Sunday, April 10, 2016

Sunday Excuse (?!) Summary

Excuses!?


So, this week just didn't work out as planned...but I will not let that be an ominous foreshadowing for my overall marathon training. Instead, I'm going to remind myself that I picked a 30 week training plan on purposed so I could figure out how to make it fit with my crazy work and life schedule. I'm figuring it out.

I only got one 1.5 mile run in this week...and it was mostly because I didn't feel like it. Tuesday my knee felt funny, so I took an extra rest day...Wednesday I worked late and couldn't get out the door...and well Thursday I told myself I'd do it on Friday... Yea I need to stop making excuses.

This week is a new week...I already have an Road Runner Sports Adventure run set for Thursday, so I might switch my 3 mile run on Wednesday with my 1.5 mile run on Thursday... And I will get out on Tuesday to get the week started off right! Here's to a great week ahead!

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Sunday Summary...

March 28 - April 3


So this Sunday Summary is the first of what I hope to do weekly to track my training progress. This week really started on Thursday because that was the day I committed to myself again (and MCM 2016!)

Thursday, March 31 ~ 1.59 miles ~ 21:32 ~ Pace 13:31/mi

Since I woke up Thursday morning with the dreadful feeling that I *might* actually get into MCM, I put on my sneakers to see what it would feel like getting back out on the pavement. I had charged my Garmin Wednesday night (it hasn't been charged in probably a year), with the understanding that I had to do something Thursday morning. Well let me tell you, I finished that run. And that's about all I can say about that run -- I finished it. My lungs and legs and feet hurt until about mile 1.1. After that point, as I was rounding the corner back into my complex, I started to feel better. I started to have some confidence that this might be possible. I went in, logged my workout, and then saw I was charged for MCM. I made this commitment and I"m going to do it!

Friday, April 1 ~ Rest day!

I spent the day trying to make progress on my pilot study for my Dissertation. No matter how hard I try, I always feel behind.

Saturday, April 2 ~ 2.00 miles ~ 25:44 ~ Pace 12:51/mi

I didn't want to get out the door on Saturday, but told myself I had to do it. It was raining in the morning so I ran errands and such and just had no energy. Later in the afternoon, the skies cleared up and the sun came out. It was about 50 degrees and a perfect way to end my Saturday. I pushed myself a little further and faster, and felt a lot better about this run. I see progress and that's all I can ask for!

Sunday, April 3 ~ Cross Training Day! ~ 30 minute swim

After many years swimming on our community swim team as a kid, I have a very soft spot for getting in the pool for some laps. I have decided that all of my cross training for this marathon will be in the pool. It is a great all around exercise; I love it! And as an added bonus, I may actually use my gym membership!

Plan for next week!

Monday -- rest
Tuesday -- 1.5 miles
Wednesday -- 3 miles
Thursday -- 1.5 miles
Friday -- rest
Saturday -- 3 miles
Sunday -- cross training

Saturday, April 2, 2016

MCM...

So I haven't posted on here in a while, well really since I started pursuing my PhD. Something about working full time and part time and working on a doctorate didn't leave much time to post on here. So what's been going on other than those things. Well I'm a bit frustrated because I haven't put my health and fitness at the forefront of my priorities, so I've put on more weight than I care to admit and have fallen out of shape. I dabble with a run every few months and try to get to the pool about 3 times a month, but that doesn't do much when your diet is completely out of what.

With all that out on the table, I decided to sign up for the Marine Corps Marathon lottery with 35 minutes left for it to be open. The next day, I find out that I got chosen. Now I know what some of you might be thinking...what is this woman thinking signing up for a full marathon when she's been on hiatus for the past few years because she's been "too busy".

Well let me explain my spur of the moment thinking on Wednesday -- you see, I'm currently taking my last class for my PhD and am going into the dissertation portion. I am going to need a stress reliever and I'll be able to spend more time on me (yes I know this might be my wildest dreams, but please hear me out). I decided that since I was training for the 2012 MCM and got sick and couldn't run, that if I was going to do a full, it was gong to be MCM and I can't think of a better year to get myself back on track than this one.

For my training, I've decided to follow Hal Higdon's Novice Supreme Marathon training plan as his half marathon plan has never failed me. It gives me a reasonable number of days a week to train and it works with my schedule. So yes, I have a long way to go (30 weeks to be exact!) but I will get there. I want to track my progress through this journey for me, and I'm going to use this blog to get that done! I am by no means an expert, but I need this for me. :)