Half Way to Austin
I’m over the hump. This is week 7 of the 12 week training plan I’m following to get to the Austin Half Marathon on February 17.
Training for a half marathon was not one of my 2012 goals. It hadn’t even crossed my mind. I’ve completed 9 half marathons, but an injury in 2010 sidelined me, and until this past summer I hadn’t run farther than 6 miles. And I’d only done that once.
In September, I realized it was time. What was the deciding factor? There were a few. Competing in a 5-miler next to a friend reminded me of the fun, social side of running. Winter was approaching. I’m convinced that I have bear blood in me. Once the thermometer dips below, say, 40, all I want to do is curl up in a ball under a pile of blankets with a bag of Julio’s and a plate of cookies. Now that’s hibernation. And the holidays make it worse. Maybe I’m part slug, part bear. I didn’t want a repeat of last year’s near-comatose holiday season.
But the overwhelming reason was simple. I was tired of being afraid. Of injury. Of failing. Of facing the possibility that I could no longer run distance. I finally realized that if I didn’t try, I had already failed, and I would never run farther than 6 miles, period.
And here I am, ending week 7. It hasn’t been easy to stick to the plan. I was on vacation week 2, ending the Girls on the Run season week 3. It was Christmas week 5 and New Year’s week 6. I’m on my way to a conference during week 8. There’s always something. But such is life. There always will be.
Knowing I would miss training days here and there each week, I did, however, commit to not missing particular runs: intermediate and long runs, and speed work. It’s paying off. Here are some highlights of my training so far:
- I ran 7 miles.
- I ran 8 miles.
- I came in 2nd in my division in last week’s 10K.
- I’ve cut one minute off my mile.
Tomorrow I get to run 9 miles. I am both nervous and excited as I see the distance grow each weekend. But I am no longer afraid. Instead, I celebrate every moment.
More Than Running... 
1. Yay!
2. Yay!!
3. Whoa. Congratulations!
4. Women and running – like cheese and fine wine.
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Jill
January 11, 2013
Exactly!
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MinkaM
January 11, 2013
You are pretty amazing! Wished that I could have a training partner like you. Training for my last race was not as great as my first. And I’m not sure I’ll race at all this year, maybe Cap 10k.
I remember that feeling of running farther each weekend. Hang in there!
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Yolanda
January 11, 2013
Thanks! What’s amazing is that I’ve stayed away from Julio’s and cookies, for the most part, throughout my training. Until the neighborhood Girl Scout showed up at my door a couple of nights ago. Yes, it’s GS cookie time.
Nothing wrong with a 10K! Training for anything–whether it’s a race or simply self-improvement–is always fun. Or at least rewarding, in the end.
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MinkaM
January 11, 2013