with my trusty peppermint}. Again, when I was around 2.5 miles in, I popped in my peppermint and I really got into a rhythm!

I finished my 6 miles and jogged for another 3-5 minutes!

This is so exciting for me and I really think that I'm on my way to figuring out what will work best for my on my long runs!

HMT: Update

Let me tell ya, last week was not my best training effort. Despite my own personal guilt, I think {it's true, I can't really remember} I only ran on Tuesday.

I told myself I'd run. I even took my workout gear to Dallas so I could hop on one of the treadmills that LT's apartment complex offers, but nope. Didn't happen.

So, this week, I know I need to get back on the training train {ha!}, but the weather doesn't seem to want to cooperate. As trusty Gary England said tonight on the news, the Arctic barn door is open {I know, what?} and won't shut until at least Sunday.

The low tomorrow morning? 20ish, with a windchill of 6...ish. Wednesday morning is pretty much the same, but Thursday...oh Thursday. This is when it gets really interesting.

See, Thursday has decided to throw us a little high of, oh, around 18. And I think, I think, the winds are going to be in the 30 mph range. Suuuhhhweeet!

So, what does all this meteorology talk mean? It means my training has moved from morning outdoor workouts to their evil stepsister of afternoon inside workouts. It always seems to happen that when I have to wait until 4:30 or 5 to get on the treadmill, I'm way less likely to do it. Ugh!

Wish me luck. I hope the damn barn door shuts. And soon. Thank you.

HMT: Update

Today was my second time to step up my distance.

I haven't been the best at keeping up with my training since Blizzard '09 hit OK just before Christmas. I told myself I would definitely run on Thursday...that didn't happen. I told myself I would definitely run on Friday...that didn't happen. And then I told myself that I would for sure do pilates for my cross-training on Saturday...that didn't happen. {Noticing a pattern here??}

So, my 5-miler was scheduled for today. I wasn't going to let that slip by, so I hit the treadmill. I would have certainly preferred to try my hand at 5 miles outside, but the snow/ice was really cramping my style.

I ran with Real Housewives of NYC on the tv, which provided enough distraction that I didn't even see my distance until 4.5 miles. Yes! I made the full 5 and I couldn't be more proud {well, I could if I'd ran outside, but that didn't happen, so I'm proud of my 5 treadmill miles}.

Now that I have my Garmin, I'm kinda chomping at the bit to get outside and work with it! Maybe by next Sunday {and my next 5-miler} I'll have dry roads to run on!

Looks like I'm really on my way to running that half-marathon!!