Back on track?

I hate to admit that I’m superstitious so when I say I’m, “back on track,” I do so with a rap on the wooden desk in front of me.  My projective goal is to be trained for a half marathon coming up in November.  This time however I’ve drug a friend into my sky-high goals and it’s become a lot easier to find the motivation to wake up early in the morning before my slate of classes.

Right now we’re enjoying a running trail which takes us through a serene landscape and masks the sounds of a waking college town.   The brisk morning wind takes with it our grogginess and fills the empty space instead with an enthusiasm to greet passersby and chippering squirrels.  Slowly the sun rises, but by that time our backs are to him and we’re on the last leg of our daily ritual.

We push to the end in a sprint to make up the couple of stops taken along the way.  One last stretch concludes the exercise, so we part but plan on coming back, “day after next,” when another mile gets thrown on the tally.

First Slip UP!

I suppose part of starting another hobby that requires diligence, it’s inevitable that eventually you will not be diligent.  Well I didn’t wait even a day to slip up!  I have missed two running days since my last (and first), and tomorrow is the day that sums up my running week.  Thankfully it is only four miles compared to the initial three so it should not be to exerting.

While it is important not to miss days, it’s even more important to not give up. Everywhere I’m reading  it advises that even if you miss a day try to make it up, and if you don’t, move on so it won’t deter you from your training. If worst comes to worst, you miss a day. That is the most horrible predicament.

So tomorrow I’ m waking up, putting away the Christmas tree and at around 11:30 when it warms up, you will see me forging my way through the windchill of Nebraska.  Perhaps I’ll be  harnessed to an Iron Lung or wearing Aqua Lungs to better respirate, but I will be there one ice pace at a time!

***This image is the 10 week training schedule I’m using.  I got it from Marathonrookie.com and after I finish these ten weeks I’m transferring to the marathon schedule on week eight to prepare for my May marathon.  Ten weeks from now there is a half marathon taking place where I live and I’m using it as a goal date!

Marathon training for the scatter-brained

Today marked the beginning of my training schedule for the marathon I plan to run in May. With a burning enthusiasm the night before, I expected to awake feeling similarly.

However, as the alarm clock screeched at 6:00 a.m, I not only realized that my excitement had dwindled about a quarter in volume but the eastern Nebraskan temperature and wind chill was enough to keep anyone from going outside.

Instead of crawling out of bed I curled up to wait for the sun to come out and do what it could with this infernal weather. Three hours later, accepting that this was as warm as it would get, I geared up in my base layer spandex, outworn New Balance running shoes, fleecy earmuffs, and gray child sized Creighton, “hoody”.

The ice wasn’t something I had factored into my plans and made it a bit more difficult to keep a constant running pace. The density of the air wasn’t doing me any favors either, as it compressed into my lungs causing a sensation that I’m sure only asthmatics and heart attack victims experience.

Along my pre-Google Mapped course every car that drove past showed expressions of complete incredulity. One Chevy Equinox made a second round to be sure I wasn’t homeless or losing my mind from wearing skin tight spandex in freezing weather.

Rounding the last corner and peaking the final hill I finished strong from my run/walk, panting into the driveway like my Grandma Elanor who died from emphysema.

All in all it wasn’t a bad first run, but room for improvement is definite.

So today’s stats are:
Milage: 3.3 Miles
Time: 36:34
Min/mile:….basically 12…boo

Oh If you’re interested in a good training schedule Marathonrookie.com is excellent!