In 8 days, I will run my second half marathon. One year ago, I didn't run a single step.
One year ago, I was getting over a sprained toe, which limited me to the elliptical. I could hardly walk, but I could push my feet and legs on the elliptical, and that's what I did. For two whole months. I watched the Biggest Loser, and at that point I had already lost 18 lbs, but still had many more to go. I had hit a plateau, and wished that I could try to run.
Yesterday I set out for 9 miles and ended up with 10 (I am sensing a pattern here...). Today I went out for 4 hard miles with hills (remember, hard for me is probably not hard for other runners, but definitely hard for someone who doesn't run at all, right?). I really believe I am ready for this half marathon--as ready as I can be.
So what are my goals?
1. To finish. As long as I finish, I win!
2. To finish in 2:24 would be really great. That would be right around 11 min miles. (11x13.1=144min=2.4 hours = 2 hr 24 min.
3. Anything under 2:24 would be icing on the cake.
I told my husband, anything over 2:25 means that something went very wrong...let's hope that doesn't happen. My first (and only) half was in June and my time was 2:38. My goal was 2:35, but I had to make two stops--bathroom and to take off my coat, which meant repinning my bib. Well, won't have the repinning issue since a bought a fuel belt! I also had a massive flu bug one week before, so really, 2:38 was a time I could be happy with...then, not now.
So now, I have to figure out my taper plan. I've been reading and reading...basically, I need to rest my legs, but not too much. With this half marathon on a Monday, it is a tough one to figure out. I'm taking tomorrow off due to Christmas all day. Here's the plan (I think).
1. Tuesday--5 mi
2. Wednes--3.5 mi
3. Thurs--off
4. Fri--3.5 mi
5. Sat--2-3 mi jog
6. Sun--rest
7. Half Marathon!
Unless someone has a better idea, I think this should do the trick.
Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Running after tragedy
Usually I run to relieve stress, but last night the stress, anger, sadness, and confusion was too much to bear. My energy was zapped, and I just couldn't run.
Early in the week I found out that a teacher I taught with at a former school lost her battle with cancer. On Friday I arrived at school to learn that two of our students lost their father unexpectedly. And then as if that wasn't enough, I learned later that morning that my beautiful cousin also lost her battle with cancer, and she leaves behind a 1 year old daughter. Those three things alone had me pretty shaken up and asking WHY WHY WHY??
And then I learned of the unthinkable, horrific tragedy at the elementary school in Connecticut. I read about it at lunch, and I teared up. I was so sick and shaken to the core. Maybe some readers don't know this, but not only am I a parent, but I am a teacher. Just like all parents, I send my kids to school everyday trusting the teachers and staff to keep my kids safe. To other parents, I am that person who is supposed to be keeping their children safe. I had to teach math, and I made mistake after mistake, and the class (bless their hearts) laughed at me. I apologized, told them I heard some sad news at lunch, but I would be more focused. I didn't tell them the news, and I continued to choke back the tears as I looked at them and thought, "What if...what would I do?"
My daughter was sick yesterday, so she was not at school. I coached her team's basketball practice after school, then I went home with every intention of running. But the anger and sadness totally overwhelmed me. I just didn't have it in me.
I keep thinking, "What would I have done? Would I have kept calm? Could I do what those teachers did to keep those kids safe?" I want to think I could. I want to think I have it in me...I did a lot of soul searching, and of course just tried to process how in the hell this could happen, as all Americans were last night. So I snuggled with my son, and we watched Home Alone, and we laughed not just at the movie, but laughed at my son laughing at the movie!
So we all woke up this morning, and our daughter felt like she just couldn't manage to play in her basketball games today. At that point, it was early, and I set out to run 4-5 miles. It wasn't the greatest of training weeks. It went something like this:
Sunday 12 mi long run
Monday 3 mi recovery run (and all I had time for)
Tuesday 0
Wednes. 5 of the most horrendous miles ever (not going into detail)
Thurs 2.5 mi on treadmill and 45 min spin class
So Friday should have been 5-6 mi, rest on Saturday, long run again on Sunday. That was the plan. Well, we all know that plans change.
So I figured an easy 4-5 miles wouldn't affect my long run on Sunday. I didn't wear gloves (I figured I'd survive), and I wore cotton socks. I also didn't set out water, so this all proves, I did NOT set out for a long run today.
So I started out, and after almost two miles, I thought HEY!
