Week 7

I started the week with a 2 mile run on Sunday afternoon.  I always run alone, but Brad joined me that day.  He's going to do the marathon relay with some of his coworkers. 

My second run was after work on Tuesday.  I did 4 miles, and the weather was gorgeous!  63 degrees at 6:00pm on January 30th!  I wore shorts, a tank, and a light jacket.  I probably could have run without the jacket, because I got a little warm about halfway through.

I had another 2 mile run after work on Wednesday.  It was another beautiful evening! 

This morning (Saturday), I ran 8 miles!  That was my longest run ever!  I felt really good, and I only stopped for a few seconds around mile 5 to get a fresh piece of gum.  I don't know if chewing gum while running is a good or bad habit, but I always chew gum while working out.  I think I do it, because it keeps my mouth from getting dry.  By about mile 7, my left hip started getting a little sore.  This evening, it's still a little achy.  I plan to get in the whirlpool during halftime of the Thunder game.  Maybe the heat and circulating water will help it out.

12 weeks until the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon!

Week 6

Week 6 - my last week of running 3 days/week.  I'll be doing 4 days/week from here on.

I started the week with a 5 mile run on Tuesday.  I hurried home from work, changed clothes, and headed out pretty quickly, because I wanted to beat a storm that was moving in from the southwest.  I did beat the rain by about 15 minutes, but the lightening definitely picked up during my last mile.

I ran 4 miles after work on Thursday.  I could really tell this day that it's starting to stay a little bit lighter longer in the evenings.  I've been so used to running my last couple miles in the dark, but it stayed fairly light through my entire run.

My long run was 6 miles on Saturday.  It was in the 30s but sunny.  I wound my way through the neighborhoods north and west of my house.  At about mile 4, I made my way back by my house to grab a quick drink from a water bottle that I had put out on the porch before my run.  The last couple miles seemed pretty easy.

Training plan

Nicole at Running in Heels invited people to post their training plans and participate in a link-up on her blog.  Below is the training plan that I got from Runner's World Smart Coach  I sometimes shift days forward or back, depending on my schedule and the weather.  In addition to running, I do boot camp every Monday/Friday morning.  I teach that class with two other instructors, so I teach every third class and am a student the other days.  I also take a power/strength class on Wednesday mornings.  When my schedule allows, I also try to get to a yoga class on Tuesday evenings.

WEEK 1: 11 Mi 
Sun, 12/18/2011 - Easy Run, Dist: 3 Mi
Wed, 12/21/2011 - Tempo Run,  Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2 Mi; Cool
Sat, 12/24/2011 - Long Run, Dist: 4 Mi

WEEK 2: 12 Mi 
Sun, 12/25/2011 - Easy Run, Dist: 3 Mi
Tues, 12/27/2011 - Speedwork,  Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2x1600 w/800 jogs; Cool
Thurs, 12/29/2011 - Long Run, Dist: 5 Mi

WEEK 3: 13 Mi 
Sat, 12/31/2011 - Easy Run, Dist: 4 Mi
Mon, 1/2/2012 - Tempo Run,  Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2 Mi; Cool
Wed, 1/4/2012 - Long Run, Dist: 5 Mi

WEEK 4: 11 Mi 
Fri, 1/6/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 4 Mi
Sun, 1/8/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 3 Mi
Fri, 1/13/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 4 Mi

WEEK 5: 14 Mi 
Sun, 1/15/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 4 Mi
Wed, 1/18/2012 - Tempo Run,  Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2 Mi; Cool
Sat, 1/21/2012 - Long Run, Dist: 6 Mi

WEEK 6: 15 Mi 
Tues, 1/24/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 5 Mi
Thurs, 1/26/2012 - Speedwork,  Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2x1600 w/800 jogs; Cool
Sat, 1/28/2012 - Long Run, Dist: 6 Mi

WEEK 7: 16 Mi 
Mon, 1/30/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 2 Mi
Wed, 2/1/2012 - Tempo Run,  Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2 Mi; Cool
Thu,  2/2/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 2 Mi
Sat, 2/4/2012 - Long Run, Dist: 8 Mi

WEEK 8: 13 Mi 
Mon, 2/6/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 3 Mi
Wed, 2/8/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 3 Mi
Thu, 2/9/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 3 Mi
Sat, 2/11/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 4 Mi

WEEK 9: 17 Mi 
Mon, 2/13/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 2 Mi
Wed, 2/15/2012 - Tempo Run,  Dist: 5 Mi, inc Warm; 3 Mi; Cool
Thu, 2/16/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 2 Mi
Sat, 2/18/2012 - Long Run, Dist: 8 Mi

WEEK 10: 17 Mi 
Mon, 2/20/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 3 Mi
Wed, 2/22/2012 - Speedwork, Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2x1600 w/800 jogs; Cool
Thu, 2/23/2012  - Easy Run, Dist: 2 Mi
Sat, 2/25/2012 - Long Run, Dist: 8 Mi

