Monday, November 26, 2012

Moanday Monday


I can't really moan and complain about this Monday. The sun is shining. I got my run in this morning on the treadmill at the gym. Then I successfully made it back home before hubby had to leave. I even had time to pack a good lunch for work. Now I need to get moving to get homework help done, shower, dinner made, and then to scouts. Plan is to have lunches packed tonight and everything staged for another successful morning including quick trip to the gym.
 
Quote of the day: Observing that a neighbor had cut down a tree my daughter says,
"What?? How can they do that? Who doesn't love a tree?"
 
Click to donate directly to the Lupus Foundation of America!    

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Choosing a Training Plan

 
After much consideration and reviewing many training plans I've narrowed it down to a hybrid of two plans. Up until this weekend I'd planned to use Jeff Galloway Novice training plan. I liked several things about it including not much running during the weekdays and the run/walk method. I was also curious that during training he has mileage scheduled to go up to 26 miles before the race. That seems like a big mental boost of going into the race with a "I've done this before" mentality.  The only other training plan I found with mileage like that was Coolrunningdotcom. However, after checking into other training plans like Hal Higdon's training , Marathon Rookie dot com, Train Like a Mother, and the suggested Shamrock marathon training plan and reading Runners World magazine articles on mileage I've had a change of heart. Yes, going into a race "having done this before" would be mentally reassuring, however marathoning once is hard enough on the body. Especially this body. I'm no Marathon Maniac. (Kudos and great awe to my handful of friends who ARE marathon MANIACS.)
May your toenails forgive you my maniac friends.
(UGGH, gross toes... I hate feet!)
 
So..... the winning hybrid of training plans will be....
AND
 
The Shamrock training schedule is similar to most other training plans. The run/walk method is just how it's got to be. At this time a year ago I was heading into weeks of physical therapy to strengthen my hip. Then over the summer I stopped running and sat in the car for long hours at a time. When I started running again to train for the Nov half my hip really felt it until I switched to run/walk. It's designed for people who's goal is to finish, have history of hip problems, are over 40, and need a short recovery after the race.
That defines me. Right down to needing to get out of bed the next day to put the kids on the bus. 
 
So that's the plan. Now I've just gotta do it!
"If you feel there's something out there you are supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it." - Wanda Sykes

What training plans have you used? Have you ever lost a toenail?
 

Saturday, November 24, 2012

What is this about??

On the last day of June I signed up for a March marathon. The price was going to increase the next day. March seemed so far away. I really didn't think it out very well. Then we left for a long vacation of driving across the country. I stopped running. Sitting in the car aggravated an old hip injury. When we came home 6 weeks later I started training for a November 1/2 marathon. That was 2 weeks ago. It didn't go well. Now I must make a decision about the March marathon.
 Defer? Drop to the half? Chuck the whole running thing all together?
 
Yesterday, I noticed my sister had "liked" the Lupus Foundation of America page on Facebook. I "liked" it too. That lead me to this guy. He's set up a website, facebook page, and as of last weekend had run his first marathon and raised well over a thousand dollars for the Lupus Foundation of America and more funds for a UK organization for lupus research.
 
 
Check out  runningforlupus site.
 
Today I finished an easy 4 miles. It went well. I am inspired. I want to raise money for Lupus research too.
Why?
My 16 year old niece was diagnosed with Lupus last spring. She is learning to live with Lupus. We are learning how to support her. This is one way to do that.
 
This blog will document my journey of training for the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach on March 17, 2013. I hope it inspires you to help me raise funds for better treatment of Lupus and ultimately a cure.
It's only 111 days away!

All donations will go directly to the Lupus Foundation of America. thanks!