Training

Hi girls,

Robin, I've been thinking about your question and I have a few "prizes" I'd like to win. I'm shooting for:
1) training hard (I'm so "Type A" there's just something about working hard for your goal that is inspiring and motivating to me),
2) finishing the race (that will be the most miles I've ever run...a 5k being the most) ;)
3) becoming more focused, and
4) watching others draw closer to their goals

And, Robin, I think that your nickname is very fitting BTW...I was glad when Lindsey said that I was "A-train" and not "Caboose"! :) I'm rethinking the name now...maybe it should be "rookie" cause I have no idea what I'm doing.

I ran on the treadmill yesterday. Did 2.76 miles in 30 minutes. It felt great to do it, but I didn't feel like I'd trained my hardest. (Could it have been that mini chocolate donut that I ate off of Brooke's plate?) ;) I don't normally run on the treadmill (I prefer the elliptical), so maybe I didn't have the settings right, but I wasn't really winded or tired. Maybe another thing is that, for me, exercising inside, where the a/c is on and there is no wind to compete with makes for a lesser workout. I feel like I usually run faster/harder when I'm outside.

Today I ran 3 miles in 30 minutes. I ran outside and I could feel the difference immediately! I wanted to stop about 1/10 of a mile into it! I had no energy and it seemed to be way more mental for me today. After about 10 minutes into the run, I was fine, and once I made it to 30 I was so excited.

I have a 2 mile run tomorrow and am supposed to rest Sunday.

I have a few more questions...my training plan is for 14 weeks out. So, technically, I wouldn't start training till mid-August. But, I want to start now, so should I "do" weeks 1-4 twice each to make up for the 4 week difference? So, I'd do Week 1 again next week...Week 2 twice, etc.? Or, should I just train for the 14 weeks starting now and then tack on some runs those last few weeks of training? Also, how important are cross-training days? Can I just run instead? What are form drills/strides?

Goals???

What's the deal with "Wonderwoman?" I know! You are always "wondering" when I am going to show up at the finish line!

"Do you know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corr 9:24

What is y'alls prize that you are looking for?

Right now and through the summer, I am running/walking 4 miles (run a block, walk a block, run a block, walk a block) every morning during the week. And then one day on the weekend, I am working up to a 6 miler (running until I need to walk and then I am using the Jeff Galloway method of walking for 15 - 30 seconds). When I was young like you kiddos, I always felt like 6 1/2 miles was the perfect distance. Enough to get your adrenaline up and feeling better at the end than I did at the beginning. Unfortunately, I am not feeling that yet, but I will in time. In September, I plan on increasing my weekend run to a long run, and I will have to see about my weekdays. I have to be careful not to let my running partner stumble. (That is a bible verse too, isn't it?)

God is good - all the time!

Rookie

I'm a blog rookie, but I'm super excited about this idea...hoping that it will keep me more accountable in my training. A little background info on me since I don't know everyone on this blog well - I am a mom of 3 - Hayden(7), Chloe(5) and Sophie (9months) and have run 1 half marathon in Houston in 2005. When I told Brady, my husband, about Amanda's nickname suggestions she texted to me (i.e. flash or swifty), he laughed and said "Has Amanda ever actually run with you?" In other words, I have the passion for running but have not been gifted with speed! My goals for the San Antonio half are to A. finish and B. at least slightly beat the time of my last half. I'm already intimidated and inspired at the same time by Lindsay's training schedule. Right now, I'm trying to get in 4 runs a week and cross train 2 days...I like to spin and take bodypump classes. I need to start going on longer runs soon - right now I'm running about 30-40 minutes with a couple of (gasp!) walk breaks in there. I'd like to wean myself from the walk breaks also. Still thinking of a nickname for myself - molasses? Just kidding.

Questions from the rookie...

Thanks for setting this up, Linds! I'm excited to see what everyone else is doing in terms of training. I woke up this morning feeling tired and cranky. Katie has been sick and Gold's Gym won't let me leave her there while I workout. Most of the summer has been plagued with sickness at our house. Seems like there hasn't been one week without SOMEONE not feeling well. So, my working out has suffered and I thought that today would be the same. Jake came home this morning to do his workout and decided to take Brooke and Katie to work with him for a while so that I could do something. Since it was raining, I went to the gym and did 5.2 miles on the elliptical. It felt really good to do it! And, was totally mood-altering for me (it's been a MUCH better afternoon than it was morning!).
For the most part, my training schedule goes by how long (in terms of time) I should run instead of how far. So, tomorrow's plan was to run for 30 minutes. Should I be shooting for a certain distance instead? I'm new to all this training...so please let me know what you think works best or if it even matters...
Rebecca, I'll be thinking of a nickname for you.....maybe lean, mean running machine!? ;)
Looking forward to the journey...

Call me Learjet

Nicknames are awesome. My new running nickname is Learjet. Amanda is the A-train, Robin is Wonderwoman, Lori is Coach Toxic, and we need to come up with one for Rebecca, for sure. If Melinda joins the page, she'll be something with Ninja in the title.
My training revolves more around Denver than SA, but I put in 6 on Tuesday, 6 today on the treadmill (usually hate it, but some days are just too hot), will do 8 on thursday, friday rest, saturday 4 with 30 minutes of spin to loosen my legs, and Sunday will be my first 15 miler since March. We're having rather cool mornings this week, so I'm pretty excited.
They say the key is to divide your runs into parts, so right now I'm focusing on doing the first three of my sixes pretty easy, and then increasing speed the last three miles, to get where I can consistently do a sub 8:30 5k- its a goal. Let me know if there is anyone else you want to invite to join this blog and I'll put their emails in. Peace out-Learjet (Lindsey)