Training: Week Three

Today mark's the successful completion of Week 3 of training -- and I just got home from running 6 miles / walking 1, for a grand total of 7 miles in 1:43:29 and 833 calories burned.

I ran to the Minnehaha Falls, which is kind of a Minneapolis landmark, and snapped that picture with my camera-phone... knowing that such beauty was at the half-way mark is what kept me going through the first 3.5 miles.

(Knowing that a hot shower, lunch, and my sofa were at the OTHER end of the half-way mark is what kept me going through the LAST 3.5 miles).

But it was a beautiful day for running, and there were people and puppies and kids and sunshine and smiles everywhere. Which is good, because I was NOT in tip-top shape today.

Kat and I went out separate ways in terms of training this week, which was both good and bad. Good, because it reminded me that I CAN do this without the necessarily accountability of meeting somebody, and also because I made some questionable eating/ drinking choices the two nights before running days, which means... I kinda sucked it. Bad because the knowledge that I wasn't screwing anybody over if i sucked it kept me from being as accountable about food, booze, and sleep as I normally am.

Oh, I still DID it, but it sucked. Especially today. 6 miles was SIGNIFICANTLY harder than 5 miles, and I think that was mostly due to what I call "the night before effect."

Instead of my usual relaxing Friday, with a pasta dinner, water, and an early bedtime, I was a party girl last night. It was my last day at work, so happy hour was a necessity. I think that during my run today, I literally sweated out beer and nachos. Gross.

But I still did it, and I can now cross Week Three off the list!

In other fitness news... I met with Scary Trainer Liz on Tuesday morning to talk about training plans, both for the half marathon, and in general. Since I'm taking her cardio class, I don't need to do QUITE as much running as my original training plans dictate -- we've come up with this schedule instead:

Monday: Run
Tuesday: Cardi02 Class
Wednesday: Strength / Core
Thursday: Cardi02 Class
Friday: Strength / Core
Saturday: LONG Run
Sunday: REST

She also readjusted my mileage chart so that I'm only training up to 10 miles -- RELIEF.

When I trained for the full, I only trained up to 20 miles, and when I set out on training for the half last summer, the program was only up to 10 miles. I was suprised to see this program go up to 12 miles, but figured I'd go with the flow. Training up to 10 gives me a nice long taper.

On Tuesday morning, I'll be meeting with her one on one for a strength program she's designed for me -- I'll meet with her two more times before the race to see how I'm doing and touch base. The plan is very do-able because when I go back to work on 4/20, I'll switch to the 6 PM Cardi02 class, and can do strength either at the office gym or at the Lifetime location near my office... and since it's just strength and not cardio, that means that I'll be able to just rinse off quick and head back to work, rather than the full shower / dry / style hair deal. Awesome.

So! Now that I'm done early (and "Gruvin' in Green" by 10:30 AM, I may add), I have a pretty great little day planned: to reward myself for training + a "last day of work" treat, I'm off to the spa at 1 for a massage and facial. Then I'll probably hit the dog park before meeting some friends for dinner. A perfect day.

And tomorrow, Easter, will be spent having brunch with my family... which makes this weekend the perfect combination of family, friends, food, fun, and fitness!

Off and running,
~Jessica