WEEK 11: 18 Mi 
Mon, 2/27/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 2 Mi
Wed, 2/29/2012 - Tempo Run, Dist: 5 Mi, inc Warm; 3 Mi; Cool
Thu, 3/1/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 2 Mi 
Sat, 3/3/2012 - Long Run, Dist: 9 Mi

WEEK 12: 15 Mi 
Mon, 3/5/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 4 Mi 
Wed, 3/7/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 4 Mi 
Thu, 3/8/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 3 Mi 
Sat, 3/10/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 4 Mi 

WEEK 13: 19 Mi 
Mon, 3/12/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 2 Mi 
Wed, 3/14/2012 - Tempo Run, Dist: 5 Mi, inc Warm; 3 Mi; Cool
Thu, 3/15/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 2 Mi 
Sat, 3/17/2012 - Long Run, Dist: 10 Mi 

WEEK 14: 20 Mi 
Mon 3/19/2012 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @12:03
Wed 3/21/2012 Speedwork Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2x1600 in 9:49 w/800 jogs; Cool
Thu 3/22/2012 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @12:03
Sat 3/24/2012 Long Run Dist: 10 Mi @12:03

WEEK 15: 22 Mi 
Mon, 3/26/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 3 Mi 
Wed, 3/28/2012 - Tempo Run, Dist: 6 Mi, inc Warm; 4 Mi; Cool
Thu, 3/29/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 2 Mi 
Sat, 3/31/2012 - Long Run, Dist: 11 Mi 

WEEK 16: 17 Mi 
Mon, 4/2/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 4 Mi
Wed, 4/4/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 4 Mi
Thu, 4/5/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 4 Mi 
Sat, 4/7/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 5 Mi 

WEEK 17: 23 Mi 
Mon, 4/9/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 3 Mi
Wed, 4/11/2012 - Tempo Run, Dist: 6 Mi, inc Warm; 4 Mi; Cool
Thu, 4/12/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 3 Mi
Sat, 4/14/2012 - Long Run, Dist: 11 Mi

WEEK 18: 24 Mi 
Mon, 4/16/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 3 Mi
Wed, 4/18/2012 - Speedwork, Dist: 6 Mi, inc Warm; 3x1600 w/800 jogs; Cool
Thu, 4/19/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 3 Mi 
Sat, 4/21/2012 - Long Run, Dist: 12 Mi

WEEK 19: 19 Mi 
Tue, 4/24/2012 - Easy Run, Dist: 2 Mi
Thu, 4/26/2012 - Speedwork, Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2x1600 w/800 jogs; Cool
Sun, 4/29/2012 - Half Marathon Race Day, 13.1 Mi

Week 5

I started Week 5 with a 4 mile run last Sunday. It was a windy day here in Oklahoma (20-25mph south wind), so I decided to run on the indoor jogging track at my church. The track is on the second floor and overlooks the basketball court. 19 laps equals 1 mile, so I had to do 76 laps. I was the only one on the track, so I switched directions after each mile. I also distracted myself from running by watching my husband and his friends playing basketball below me.

I did another 4 mile run on Wednesday evening. I ran outside after work.

My long run was 6 miles on Saturday. It was cold (33 degrees), but it wasn't windy! That's a rarity in Oklahoma! Without the wind, the temperature didn't seem as cold as it was.

14 weeks to go!

Week 4

Week 4 began after work last Friday, and I ran 4 miles. Because I taught Boot Camp that morning, my legs felt really heavy the whole time I was running.

I ran 3 miles on Sunday afternoon. I'm so used to running after work as the sun is setting, so it was a good change to run during the day. It was nice to trade the reflective vest for sunglasses!

I was busy with activities after work almost every day this week, so I didn't get to run again until this evening. After taking several days off from running, I was glad to get back out and run 4 miles.

15 weeks and 2 days until my half marathon!

You get out exactly as much as you put in

"Running is just you, the work you put in, and the clock.  You can't cheat yourself.  If you don't put in the miles, you can't go to the starting line thinking you're going to pull a miracle out of nowhere.  You get out exactly as much as you put in."
 - Desiree Davila (American long-distance track runner)

Week 3

I started Week 3 on Saturday with a 4 mile run.  There was a very strong south wind that day, so I ran north as much as possible.  I usually try to finish my runs about a 1/2 mile from the house, so that I can use that last distance as a cool-down walk.  Because of trying to avoid running into the wind, I finished my run about a mile north of my house.  That one mile walk into the wind wasn't fun.

My second run of the week was on Monday.  Since New Year's Day was a Sunday, my office was closed on Monday.  I waited until early afternoon to run, because the temperature had finally warmed up into the 40s.  I did 4 miles.

I finished Week 3 after work on Wednesday.  The weather was perfect for my 5 mile run.  Who would imagine that I could run after sunset with a temp in the low 50s on January 4th?!