The Training Can't End Until It Begins

So it's about time I used this blog for an actual purpose and wrote on it regularly. People say that writing about something (eating, exercising, etc.) is a good way to make you really think about it and make it a habit. So I'm going to try and write on this blog about each of my workouts, good or bad. Just as a way to journal my progress. I think that was kind of the point of this blog in the first place, but I'm starting a new.

Speaking of starting, I wrote out my half training and lucky me I've got the rest of this week before my 12 weeks of training start. The miles will go up gradually each week, but here's a basic week of training for me.

Sunday- Rest/Stretch/Yoga on the Wii Fit
Monday- Run intervals/speedwork (3-5 miles total)
Tuesday- Either a short run with hills (~2 miles) spinning.
Wednesday- Easy run (3-5 miles)
Thursday- Either a short run with hills (~2 miles) spinning.
Friday- Rest/stretch day
Saturday- Long run (4-11 miles)

On top of this, I'm still going to continue doing the toning and yoga exercises on Wii Fit but mostly just because I enjoy them. My goal is to get all of the running workouts in each week or at least the three major (intervals, easy, and long) runs and at least one other day of hard sweating.
And I've decided that I need to give myself a reward when I do well in my training. So for every week of training I successfully complete, I'm going to give myself a small reward (soak in the bath tub, sleep in a little longer, manicure, etc.). And when I finally lose the last five pounds that my body really just wants to hold onto, I'm going to get a massage.

MIA to BIA (Back in Action)

I haven't been around for a while, and I wish I could say I had been running all that time I was gone. But I haven't been. I got miserably sick two weeks ago and then my friend came into town for the inauguration. Needless to say the training didn't go so well.

Good thing my dad decided this week that he couldn't do March 7. So we changed the location and push back the date six weeks. Now I get to start another 12 week training program tomorrow. I think it's about perfect other than the fact that the course has hills, and I've never run hills before. A slight slope yes, hills no.

I've never trained for hills. I've never run on hills. And I'm not excited about running hills but I'm going to have to. So the question is how do you train for hills? I currently do one day of interval/speed training, one day of tempo training, and one long run. I'm planning on adding in one more day of running for hill training but have no idea where to start.Please help.My next set of half-training (since the date has been pushed back) starts tomorrow and runs for 12 weeks. Any advice on running/training for hills will help in the cause of keeping me alive when I run on April 25.

Why I Love Running #1

I've decided that every time I have a bad run or workout I'm going to come home and blog about a reason I love running. I ran 3 1/2 tonight, and it sucked.

So the first reason I love running is the definition that it gives to my legs. I've always had strong legs, but running just gives me those toned looking lines on my calves and the definition in my hamstrings. Oh and did I mention that I love the feeling of walking and the muscles flexing as I walk after a nice long run? Amazing.

It's working. I feel much better now.

Long Run One

I'm following a training program that has me running 3-4 days a week. One easy short (3-5 miles) run, one interval short run (3-5 miles), and one long run (5-12) and then I can do an easy (2 miles) run or cross train on the other days. I recently picked up spinning, which is great for cross training so I'm going to do that instead of the fourth day of running. Long runs for me are by far the hardest to get in and are definitely the most important. So today I told myself I would run outside of my long run (5 miles) and finally got around to it at 4:00 PM. I got all geared up with Under Armor, my no slip belt for my keys, and my IPOD with the perfect running playlist and headed out to the Mt. Vernon trail.

I ran a little over six miles (a little over an hour) and finally felt like a runner for the first in over two years. I ran out and back (eight songs out and nine songs back) and when I got back to my car, I felt like I could've kept going, which is the best feeling in the world. The first mile was the toughest (like it always is), but I just kept telling myself 15 more songs, 14 more songs, etc. And I made it. One long run down, seven to go before the half.

Getting Back on the Treadmill

I've been at my parent's house for the past ten days, and it killed me. I was pretty active (walking around an amusement park, 2-on-2 volleyball, racquetball, and basketball) but I didn't get any running in. And I got more than enough sweets in.

So yesterday started yet another new beginning for me. I ended off the year with a bang (and some gummy bears) and am ready to start this one off even better (and minus the gummy bears). Nine weeks from Saturday I'm planning to run my fourth half-marathon, and I'm really doing it this time. No more excuses this time. I wrote out my schedule and am going to stick to it. Albany, GA here I come.

I'm going to try and update this blog as I continue my training to keep me both motivated and tracking my progress. I ran 3.1 (I always try to run at least 5K) on the treadmill today while watching Friends and the GAC country music countdown. The run itself was okay, not great, but I made it. It was the first run back after a two week break, and I'm glad I did it. I'm going to dinner tonight and then down to the gym for some cross training... then a five-miler tomorrow. One day at a time. I'm going to do it.