Grace Runs

Half Marathon Training: Week 8

This was a good week.

Not only did I keep a good pace with my 8-miler on Sunday, but I also ran my fastest 5k time today!

Today was the first day to run/log time for the All Hallows’ Eve race, so I decided to knock it out.

32:34. Just over a 10-minute mile. My fastest to date.

I have a journal from 5 years ago and the first entry is 2 New Year’s resolutions, one of which was to run a 10-minute mile.

It took 5 years, but I did it.

And after that little confidence boost, I’m getting really excited for the race on Sunday! I can’t believe it’s already here—and I can’t believe I’m actually prepared for it. I was doubtful I would be at first, but I’m feeling good about it.

I have 4 miles tomorrow, off Wednesday, 3 on Thursday and Friday, off Saturday and race Sunday.

I’ll absolutely be sure to let you all know how it goes :)

Half Marathon Training: Week 7

Another week down.

This week was a good week. I got all miles miles in, plus and extra 2 here or there.

I had to move my long run from tomorrow to today because I have something going on tomorrow when I would normally run, so I decided to go ahead and knock it out. I did 10.5, but it was a little more challenging today than it was last week—but better. I had to stop around the 7.6 mile mark and use the bathroom (it seriously could NOT wait… trust) and refill water, and after that it was so hard to get running again. That’s why I don’t like to stop, because it’s very challenging for me to start again. I ended up walking for some of the last 2.5 miles, probably about 15 minutes tops.

Last week it took me right under 2 and a half hours to get to 10 miles, and today it took me right at 2 hours and 10 minutes to hit 10 miles. So that’s a good thing since there’s a 3 hour time limit on the race I’m doing.

I’m getting excited—nervous, but I feel prepared.

Gotta say though… I’m really looking forward to a day off tomorrow.

Half Marathon Training: Week 6

This week was pretty good—Got all my running in (and them some).

I did 4 miles most days, and then yesterday was my long run, and my first run hitting double digits. 10 miles relatively easy—the only thing that hurt at the end were my legs. I thought they were going to fall off.

It was a slow run, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is I did it. I also listened to the same song for the entire run… Yeah, the same song for every inch of all 10.4 of those miles.

I brought water this time, and ate a bagel and a banana about an hour and a half before hand, and thankfully I was able to avoid the passing out, throwing up feeling at the end. I actually felt really great at the end, save for the fact I could hardly walk.

But I’m feeling okay today—haven’t eaten that great, but other than that, my body feels okay. I’m about to go knock out today’s run as soon as my phone’s finished backing up.

Have a wonderful week, my friends.

Half Marathon Training: Week 5

This week was actually kind of a rough one. It rained a lot of the week, so on Tuesday I was forced to run 4 miles on a treadmill, which I haven’t done in MONTHS. I haven’t been on a treadmill since before June.

I started to have a lot of back pain, and I really think it was from running on a treadmill—the shock absorption and whatnot.

So on Thursday I actually did 4 miles on an elliptical instead of running because my back was hurting and it was early and rainy all week.

Sunday was supposed to be my long run, a 10-miler, but about 4 miles in, the sky fell out and it started to thunder and lightning. I made it 5.3 miles before I stopped. Pretty disappointing, but it was cold, I was soaked, it was storming, and I couldn’t do anything about it.

I haven’t been eating that great, either.

So yeah, it was a pretty bad week. But… trying to do better this week.

Half Marathon Training: Week 4

Success! Mostly.

Weekly total: 27 miles

I did my long run this morning, which was scheduled to be 8 miles again, but I bumped it up to 9. It took me right under 2 hours, and it really wasn’t that awful while I was running… but I’ve found that the further distances I go, the worse I feel post run. Like, I’ll finish the run, walk for about 4-5 minutes, try and stretch some, and by the time I’m back home, I honestly feel like I’m going to pass out. After my run today, for example, I walked in the door and barely had time to pour a glass of water and grab an apple before I felt like I was going to pass out. So I scurried into my room, set the water down, and laid down on the floor. I ate my apple, yes, while laying down, and laid there until I thought I could get up okay.

So my question is as such: What on earth can I do to keep from feeling sick and like I’m going to pass out after a long run? I made sure I ate enough this morning (I had a banana and oatmeal with peanut butter), but maybe I’m not eating the right thing? I felt it after my triathlon, too. Like my body’s rebelling against me or something. So any advice you have on beating the post workout blues would be greatly appreciated.

