Bumps in the Road

So training has not been going as exactly as planned.  I came down with a cold 2 weeks ago which turned into an upper respiratory infection.  I tried to exercise lightly but started to feel really tired and run down so I decided that my body was craving rest.  I missed 2 long runs (4 mile and 5 mile) and then I took 3 days off from all exercise.  I will try to get back on track this week.  According to my plan, this weekend’s long run is supposed to be 3 miles.  Maybe I can do 4 miles and then get back on track for next weekend’s 6.5 mile run. 

Recap of Week 1 - So far so Good!

So this week I have been logging into Dailymile with my daily exercises.  I was surprised to see that I ran 11 miles this week!  I have been alternating running days with elliptical days.  I started last Sunday by running 3 miles.  This was the first time I have run in over a year!  My legs felt really heavy and my breathing was a little out of control but I was determined to complete the whole 3 miles and did so in 39 minutes.  The next day my legs were sore (DOMS) but I didn’t let that stop me from hopping on the elliptical (which actually helped with the soreness)!  In the past I would have taken a rest day if I was sore but working out on those sore legs really helped!  The next time I ran was on Tuesday and I did 1 minute walk/ 1 minute run intervals on the treadmill for 2 miles.  I quickly realized why it is referred to as the “dreadmill” and would much rather be running outside.  Thursday I did walk/run intervals of 1 minute each for 2 miles on a track near work.  The weather was a little warm, about 80, but this turned out to be a pretty nice mid-day workout.    Finally, the hubs and I went for out for 4 miles on Sunday.  We did 1 min walk/run intervals for 2 miles then changed to 2/2 for the remaining 2 miles.  I actually liked the 2/2 intervals better.  Since hubs is 6’5” his stride is a lot longer than mine so I had to run a little quicker than I normally would have (he ran slower than his normal pace).  Having a partner was great and kept me from getting bored.

So, week 1 was a success.  I stuck with my training and I feel great!  I already have more energy and look forward to working out!  Hopefully week 2 will be just as successful.

The Plan

I am a big fan of Jeff Galloway.  I think his way of training and running makes a ton of sense especially for beginners.  I am amazed that by walking/running your time can actually increase over what it would be by running only!  This is the method I used to train for the half marathon which didn’t happen, so this is what I will use to train for this one.  I found a Half Marathon Training Program on the RunDisney website.  There are several training programs posted.  I chose this one “To Finish” the race.  I am certainly not anticipating finishing with any great time but I want to keep from being swept (picked up on the bus) and have time to enjoy taking photos with characters along the race route.

I also have several books which I will use as my guides.  Running Getting Started by Jeff Galloway and Marathoning for Mortals by John “the Penguin” Bingham.

Welcome to my blog!

Once upon a time I used to be a runner.  I started running when I was in 5^th grade.  This was around the time of the running craze of the 1980’s.  My parents signed me up for the track club in elementary school.   I am not sure how far we ran but I remember getting ribbons for finishing!  My parents were runners at the time also and my mom and I ran several 5Ks together which was a lot of fun!

I took a few years off running until high school when I joined the cross country team.  I was never a fast runner but I found a sick sense of enjoyment from it!  I loved being on the team.  I do remember our first day of practice when the coach said “Go around the track for a mile warm-up and then we will go for our run”.  I thought “Uh-oh!  What have I got myself into?” but I survived and got better as the season progressed. 

I continued to run off and on mainly once the bug bit me and even trained for a half marathon in 2010 only to get a severe ear infection 2 days before the race and I could not run because of it.  So after that, I stopped running completely.  I think I was let down that I had trained so hard and then could not accomplish what I had set out to do.

So, this story brings me to today!  I will be celebrating a milestone birthday next year (one that ends in a 0) and I was trying to think of some fun way to celebrate when I saw an ad for the Disney Princess Half Marathon which will be held the weekend after my birthday.  I decided that THIS is what I want to do!  I watched several YouTube videos of the race and saw that most runners were dressed in cute princess outfits and there are characters along the route that you can stop and pose for a picture with.  It just looks like A LOT of FUN!

 At first I thought that I can’t do it because I am out of shape.  After not exercising much and not running at all in over a year, I thought “No Way can I do this race in 4 months!”, but then I told myself that I can do anything  IF I put my mind to it!