FULL Marathon Training: Week 1

Starting this last week, I was planning on doing week 3 of training for the half marathon. Monday night, I was looking at my calendar and training program and realized I was a week off. Little panic set it. I needed to start full marathon training now (Aug 19) not next week. Thankfully Mondays run was on half of a mile shorter than what I needed to run for the full training plan. This was a very challenging week of training. Pushed myself hard several times. Constantly reminding myself to not worry about my pace or time but just getting out there and running. Doubt in myself and my ability to train and finish the full have set in several times this week. Focusing on staying motivated and disciplined to reach my end goal, TWENTY SIX POINT TWO miles. I can do this, I will do this!

Workouts from this week: 

Monday: Ran 3.5 miles. 5-1 splits. 42:29. paced out at 11:20/mile. Walked 1.5 miles with the boys.

Tuesday: Biggest Loser Cardio Max video. In 2009, I could not survive this video. 4 years later, I was able to finally complete the video. It was a lot easier now that I am a good 30lbs lighter. While I was able to complete the video there were still challenging parts. I was very very sore in my legs for the next two days. Lots of lunges, yuck. 

Wednesday: Ran 4 miles. Tried to stick with 5-1 splits but it wasn't set in my phone to tell me when to walk or not so I just best guessed it. 47:55. paced out at 11:57/mile. Pushed 7mpm sprint at the end to lower my average pace. 

Thursday: Ran 4 miles with Jill. 45:50. paced out at 11:26/mile. Ran late at night after the sun went down, yet it was still HOT. It was 91 degrees when we finished running at like 9:30PM. Crazy stupid Texas heat. After our run we walked a mile for a cool down. 

Friday: Weights at the gym with a little ab work out. Increased to 4 reps of 10 at 20lbs on all the arm machines. 4 reps of 10 at 20 lbs on the leg machines. Did 3 sets of 10 weighted (5lbs) in and outs, caterpillars (don't think that is the technical name but I like to call them caterpillars) and regular crunches for ab work. Very little abs but enough to make me sore two days later. 

Saturday: Oh boy, Ran 8 miles. 4-1 splits. 1:44:04. Paced out at 13:00/mile. Ran the first 5 miles with Katie. Challenging but good miles. Before even running one mile, we came across a LIVING armadillo. Had to stop and get a picture. How often do you find armadillos that aren't dead on the side of the road, like never!!   The last 3 miles I ran alone. Slow and alone. and there was more walking than running. It was awful, hot, exhausted and I was just burned out. Made myself suck it up and finish the full 8, even though I walked a lot I got out there and did 8 miles. It was a very challenging run(walk) but I have to remind myself challenging runs will make me stronger in the long run.

Sunday: Absolutely nothing. Rest day. So I did just that. Went to church, came home and ate lunch then slept till it was time to make dinner. Loved every minute of rest day! 

Tomorrow starts week two of marathon training. It will be another challenging week but I know if I pace myself and stay focused I will survive.

Back at it. For real.

I have lacked discipline over the last month. Life has been super fast and packed full with stuff happening all the time that getting sleep had taken over my running schedule. I have a little over a week till full marathon training starts so this week and next week are dedicated to creating a habit. I have put myself in bed no later than 10pm everynight this week, while I might not be asleep by then I am in bed and that is half the battle. My alarms start going off at 5:30. I allow myself a 20 minutes snooze window, out of bed by 5:50 and out the door by 6am. I have LOVED having the consistency of sleep and starting my day with exercise. Only down fall to waking up before the sun, is I want to fall asleep with the sun, which is just a little too early. 

This week is week 2 of Half Marathon Training (I skipped week 1, oops). It has been a good week of runs, strength training and cross training. In the past I would have skipped my strength and cross training. Sticking to it this time around. I am excited to see how much the strength and cross training will help my running performance. Here are my workout from this week: 

Monday- 3 mile run with Katie. We did 4-1 splits. 40:12. Paced out at 13:19 

Tuesday- 2 mile run. No splits. 22:13. Paces out at 11:06. 

Wednesday- 3.2 miles on a stationary bike in 20 minutes. Followed by weights. 3 reps of 10 each machine. Lifted 20lbs on all arm machines and 30 on legs. (Little secret-I have no clue how to do strength training, just kind of making it up as I go) 

Thursday- 3 miles run. 5-1 splits. 34:49. Paced out at 11:34. 

Friday- 4.4 miles on a stationary bike in 20 minutes. Followed by weights. 3 reps of 10 each machine. Lifted 20lbs on all arm machines and 30 on legs. 

Tomorrow I will run 4 miles for this weeks long run. 

It has been a good week getting back in training habit. Good eating habits are slowly falling into place. Fast food eating has pretty much stopped, I can't remember the last time I was in such a big hurry that I found dinner in a drive-thru. Excited to see this training program and habits last. Laziness will not ruin my marathon. I am determined.