Thursday, September 4, 2008

I am OFFICIALLY now training for a Half Marathon!

Yep, I finally took the plunge and registered for the Monster Half on 10/25. That gives me another seven weeks of training...OMG, only seven weeks! I know I will be fine. I mean, I have already hit double digits (well, only once) and with pull-back weeks and taper factored in...that gives me four more long runs before the race. I want to make sure I get at least one run that is at least the 13.1 miles before the race.

On to more current items...my triathlon is this weekend. I am pretty excited. I don't have any real goals (except a hope to run 2 miles in 20 minutes) since I haven't done anything like this before, and I don't really know what to expect. Luckily this week was scheduled pretty light because of the triathlon...cuz it has been pretty tough to get many miles in. Here is the update since I last checked in:

Friday - Ran 2.3 easy miles before my swim of 20 lengths...felt good.

Saturday - Tried yet another new route for my long run. I ran around Lake Nokomis (South Minneapolis) and then took Minnehaha Parkway west (out & back). Total 9.6 miles. Nokomis was ok - nice but nothing special. The part of Minnehaha that is along the road is basically a glorified sidewalk. I think people like running this part to look at the old really nice houses along the parkway...not really my cup of tea. But a couple miles down the parkway the trail went down along Minnehaha creek. I LOVED this part. The trail included a couple bridges across the creek, and along the creek as it went under some crossroads above. I definately will have to return to this area someday, I just wish there were more miles along the creek and less along the parkway.

Sunday - Rest day

Monday - With the holiday, I slept in and ended up running later than I should have. Too hot for my tastes. I pushed through the heat and made it almost 4 miles. When I got home I had to lay down for a while just to cool off - I could feel the heat eminating from by body!

Tuesday - Biked to work. Ran 2 miles on the treadmill. Felt good. Bike home. I realized that I need to get myself a helmet. Don't worry nothing happened, I just decided it is stupid not to be wearing one. I have alot to live for. The only reason I don't have one already is because it just didn't occur to me that I should have one...I grew up in the 80s when NO ONE wore bike helmets.

Wednesday - Sore legs. I have no idea why, but my lower shin/front of ankle area on both legs were sore. Strange for a pain like that to show up on a pull-back week! So, I took an extra rest day.

Thursday - Planned on running an hour on the treadmill but my stomach wasn't up to it. Made it about a mile and had to take a potty break. Made about another mile and decided it was not happening. So, after 2.25 miles on the treadmill I moved the workout to the bike. I ended up with 4 miles on the bike which worked out much better for my stomach. I am so glad I switched and still got the cardio workout in.

Rest of the week - I am planning my same 2 mile treadmill run followed by swimming Friday, but with a somewhat shorter swim. Saturday is rest day. Sunday morning I will be doing my first Swim-Bike-Run.

Sorry for the long post...I guess I need to update more often!

1 comment:

Rachel said...

First, YAY! I'm glad to hear that you are training for the Monster Dash. Sounds like a lot of fun!

Second, good luck on the triathlon this weekend...I'm looking forward to hearing all about it.

And last, No helmet?!! Yikes! You better get on that one ASAP! I have some horrendous stories of my uncle on a bike even WITH a helmet that would motivate you otherwise...