Week 2

Well....this week I learned about east coast humidity. It's been over 100 degrees with a 104 heat index. It's been 90 degrees at 9:30pm. It's been hard to get up the energy to go for a run, I just walk outside and I'm dripping in sweat. Even when I wake up at 6:30am it's 80. Obviously people run in this weather all the time, and the cadets are all doing it so I know if I run, I may actually survive. It's all about knowing the balance of fluids and energy. Gatorade is my best friend. I have the G1 and the G2 and it's been helping in keeping the sweat down. I went out and ran today, about 8:30 and it wasn't too bad. My gps still needs to be calbirated, so I thought I ran 3 miles but actually did 2.15. Not exactly the same but I'll get it straight. This is all a learning process, and something I'm going to have to learn to deal with if I'm going to continue my training! I'm suppose to run 7 miles this weekend, we'll see how that goes!

Week 1...

I'M BACK! Didn't I just start my running journey? Wasn't my first blog article titled "Week 1"? Well, here I go again (on my own...). Today marks my 18-week training journey to my first marathon, on October 31st down in DC. I'm running the Marine Corps Marathon with a friend from college and am SO EXCITED! I woke up ready to run this morning and my body said 'no Hannah, you were at work at about 6 am yesterday...get some sleep!" So I listened. Thank goodness I did because when I got home from work a box was waiting for me on the table. I open it, and it's my birthday present from my dad, GORGEOUS new running shoes. The Nike LunarGlide + to be exact. They are so cute! They're white and pink and grey and fit just right. My little sensor fits in the sole and my toes have room to wiggle. I was so happy I through them right on, ran upstairs and put on the rest of my running ensamble. Then went to get my hair cut and browse Target. And eat Taco Bell. (I had the healthy tacos, so I'm good!)

I came home, let the tacos digest, then grabbed my sportband and iPod and got ready to hit the pavement....until I realized my iPod had died. Blast, forgot to charge it. Put it back on the table and away I went. I was trucking along pretty good, they had the road by the library opened again so I didn't have to run up the hill by Michie. I go to walk up the little ramp and what do I see but 1400 new cadets being marched right where I was going to go...so I turned around (they have their time to learn to be awkward cadets, I didn't need to bowl through them). Back by the house, around Buffalo Soldiers and to the house. My watch said it was 3 miles and I ran it in 26 minutes, but when I mapped it the map said 2.6 miles so who knows. I might have to re-calbarate my band again with the new shoes. I still ran hard and it felt so good. The shoes worked well!

Overall, happy first day, but 71 more to come.....

Starting all over...

I guess this weekend is my last official weekend before everything starts. I woke up this morning and read some of my Marathon book. It's written by this guy who's ran over 110 marathons in his life, and he's really motivating. I am so excited to embark on this 18 week journey. Four and a half months of preparation to see a finish line at the end of 26 miles and 385 yards. In WASHINGTON DC. I've taken some time off since the half (look at me, sounding like an athlete) and I'm ready. I'm ready to put on my shoes (new Nike LunarGlides thank you daddy!) and run out the door. I"m ready to do my easy runs and pull myself through the hard ones. Get up on days I really don't want to because I know I will end up wanting to. I'm crazy, I'm fully aware of that. And I love it. So....here we go...Monday marks the 18 week countdown and I will be updating this (I promise) on all the aspects of my version of training for a full marathon. So...let's begin!

New Week

Only a few weeks left until I start my actual marathon training, so this week is a new week. I thought about it this weekend, as two of my dear friends ran their first half marathons. It's going to be a great summer, getting up early to run around West Point with just my iPod blasting worship and Jesus by my side. Sounds like a pretty darn good summer to me! The Sunday after my 27th birthday starts cross training, so will take ideas on what to cross train with! Swimming, biking, possibilities are endless! I'm excited to really get into this, to become a runner, to become an ATHLETE again. It's such a rush to finish a long run, to know what has just been accomplished. It's HARD, but it's totally worth it when you're done, when you make it back home and get to have all your thoughts cleared, and grab a giant glass of chocolate milk :) It will be a time to think, to get ready for the day and have some energy to help throughout the day. This will be FUN!

Motivation

I seem to have lost my motivation and drive. Not quite sure where it has gone...but it has wandered away. I try to run but have been getting frusterated with it lately. I'm excited, willing to get out there, but not having much fun once I'm out. I may need to revamp things and get my priorities straight because it's not going to get any easier the more I slack off! The marathon can dangerously sneak up on me quick and being unprepared for that is not an option.

Excited to run the Virginia Beach half with Allison, it should be a weekend of accomplishment and joy, then a lot of relaxation on the beach :) This summer my goal is to focus on speed training, working on my pace time. Now that I know I can run a half marathon in 2:37 in the POURING DOWN RAIN, I know I have bigger goals to accomplish. I really would like to cut down that time. I have no idea what a good goal to accompish would be, what is realistic in time-cutting. If I ran it in 2:15 I would be extremely happy. My realistic goal is under 2:30, that is definatly do-able.

So as of right now changing my priorities and making this my main focus. I'm doing this for ME and I need to remember that. Running makes me feel good, it gives me time to myself to get away from the stress of life and run freely. I love to just throw on my iPod, get some good music going and just have time to myself. Well...we'll see how this goes :)

Week 26 countdown...

Here I go. Starting the official countdown until my MARATHON. Am I crazy? Sure am! Am I excited? SURE AM! Never ever when I started off the 2009 year I thought I'd be living in New York with a half-marathon under my belt training for a marathon. God is so good.

Set my alarm early for Tuesday and Wednesday. Both days were epic failers. Tried to get up early Thursday...another non-winner. BUT after work I threw on my running clothes and went out there. My AWESOME sorority sister Nicole had sent me some mail that I was suppose to get before my half but it was sent to my aunt's house. In one of the packages was a cd she made me of her favorite running songs. So I listened to it on my run today :) I ran 2.85 in 28 minutes at 10:01/mile.

Saturday is the post-wide yard sale which means I'm officially on the hunt for a bike for my crosstraining. Wish me luck!

Starting the pre-training...

Well, here it goes. I got my rest now it's back on track to running. I like it. I like the running, the freedom I get, the chance to escape from life for a while, throw on my iPod and go. It's hard to get back into the grove of things though, I feel like my next race is so far out, but I know I need to continue my milage to keep that momentum going.

I love my Nike+ sportband. It tracks my time, milage, and pace. I can just plug it into my computer and it will upload it to the website and keep track of everything. AND the more I run, the more my cute little mini gets active. It's a win-win really.

I did my first run after the half on May 1st, just to see how it would go. I ran 1.49 miles in 16:39 and ran at a 11:07 pace. Not too bad, just wanted a light run to see how it'd go.

On Sunday, May 2nd I got up early and ran 4 miles. AWESOME to do it before Church, and throw on my worship music. Running with Jesus? Can't get better than that!! I finished in 38:09 and ran a 9:33 minute pace. WHAT?? It felt so smooth and easy. If I can continue training at that pace, I could run my next half and easily knock off my time! PR here I go!