I figured since I have completed two weeks of half marathon training, it was time to start documenting it!
To give some background info…I am currently training for the Richmond Half Marathon November 15th. I started a 12-week program on Monday, August 25th, which will take me all the way up until the race. It starts with 3 mile runs two days a week with one longer run of 4 miles on the weekend. Every two weeks the distances increase until the week before the race where I will be running 5 miles on my short days and 10 miles on the weeekend. I am using Hal Higdon’s Novice Training, as suggested by multiple other runners that used a similar program. But I am modifying the schedule a little to accommodate for a 5k, 10k, and possible 10 miler I want to do before the half that are placed at different times than listed on the schedule!
These first two weeks I ran my shorter races from my house out 1.5 miles then back. The longer runs I went to a local dog park that connects to a road that circles around a local high school and back to the dog park (twice around is 4 miles). On the days I don’t run, I have been doing strength training (mostly Chalene Johnson’s PiYo to give me hamstrings and quads a break) or longer-distance walking. I take one rest day a week. I’m looking into better routes around my workplace and home so that I can get some new scenery in once I get to the longer distances! Suggestions are appreciated ^_^
August is normally the hottest month but it’s extending into September which is actually the hardest part of this training. I commute over an hour each way, so I leave at 6 a.m. and get home around 4:30 p.m. I don’t want to run in the dark, so that leaves some restrictions on my running times and locations. With the exception of today (a perfect 68 degrees with a breeze!), it has been over 90 degrees with higher humidity during my runs.
The first week my 3 mile runs were 28:46 and 28:36, with the 4 mile run at 39:41. This second week my 3 mile runs were 28:34 and 28:08 with the 4 mile run at 38:04. My times are getting better, I’m regulating my breath better, and my legs aren’t as fatigued when I’m finished. I make sure to stretch before and after, and I think the walking during the week helps. I recently received a Garmin Forerunner so I like the fact that I don’t have to carry my phone to track my run with GPS! I am currently looking into better headphones as the ones I’m currently using started hurting my ears during the longer run.
So I guess to sum it all up, I’m really enjoying having a schedule to follow that maps everyting out for me. I’ve posted it below in case anyone ever want to join me for a specific run! I follow the running schedule Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday, walk Wednesday and Saturday, with strength training Monday and rest day on Friday. I’ll be doing the Festival of Leaves 5k on October 11th and am looking for a 10k around October 25th and a 10 miler around November 8th. If anyone has suggestions, please let me know! And if you want to join, that would be awesome ^_^ Advice is appreciated, too! Stay tuned for more updates!