1. It's daylight
2. It's not pouring rain (only softly raining)
3. I FEEL GOOD.
At that point I decided I'M RUNNING 12 MILES TODAY! I called my husband, told him the plan, and kept going. So while running, I thought about everything. The tragedy, the sad passings in the community, my son's upcoming surgery, my kids, my family, ...EVERYTHING.
But after 13 miles...yes, I ran 13 miles...I only came to a few conclusions. I still don't understand this senseless tragedy, and I probably never will. But I know that I am strong, and God is always with me. I am mentally and physically tough. If I were in that position, you'd better believe my mind would take over and I would protect my students come hell or high water, just like I know my own children's teachers are doing for my kids. Let's just hope and pray I am NEVER and my kids are NEVER in this position!
After my run, I feel better. Not great, but better. The anger is gone, but the sadness remains. I know everyone else is feeling the same way. So I sit here trying to wrap up this post...and I still don't know what to say, other than I have no words to explain how I feel, and I hope that says it all.
Early in the week I found out that a teacher I taught with at a former school lost her battle with cancer. On Friday I arrived at school to learn that two of our students lost their father unexpectedly. And then as if that wasn't enough, I learned later that morning that my beautiful cousin also lost her battle with cancer, and she leaves behind a 1 year old daughter. Those three things alone had me pretty shaken up and asking WHY WHY WHY??
And then I learned of the unthinkable, horrific tragedy at the elementary school in Connecticut. I read about it at lunch, and I teared up. I was so sick and shaken to the core. Maybe some readers don't know this, but not only am I a parent, but I am a teacher. Just like all parents, I send my kids to school everyday trusting the teachers and staff to keep my kids safe. To other parents, I am that person who is supposed to be keeping their children safe. I had to teach math, and I made mistake after mistake, and the class (bless their hearts) laughed at me. I apologized, told them I heard some sad news at lunch, but I would be more focused. I didn't tell them the news, and I continued to choke back the tears as I looked at them and thought, "What if...what would I do?"
My daughter was sick yesterday, so she was not at school. I coached her team's basketball practice after school, then I went home with every intention of running. But the anger and sadness totally overwhelmed me. I just didn't have it in me.
I keep thinking, "What would I have done? Would I have kept calm? Could I do what those teachers did to keep those kids safe?" I want to think I could. I want to think I have it in me...I did a lot of soul searching, and of course just tried to process how in the hell this could happen, as all Americans were last night. So I snuggled with my son, and we watched Home Alone, and we laughed not just at the movie, but laughed at my son laughing at the movie!
So we all woke up this morning, and our daughter felt like she just couldn't manage to play in her basketball games today. At that point, it was early, and I set out to run 4-5 miles. It wasn't the greatest of training weeks. It went something like this:
Sunday 12 mi long run
Monday 3 mi recovery run (and all I had time for)
Tuesday 0
Wednes. 5 of the most horrendous miles ever (not going into detail)
Thurs 2.5 mi on treadmill and 45 min spin class
So Friday should have been 5-6 mi, rest on Saturday, long run again on Sunday. That was the plan. Well, we all know that plans change.
So I figured an easy 4-5 miles wouldn't affect my long run on Sunday. I didn't wear gloves (I figured I'd survive), and I wore cotton socks. I also didn't set out water, so this all proves, I did NOT set out for a long run today.
So I started out, and after almost two miles, I thought HEY!
1. It's daylight
2. It's not pouring rain (only softly raining)
3. I FEEL GOOD.
At that point I decided I'M RUNNING 12 MILES TODAY! I called my husband, told him the plan, and kept going. So while running, I thought about everything. The tragedy, the sad passings in the community, my son's upcoming surgery, my kids, my family, ...EVERYTHING.
But after 13 miles...yes, I ran 13 miles...I only came to a few conclusions. I still don't understand this senseless tragedy, and I probably never will. But I know that I am strong, and God is always with me. I am mentally and physically tough. If I were in that position, you'd better believe my mind would take over and I would protect my students come hell or high water, just like I know my own children's teachers are doing for my kids. Let's just hope and pray I am NEVER and my kids are NEVER in this position!
After my run, I feel better. Not great, but better. The anger is gone, but the sadness remains. I know everyone else is feeling the same way. So I sit here trying to wrap up this post...and I still don't know what to say, other than I have no words to explain how I feel, and I hope that says it all.
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