Watch Me

After several thousand steps pushing my granddaughter in her stroller today while her mom had some minor surgery, I came home and napped. Woke, sucked down a cup of coffee and debated with myself whether to run today or not. I could have, technically, used the day as a rest day, I had walked all those steps as a manner of cross training. The wind was up a bit but was that an excuse? Needless to day, I laced up and got my run on. Because January 2014, I will be running the half marathon at Disney World, Orlando, FL...

Just watch me!

Week Two, Day One

I started my first day of Half Marathon Training Week two today. The weather was a smidge windy but it was tolerable. At least the gusts didn't blow me off the sidewalk like they did last week. This is the training schedule I'm following if anyone wants to jump in and join me.

Half Marathon Training Schedule for Runners and Walkers
Week Monday Tuesday TT Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
1 off 30 min run off 25 min run easy walk off 3 miles
2 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles
3 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles
4 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 2.5 miles
5 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 6.5 miles
6 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 3 miles with MM
7 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 8 miles
8 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 3 miles with MM
9 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 9.5 miles
10 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles
11 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 11 miles
12 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles with MM
13 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 12.5 miles
14 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles with MM
15 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 14 miles
16 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles
17 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off Half Marathon Race
18 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles
19 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 6-8 miles

I can't use those days of the week due to the 6 night work stretch I do every other week, but I plug the days into my own planner/calendar and accomplish the same goal. The off days are spent cross training. This is one of Jeff Galloway's training plans, I posted the link the other day, for those who want to read more about his plans.

I'm already beginning to worry about our move half way across the country in a month and fretting about what it will do to my training plan. Will I be able to run after a 12 hour driving day? Should I get up an hour early and run before each of the three days of driving. Maybe I should count those three days as my off days and totally screw up my body, LOL! I guess I'll just wait and see. I'm not going to be making excuses, that's for sure!

Watch Me!

Half Marathon Training Plan, week one, complete. A year and a half ago, if I knew it was okay to walk run walk run, I would have stuck with it, well, I would like to think I would have stuck with it. I figured I was too old, too out of shape, too busy. If I had continued to run, I would already be doing a half marathon! But, destiny, fate, whatever, things happen for a reason and maybe I just wasn't ready to take on the challenge. Regardless, I am so pumped up, getting fitter everyday. Psyched that Jeff Galloway actually encourages me to walk and run, and today, my first "long run" in the training plan, actually cut 2 minutes off of my 5K time! WTH! And it felt good.

I'm a gadget girl and usually if I like a gadget, I will eventually buy my oldest daughter one. Tabetha likes gadgets as much as I do. I love my Garmin Forerunner 10 watch, use it to see my pace. But with the training plan I'm using, I love an interval timer! I bought the Gymboss and set it for my run and walk time. I set it to vibrate and beep and I can actually hear it over my music plus I had it clipped to my tank so the vibration was nice too!. I found myself counting steps, or counting every other step to see if I could predict when the buzzer would go off. Might be my ADD but I can't just clear my mind and run. My shadow didn't run today, so I had to come up with other games to amuse myself and I'm thinking this will actually be a benefit during my half! Hope so anyway.

Relax, Train, Be Ready

The other night I tossed and turned, worried that I screwed up my time frame for a specific half marathon training program. Oh my god, I thought, the programs are for 28 weeks and I only have 26 weeks before my half. It would have been easier to just get up and look but I tend to worry myself into a frazzle. Of course, the next morning, sucking down my coffee, I scanned all the various training programs I've been collecting. Yes, I have quite a few because I like choices and then I like to tweak to my own needs. What I had failed to realize while tossing and turning and tying the sheets into knots is that I have already been running. Relax, train, you'll be ready. My running partner agrees! She sure does need a name though.

Today, I lacked time so I did my time on the treadmill. I listened to Jeff Galloways's training program. I have read several of his books and am impressed with his insight and theories. I might add, he is also the trainer for RunDisney. I'll use his program and tweak it as I need.

My running partner

I don't usually run in the evening but we had a Coast Guard function today so this evening it was. One of advantages of an evening run is that my shadow runs side by side with me. I have to say, she looks damn good lately!. She's a great conversationalist and she keeps pace with me, regardless of how slow I go. Today we discussed the Disney Half Marathon I registered for in January 2014. Looking back, I wish I had registered for the Princess Half, but I didn't so here I go. I have my training plans set and am feeling motivated. I laughed when I saw the first "long run", it's three miles. A shade less than a 5K and a distance I know I can do with relative ease. Will be a confidence booster, maybe

The weather was beautiful tonight and I will enjoy the lack of humidity as long as I can. I worry what the heat and humidity will do to my running when we arrive in Texas, about one month to go! I will adjust, this means too much to me.

After all...

Body Weight Exercises

These look like a great set of body weight exercises to do when I can't get to the gym!

Get health and fitness tips at Greatist.com.

Monday's Motivation

Celebrate each step!