Thursday, September 8, 2016

Training for My 4th Half Marathon

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Hello hello! Today I wanted to share one of my most favorite hobbies-running. If you're not a fan of running or don't like to talk running, feel free to skip this post:) Running has always been a part of my life. After I graduated high school and left cross country and soccer behind, I knew that I needed to make a conscious effort to keep the habit in my life. So, when I was 17 I made a goal to run at least one half marathon a year.

A little recap of those races:
October 2013 Haunted Half in Salt Lake City, 1:32
October 2014 Haunted Half in Provo, 1:42
October 2015 Haunted Half in Provo, 1:43

I know, I know, what happened to me after that first year? Haha LIFE that's what!! In 2013 I had a goal to run 1,000 miles that year, so I was putting in the time, running 40+ miles each week.  I remember finishing and thinking "That's it?!" Haha my past 2 halfs have definitely not been like that. Basically what happens is I remember my goal in the last months of the year, train for a few weeks, and then go for it.

Despite my best efforts, that has happened again this year! Haha all this moving has derailed me. But I am officially signed up for the Chessie Trail Half Marathon on October 15th. It's not my ideal course-it's a there and back, plus some up and down hills-but I have a goal to get under 1:40 this time. I don't follow any legitimate training plans, but my personal plan is to run an average of 4-7 miles each day, resting on Sundays with long 10-12 mile runs on Saturdays.

Even as I'm typing this up it sounds pretty dismal to me, and in all honesty running can be miserable sometimes! But I know that amazing feeling that comes after crossing the finish line makes it all worth it. For this reason I like to have an arsenal of positive thoughts and mantras to chant in my head while I'm training for a race. It's my attempt to battle that negative little voice inside that says things like, "I hate my life," "How much further I'm gonna die," "Oh HILL no," and other non-uplifting messages.

My mantra for this race: I've done it before so I can do it again.

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Here goes nothing! :)

Have you ever done a half before? How did it go?

Do you follow a training schedule?




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