Original content from Movable Mom
Happy weekend to my friends! Many of my readers are running long today as I write this post since Saturday tends to be a typical long run day for most. As you know, Coach Erin and I moved my long run day to Fridays so I already got mine done for the week. I ran 12 miles yesterday in pelting hard snow (felt a little like hail). The roads were clear and safe when I started, but the hard snow fall set in during the run. I thought for a brief moment about bagging it and going home to finish on the treadmill since the snow was hurting my face, but then I decided I am a warrior goddess and could surely suck it up. I was feeling well because I’ve been running smart so I did not want to stop!
Johnny always sits on me now after my runs when I do stretches. I’m still running in my Brooks Pure Flow 2s . I’ve pretty much decided on these shoes and I have two pair now for rotating. I’ll write more on this later.
Running smart
During my long run, I did a lot of thinking about how well I was feeling and that I was basically running a half marathon there during training (shy of just one mile). It was my second 12 mile run in the past two weeks and I feel GREAT. Why am I feeling so good, I wondered? What is the difference between now and all of last year’s half marathon training?
1. I am running more, not less. I read a lot about new techniques of mixing in all kinds of fitness in place of miles on the legs. I am not doing that, I am running more. After all, I’m training to run 26.2 miles, not lift weights. (I am doing core strength to compliment, however.)
2. I am running with pacing in mind. This is my first training cycle where I am running with specific target paces. Last year I just focused on running, period. This time I am focusing on running in specific pace ranges.
3. I am running with a healthy schedule. I still have a 2 day window of “rest” in my schedule this training cycle. One of those days is a flex day where I do some core strength workouts (crunches, pushups, etc), but other than that, I rest both days in a row. When I start my next training week, my legs are refreshed and ready. I run 4 days total each week.
I am running much smarter than I did last year, all due to having a coach who has helped me figure this out better. I can honestly say, I am amazed at just how well my body is responding and handling this. I am running MORE, yet BETTER – if that makes sense.
Upcoming Races
Just to keep you updated, I am registered to run the Presidential Lincoln Half Marathon on April 6 and the Carmel Marathon on April 20. I don’t have any other races paid and registered for yet. I was hoping to run the Munich Half Marathon in June when we go to visit family in Germany, but now I’m not sure when we will actually go over there. We may push the trip toward the end of July instead so I’ve kind of given up the idea of running that race. The logistics of getting down to Munich in the midst of travel, having kiddo babysitting occur, and all that is involved for a Mother Runner – it is sounding too complicated right now. I may just hunt for a half marathon in September instead. A lot still depends on if I can get into the the Marine Corps Marathon and how my next training schedule plays out.
I hope you are all having great runs this weekend! And to my new kitty friend visitors, any tips on kitty raising are appreciated!
Original content from Christina
Original content from Movable Mom
Happy weekend to my friends! Many of my readers are running long today as I write this post since Saturday tends to be a typical long run day for most. As you know, Coach Erin and I moved my long run day to Fridays so I already got mine done for the week. I ran 12 miles yesterday in pelting hard snow (felt a little like hail). The roads were clear and safe when I started, but the hard snow fall set in during the run. I thought for a brief moment about bagging it and going home to finish on the treadmill since the snow was hurting my face, but then I decided I am a warrior goddess and could surely suck it up. I was feeling well because I’ve been running smart so I did not want to stop!
Johnny always sits on me now after my runs when I do stretches. I’m still running in my Brooks Pure Flow 2s . I’ve pretty much decided on these shoes and I have two pair now for rotating. I’ll write more on this later.
Running smart
During my long run, I did a lot of thinking about how well I was feeling and that I was basically running a half marathon there during training (shy of just one mile). It was my second 12 mile run in the past two weeks and I feel GREAT. Why am I feeling so good, I wondered? What is the difference between now and all of last year’s half marathon training?
1. I am running more, not less. I read a lot about new techniques of mixing in all kinds of fitness in place of miles on the legs. I am not doing that, I am running more. After all, I’m training to run 26.2 miles, not lift weights. (I am doing core strength to compliment, however.)
2. I am running with pacing in mind. This is my first training cycle where I am running with specific target paces. Last year I just focused on running, period. This time I am focusing on running in specific pace ranges.
3. I am running with a healthy schedule. I still have a 2 day window of “rest” in my schedule this training cycle. One of those days is a flex day where I do some core strength workouts (crunches, pushups, etc), but other than that, I rest both days in a row. When I start my next training week, my legs are refreshed and ready. I run 4 days total each week.
I am running much smarter than I did last year, all due to having a coach who has helped me figure this out better. I can honestly say, I am amazed at just how well my body is responding and handling this. I am running MORE, yet BETTER – if that makes sense.
Upcoming Races
Just to keep you updated, I am registered to run the Presidential Lincoln Half Marathon on April 6 and the Carmel Marathon on April 20. I don’t have any other races paid and registered for yet. I was hoping to run the Munich Half Marathon in June when we go to visit family in Germany, but now I’m not sure when we will actually go over there. We may push the trip toward the end of July instead so I’ve kind of given up the idea of running that race. The logistics of getting down to Munich in the midst of travel, having kiddo babysitting occur, and all that is involved for a Mother Runner – it is sounding too complicated right now. I may just hunt for a half marathon in September instead. A lot still depends on if I can get into the the Marine Corps Marathon and how my next training schedule plays out.
I hope you are all having great runs this weekend! And to my new kitty friend visitors, any tips on kitty raising are appreciated!
Original content from Christina