Half Marathon Training: Week 3 (and a half)

I realize week 3 technically ended almost a week ago… but I’ve been busy this week. And I may have plain forgotten to update you guys. Oops.

ANYWAYS, last week was pretty good—I got a little thrown off because I was sick, but I did a pretty good job keeping up with everything.

My weekly total was about 22 miles, give or take.

Last Saturday I had my first super challenging long run in the sense that it was the furthest I’ve ever run in my whole life. 8 miles. It wasn’t as awful as I was afraid it would be—I did have to turn off the voice updates on my app that chime in with stats every mile so I could focus on just running and not when I’d hit the next mile. That made it a lot easier. It took me about an hour and 47 minutes—not very fast, at all, but I paced it out really well and was very consistent with my speed and whatnot.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping, and trying, to knock off a few pounds in the process of training for this thing… but honestly, I think I’m going to start worrying about the running more than I am about losing the weight. And hopefully the weight thing will follow. If not, I’ll deal with that later.

I’ve been doing good this week so far. I’m about to go knock out 3 miles as soon as I finish this. Tomorrow’s another 8 day, but I think I’m going to bump it up to 9.

Hopefully that will be a wise decision.

Half Marathon Training: Week 2

Week 2 down.

This week was really good in terms of my training—the running, in any case.

I’m not entirely sure what my weekly total was, somewhere around 21 miles, I think. On one of my 4 mile days I ran 5, and on my other 4 mile day I ran 4.5, and on a 3 mile day I ran almost 4.

I’ve been doing well at keeping up in that regard.

Today I’m supposed to run 6, but I’ve been sick since late Friday, and I feel absolutely terrible, so I don’t think I’m going to make it…

I hate that I’m having to take 2 off days in a row, but I can’t help it. I want to get better, not worse, so I’ll hope I feel well enough tomorrow to do 6 miles.

I haven’t been eating that great this weekend, either, which is not a good thing. Just having a slip up weekend, but I’m trying to get back on track today.

Half Marathon Training: Week One Recap

This was going to come yesterday, BUT I got a ticket to the sold out Ed Sheeran show in Charlotte last second, so I was gone almost all day.

(Shameless plug: Ed Sheeran is amazing, and if you have the chance to see him live, DO IT. Also, listen to his music if you don’t.)

Anyways, week one down!

Total miles for the week: 19

I had 5 days of running 3 miles, and yesterday I ran a little over 4.

The running has been kind of difficult, but I honestly think it’s the weather. It’s so hot and humid—yesterday, though, it wasn’t as bad, and I found that running was much more enjoyable when I didn’t feel like I was sweating my skin off.

I have 3 miles today, which I’m going to tackle after class.

In addition to running, I’ve also been going to core classes as well as trying to get back into yoga. I do core on MWF and yoga on T/Th (at 6:45 in the morning—it’s rough, can’t lie about that.)

Anyways—week one down.

Here’s hoping for a successful second week.

Half Training, Take 2

Okay, so as you can probably tell… I dropped the ball.

I dropped the ball big time.

I did pretty good for about a week, but then I kind of got busy doing other things and running took a little tiny backseat. I also wasn’t eating as well as I should have been for a while.

I thought having a schedule to follow would make running while in California a little easier, but it actually didn’t make any difference.

I’ve still been running/walking/hiking, but not to the extent of what my half marathon training schedule calls for.

So I’ve decided to scrap the 12 week program and pick up an 8 week program when I get back home.

I’m still doing the race. I’m just having to condense my training a little bit, and that’s okay. I don’t think it’ll be an issue.

I only have a few days left on the west coast, so I’m going to enjoy them as much as I can before heading back home to reality.

Half Marathon Training: Day 2

Day 2 only because technically yesterday was day 1.

Today was the first run—

Stats:

Distance: 3.03 miles.
Duration: 39:30.
Pace: 13:03. 

Kind of slow, but in my defense, the first 2 miles of my run this morning were uphill. Starting elevation was 376 feet, and the maximum elevation was 550 feet. The thing about LA is that… it’s all a giant mountain. Okay, not really, but there are hills everywhere, steep hills and gradual inclines, that make running more challenging.

The good thing is that I’ve been running these hilly areas for over a month now, so when I go home, it won’t be as difficult. The location of the race is almost completely 100% flat.

I think measuring success in this training stretch is going to be more difficult for me… but I did the run, and that counts for something.