Mistletoe76
Training for a Half Marathon!!!
Jun 03, 2009
I recently decided that I wanted to run a 5K race. Then I started looking into dates or events in NY/NJ and I couldn't find any that fit into my schedule. Yesterday I stumbled across a Half Marathon in Jersey City, NJ on September 27th which happens to be a weekend that I'll be in NJ anyway. I'm going to the U2 Concert on Friday the 25th at Giants Stadium!! So the date and location were perfect since my Sister's house is 10 minutes away from the race. I emailed her to see if she'd do it with me and she's on board!!I feel overwhelmed but at the same time so proud of myself for taking this huge step! Right away I had to map out a training program so that I can stay on track and succeed in running for the full 13.1 miles. I found a wonderful 10 week training program that I plan to follow. It recommends that you start the program when you can run for 30 minutes without stopping. Since there are 16 weeks (and 4 days) until the race I have 6 weeks to get to the point where I can run for 30 minutes which seems extremely doable to me.
I've already been working out for 1 hour at a time on the elliptical but I had no clue how that might translate to actually running. So, last night I walked briskly for 5 minutes on the treadmill and then I decided to aim for 1 mile of running without stopping. I did it! I only ran at 4 mph which is a 15 minute mile but I didn't care....I did it. I have never run that far in my life. I was so proud of myself because I also knew I could have kept on going. I don't want to overdo it so I walked for another 5 minutes to cool down. (I know that I'll have to switch to running outdoors soon but initially I am running on the treadmill).
The training program says not to run 2 days in a row so tonight's workout is going to be aerobics of some sort....probably an exercise video and then free weights. Tomorrow my goal is to run 1 1/2 miles after a warm up of walking. I truly feel for the first time in my life that I can start and finish this goal.
The only down side is that I wish my hubby could be here to see me do this. He'd be running right alongside me if he wasn't in Afghanistan! I hope that we'll have family there to support us and take a picture or two so I can share it with Mark.
I will definitely be using this blog to discuss how the training is going.
Thanks for reading this!
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About Me
Fort Drum, NY
Location
30.9
BMI
Surgery
08/27/2008
Surgery Date
Aug 31, 2007
Member Since
