Half marathon training is coming along nicely with slow and steady progression. First, allow me to tell you many people are excited for me to do my first half marathon, and each share with me great enthusiasm, but feel imtimated by the distance as I did last year when I slowly began adding miles. A half marathon after all is a long distance of 13.1 miles or half the distance of a marathon. In 2008 Running USA reported that half marathon is the fastest growing type of race. Half is mentally and physically challenging where you must build up endurance to do the distance and mentally prepare yourself because YOU yourself push yourself to complete the distance. BUT- doing several forms of training will get you to the finish line with confidence. I have been working on four runs a week, a long run, easy short run, speedwork and tempo. Each workout develops a different aspect of fitnees allwoing me to be ready to GO THE DISTANCE. For months I dreaded the speedwork and still get nervous right before I do speed intervals and even the day before I contemplate how I will feel as I push myself to new limits. The only way to go longer and faster is to go longer and faster during training or practice. I've learned that the more I practice the speed the stronger I get. I've also learned, like in life, it's better not to over think a situation but rather do what must be done to reach the goal. Discomfort is a part of training improvement and part of life growth.
The base I have been building is dependant on consistency, and I concentrate on keeping to my scheduled runs. In the past when I did triathlon, I did not prepare with a program like I am doing now with half. On half race day I will not get out there and compare myself to anyone else, but rather I will reflect on my improvement and growth in the past 6-12 months. The fact is that my base training is allowing me to run without knee pain, and to run with better form, and to run without stopping. I love the expression, "when you think you're done, know there is more in the tank!" Positive thinking is definitely going to take me further than being a negative nellie.
My longest distance so far is my nine miler that I completed last week. In the beginng I started with 2 miles working up from there, but did encounter a few setbacks in April and May only to get back on track kind of hanging around 5-6 miles for a while. The month of June I was able to recoup my energy level with nutrition and rest and build up from 7 to 8 to 9 each week. This week I go back to 6 to get a break and recover. Next week back up to double digits. My plan is to do at least one 13 miler, maybe 2, before Aug. 14.
If you are considering training for a long distance YOU CAN DO IT, just build and properly increase your base while eating nutritionally sound and getting plenty of rest.
Speaking of that I gotta get some sleep for my run tomorrow. See you at the track!
Yours in energy,
kiki
