12/31

Goal for tomorrow: Run the 5K in under 30 minutes

Goal for January: Run 60 miles

Goal for 2008: Cross the finish line at the Half Marathon

12/28

Hmmmm.......new sneakers.....big blister!!

I was suppose to do 5 miles today and absolutely could not take the pain after 2.5 b/c a big blister started on the inside of my foot. Luckily I was on the treadmill and could stop. Now I'm not sure what to do. Try to return them? Wear them in (although I'm not sure how)? Try different socks? Ugh....

12/27

I've managed to keep up my miles this week, despite holidays and not wanting to do anything but lounge around and eat! Today I tried a new route that I liked- 3.3 miles. It starting pouring rain about 5 minutes into the run but for some reason I had a lot of energy today so it wasn't too bad. Tomorrow I am hoping to run my "long" 5 mile run of the week. I have been having a little bit of pain this week, which I think is just shin splints. I bought new sneakers today, which was long overdue, and am hoping that helps.
Matt and I are running the Frosty 5K on New Year's Day. That should be fun. Let's hope the temps stay up for a bit longer.

12/22

Found this cool website and just seeing if this link works.....my run today- I was hoping it was 3 but this says 2.8. I really liked this route!

12/19

Last week I was feeling so motivated! When I did my long run on Friday I felt like I could keep going and going! Not so much this week...

Sunday I was still feeling sore from Friday and only got 2 miles in, which felt like pure torture! Last night I ran outside and I felt good but it was getting dark and I was running outside and nervous about the black ice so I only got in 2.5 miles. Today I felt the same way I did Sunday- I ran in Saybrook, right after school and did 2.6 miles but every single tenth of a mile felt like a struggle. People have told me that this is normal- that some runs will seem easy and others will seem hard. My goal right now is to just continue to get 12 miles in per week, at least until we get through the craziness of the holiday season. It feels like I have a lot to do right now and I think that might be weighing my mind down during my runs. I do feel good that I still have 18+ weeks left to train and am telling myself that as long as I can keep to at least 12-15 miles a week for the next 8 weeks, I will be prepared to start the "real" training for the 10 weeks before the race. Here is the schedule I found on marathonrookie.com for the 10 weeks prior to the race. It seems challenging but realistic....

10-Week Half Marathon Training Schedule

Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
1	3	Rest	3	3	Rest	4	Rest	13
2	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	5	Rest	15
3	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	6	Rest	16
4	3	Rest	5	3	Rest	8	Rest	19
5	3	Rest	5	3	Rest	10	Rest	21
6	4	Rest	5	4	Rest	11	Rest	24
7	4	Rest	6	4	Rest	12	Rest	26
8	4	Rest	5	4	Rest	9	Rest	22
9	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	8	Rest	18
10	3	Rest	3	Walk 2	Rest	13.1	Rest	21.1

Week 3

I decided to start this blogspot because I am slowly coming to realize just how mental this whole running thing is. I am not a "runner". Actually, for years I have had to fight against my body's :non athletic: tendencies. Somehow, I feel like getting my thoughts down somewhere will help me on this journey (plus, it is only week 3 and already I think Matt is sick of hearing about my running!).

Today was the end of week 3's training. I ran 12 miles this week. Today I ran 4.5 miles in 44 minutes- this is the farthest I have run since beginning my training.

There are 19+ weeks until the half marathon in Washington Depot, CT. April 27th. 7:55am. I was able to find a beginner's training guide to a half marathon and it starts at 10 weeks before the race. So, for these 9 more weeks, I will build stamina and hold tight to the motivation I feel today. I would like to increase my weekly running to 15 miles a week in the next couple of weeks.

I don't really know why I decided to run this race. I think it is because in my whole life I don't feel as if I have ever REALLY challenged myself in a physical way. I have had many challenges in my life but I would love to achieve this physical accomplishment. I also feel great satisfaction after running and am now understanding the feel of addiction when it comes to running. I feel so good after a run and feel like I can release so much tension with a run. Most importantly, I want to be a role model to Lucas- I want him to learn by example how important health physical activity is. I hope that he will be at the finish line at the end of my race- he won't understand at age 3 but maybe he'll take away a little something that will lay the ground work for a healthy lifestyle. Maybe he'll learn something about motivation, determination and the satisfaction of achieving a personal goal.

I have no specific goal for this race except to cross the finish line! I know I have a LONG way to go and I know there will be many obstacles (including training through the winter and the busy schedules both Matt and I have) but I am really going to give it my all. I really want this!!!