2010 Running Goals

Jan - Feb

Training for 10K

http://www.halhigdon.com/10ktraining/10knovice.htm

Mar - Apr

Training for 10 mile

http://www.halhigdon.com/15Ktraining/15Knovsch.htm

May - Sept

Training for half marathon

http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm

A running quote I shall take to heart

"It's very hard to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the real competition is against the voice inside you that wants to quit." -George Sheehan

33 days remaining

It's Monday, August 10, 2009. As I look at the countdown feature on my cellphone, I see that I have 33 days remaining before the half marathon. 33 days. Hmmm... I ran a 5K last Saturday. I had to walk some of it. I walked some of it. It was a choice. Did I have to? Probably not. This morning I got up to go for a run. My intention was to do a 5 mile route. Once I started, I was sure that that was not going to be the case. I ran awhile and felt the need to stretch as the back of my left leg grew tighter and tighter. The more distance I covered, the more excuses came to mind as to why I should not run far. My legs were heavy. I could not get a rhythm going. I am going to kayak later anyway. I tried to convince myself that I could keep going. I tried focusing on the lyrics to the music I was listening to. I tried praying. I tried to have a good attitude. I decided walking wasn't bad. That's what I ended up doing. Every once in awhile I'd pick up a little bit of the pace, but not for long.

Now, sitting at the table - sweating - I see that there are 33 days left. 33 days to follow the training schedule. 33 days to pick up the pace, push a little farther, adjust the attitude. 33 days to accomplish something I've set out to do. 33 days until the half marathon. 33 days.

10K down - here we come half marathon!

A chilly morning. I was both nervous and excited. I tried to hydrate as much as I could, causing several trips to the porta potty (I hate porta potties!). It really was the perfect day to be in the city. Anne arrived just as the race started, so I put her shoe timer on as she pinned on her number and off we went. As we approached the first corner, just a block away, I announced that I had to pee (AGAIN). We decided to stop and wait in the line and relieve ourselves before we went any further. So, our first mile was a little long as far as time - 20 minutes. We ran the first two miles comfortably. We had to keep reminding ourselves to not try to run too fast. It is hard to do that. I get so excited and want to jet out, but I would never have been able to run as much as we did. There was another pair of ladies in front of us, then behind us, and as we traded places, we continued encouraging each other throughout the race. Running along the lakefront and around the museum campus was amazing. It was a great day. As I crossed the finish line, I was thrilled to have finished. Even though we walked a little here and there, we beat our time (even with the pit stop!). I am even more excited to continue running and training for the half marathon.

After the race, we enjoyed a yummy breakfast burrito with Anne and her husband. So fun! I love being in the city! I can't wait for my legs to not be so tight so I can run comfortably again! (Has anyone seen my Advil?) Tomorrow, looking forward to my reward - a massage!

Less than two weeks?!?!?! I'm not ready...

I go back and forth on freaking out about the pending 10K. Yesterday, I was so tired, I couldn't even think straight. Some days I have no motivation to exercise, let alone to run. It’s less than two weeks away. Am I ready? Should I be worried? What should I be thinking? Well, I've decided I am not going to freak out about it. First, I’ve never run a 10K, so whatever I do will be my best. I don’t think I can run even 4 miles without stopping right now. However, because of the momentum of the whole thing, perhaps Anne and I will do better than we think. I think this race is a good starting point to push me towards my training for the half marathon – which we're ahead of looking at that schedule. I think of this as a stepping stone, not an ultimate goal. I think it’s great practice and experience; and I’m deciding right now not to fret over it. I will be proud of where I am and strive to be better!

Three weeks and counting!

Three. Three weeks. Three weeks from today. Three weeks from today at this time, I will have completed my first 10K, just a stepping stone in my journey to the half marathon in September. My training schedule is on the fridge. I've not followed it religiously. I glance at it when I'm grabbing a diet soda out of the fridge. I ponder it and wonder which week I'm supposed to be on. Today, I realized that it's probably important for me to be able to do the things it says to do. Some of the days of the week are easy - like strength and stretch. I do the strength part. Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I do the stretch part on Thursdays now that yoga has started up again. The running has not been as consistent - which is KIND OF IMPORTANT since that is the goal. So, today I headed out on my own outside. No treadmill. I hit the road. With barely an hour to spare, I ran out of the house and realized once I was on the sidewalk that I had forgotten my music. UGH. Well, I didn't have time and I had plenty to look at, so I set out for my run. It wasn't easy, I have to admit. Got a little stiff. Plugged along. Walked a little. Ran some more. Stretched. Ran some more. Walked a little. Ran some more. Having to be somewhere, I tried to push myself to run a little more even as my feet fell asleep. As the tingling from the sleeping feet proceeded up my leg, I decided to walk a little. I pulled my knee brace down. Once the sleeping left my leg but stayed in the feet, I ran a little more. 4.8 miles I ran/walked. I wish I had run more. I guess I would say I maybe ran a total of 3.5 miles. A guess. Maybe an optimistic guess. Maybe an exageration. At any rate, today showed me the importance of doing the running part of my training. Three. Three times a week. Because in three weeks, I'm running in my first 10K.

I think the most difficult battle in training for the half marathon is not the physical part, but the mental turmoil that goes on in my head. I didn't run last week. I didn't feel good a couple of days. I did workout, did smash fitness three days, rode the bike one, but my knees were hurting, so I took the weekend off. Today, I stepped up on the treadmill and already felt defeated - but not because one of my knees hurt. It was because inside my head I had already decided the workout was going to be more than challenging and that I wasn't going to make my minimum 2 miles. I tried to overcome the thoughts. I focused on the TV, then my music, then the TV. I looked at the distance and tried to convince myself that I could do it. Just a little further. At a quarter of a mile I thought, "just 7 more of this." At half a mile, just 6 more. At a mile I wanted to stop. At a mile and a half, I did. I did run at a faster pace than usual, gradually increasing it. So, I tried to tell myself that it was ok. But it wasn't ok. I feel discouraged. So, I sit here with ice on my knee, but like I said before, it's not the physical that is hindering my progress, it's the mental. My saving grace? Anne and Courtney. I'm good at giving up, but knowing Anne is there with me, well, that helps me step onto the treadmill in the first place. Celebrating in Courtney's achievements from the last two weekend's 5K's is encouraging. So, tomorrow, I shall step up to more than the treadmill, but also to the occasion, the challenge ahead. By next Sunday, 3 miles. I will run the race before me, physically and mentally, and I will succeed!