Week 4: Update

Well, Sunday ended week 4. It was not a pretty week. Lack of motivation due to no soccer and colder weather makes it hard right now. I ran practically every night I was scheduled to run. I didn't do my core workouts, any other cross-training, nothing. Week 5 may be better. Let's hope. Anyone have any motivation to kick my hinny in gear?

Week 3: End Week Update

Training Thursday night went extremely well. I needed to make up my core and weight workout from Wednesday since my youngest child refused to sleep, therefore causing me to miss my workout. Last night, I set out to run my 3.5 miles. Weather was perfect. Not hot, not too chilly. I ended up running 2.5 miles since I was going strong, but my foot was starting to yelp at me, I decided to cut it short to have enough energy and motivation to get home to do my weights and core workouts. Albeit, during part of my run, I ran over fallen pecans and nearly twisted my right ankle. Just a bit tender, but I think next time I’ll avoid them.

My weight workout consists of 3 sets of 20 reps of arm and chest moves combined with leg movements to keep the caloric burn high. I work the triceps, biceps, and shoulders as well as muscles in my legs that might get not quite as much as a workout during my runs as the quads, hamstrings, and calves, mainly the inner thigh muscles, ankles, and whatever muscles that are up at the very top of the back of my leg whatever they may be called.

My core workout, which I found from Runner's World, consists of the “Superman”, a normal plank hold, side planks, the bridge and metronome...all major core strengthening moves.

To me, this is the best workout I’ve had. Afterwards, I felt strong and beautiful. I felt proud of the sweat covering my body, proud of the burn of my muscles, proud at the fact that I’ve been diligent for nearly 6 months now, proud of what I’m working towards.

Last night, I attempted my easy run. I think I overdid it on Thursday because all I could muster was 1.8 miles. Yes, I know that's almost 2, but it's not. The fact that I couldn't make it another .2 miles really irked me. At least lesson learned, eh?

This morning, I finally did morning yoga. I've been looking forward to it all week. I probably should have done some other conditioning/cross-training, but I really needed a full stretch. Also, I'm wanting to do swimming at the Natatorium, but I still need to check into it and buy a sports swimsuit (yuck, I thoroughly despise swimsuit shopping).

Tomorrow ends my soccer season, but not my soccer training schedule. I am attending a soccer clinic with a friend who wants to get started, so my current training schedule will extend through November 22. Then, I shift gears into the full onslaught of marathon training. I'm actually quite excited!

Beginning Training Schedule

I have had many requests for my training schedule for my half marathon. I hope that it is because I am motivating others and looking at my schedule will help them get moving to their own fitness regime. If any of you are interested, feel free to take my schedule and modify it to your own needs. Also, I am happy to help you come up with a regime with you. My beginning schedule was modified from Hal Higdon's Novice Training Schedule. I modified it to my current soccer schedule to incorporate my running averages in games. My schedule through Thanksgiving is as follows:

Monday - yoga/rest
Tuesday - run (3.5 miles)
Wednesday - weights/circuits/cross-training
Thursday - run (3.5 miles) I did have soccer practice, but the time change has prevented that since we use a "no lights" field.
Friday - Run (2 miles)
Saturday - yoga/weights/cross-training
Sunday - Game (average 5 miles running)

Cross-training includes swimming, bike riding, something of that sort.

Each workout last 1-2 hours depending on what I am doing. I usually average an hour of training.

A Week Lost, Appreciation Gained

I lost a week of training after a minute procedure took everything out of me last week. The procedure was really nothing, just prevention of further reproduction. Yet, since I am borderline anemic, it ended up taking me down to bed rest for four days. The four days droned on as if I had lain in bed or lounged on the couch for a year. As I rested, I gained a new appreciation for the training I do, the activeness I have, the need, urge to run, workout, train for the newest goal I set upon myself. Yesterday, I found myself anxious to get back on the schedule. The urge rose again with more fervor than I have felt in months. Today, I begin Week 2 of training, perhaps at a slower pace, but I appreciate the fact that I need and want to continue training.