So, if you follow my twitter, you probably have seen me use #FranklinTNHalf. And if you haven't, I'm going to tell you now.
I'm running the Franklin Half Marathon.
This is my very first half marathon and apparently, I have chosen a difficult one.
Typical responses to people who find out I'm running this race are as follows:
"Wow... You must like hills."
"You know it's going to be warm out then, right?"
"You must not like yourself very much."
I'm running the Franklin Half Marathon.
This is my very first half marathon and apparently, I have chosen a difficult one.
Typical responses to people who find out I'm running this race are as follows:
"Wow... You must like hills."
"You know it's going to be warm out then, right?"
"You must not like yourself very much."
Thanks guys. I feel so supported and loved and like I'm totally going to be able to knock this one out of the park...
OR NOT.
But when I signed up, I was like, I got this. I love hills. I'm that crazy girl who runs UP the hills and passes people like they were standing still. (And sometimes they are. Normal people hate hills. I am not normal.)
But then life got complicated. My hamstring continued to have fits every time I tried to run longer than a mile, and while I forced my way through the 6.7 mile Red Loop at Ragnar Trail Atlanta, it was NOT comfortable, and the thought of doubling that distance was intimidating.
But just this week, I finally finished up (mostly) with physical therapy and have since gone on THREE runs with no hamstring pain. Last Saturday, I ran five miles with a coworker with such minimal amounts of pain that its almost not even worth mentioning. I finally feel like my hamstring is capable of carrying my comfortably through a half marathon.
OR NOT.
But when I signed up, I was like, I got this. I love hills. I'm that crazy girl who runs UP the hills and passes people like they were standing still. (And sometimes they are. Normal people hate hills. I am not normal.)
But then life got complicated. My hamstring continued to have fits every time I tried to run longer than a mile, and while I forced my way through the 6.7 mile Red Loop at Ragnar Trail Atlanta, it was NOT comfortable, and the thought of doubling that distance was intimidating.
But just this week, I finally finished up (mostly) with physical therapy and have since gone on THREE runs with no hamstring pain. Last Saturday, I ran five miles with a coworker with such minimal amounts of pain that its almost not even worth mentioning. I finally feel like my hamstring is capable of carrying my comfortably through a half marathon.
So I've stepped up my training. I've run more days and miles in the past week than I have all winter. And I know it's not enough and I need to step up my game.
And then it hit me. Today, on my bike ride home from the gym, I realized... I have LESS THAN A MONTH before my first half marathon.
What have I gotten myself into?!?!
I know that cardio-wise I have a LONG way to go to feel comfortable. And I don't want to risk re-injuring myself by adding too many miles too quickly. So I'm going to be slowly ramping up the miles. But I NEED more cardio. So what's a girl to do?
BIKING. Starting today, we're gonna be double-dipping, with runs in the morning and bike rides in the evening. The runs have been on mostly flat surfaces, which will have to change. I will need to add in more hills to be fully prepared. But in the meantime, I can conquer those hills on two wheels. My bike is about to become my new best friend! (I'm even getting fairly good at getting Rory to run alongside me on the bike! We've only had a few issues!)
But what else is there? Does anyone have any tips or tricks to preparing for a half marathon on short notice? Note: I can do 7 miles, as proven by Ragnar Trail, but obviously that number needs to get to double digits. And don't suggest swimming. I'll drown before I successfully manage to swim any distance. I'm that bad at it.
Although, if I drown, I won't need to worry about being HALF freaked out about my impending half marathon... Right?
#runlove, y'all! Oh, and some #bikelove going on as well the next few weeks! ;)
And then it hit me. Today, on my bike ride home from the gym, I realized... I have LESS THAN A MONTH before my first half marathon.
What have I gotten myself into?!?!
I know that cardio-wise I have a LONG way to go to feel comfortable. And I don't want to risk re-injuring myself by adding too many miles too quickly. So I'm going to be slowly ramping up the miles. But I NEED more cardio. So what's a girl to do?
BIKING. Starting today, we're gonna be double-dipping, with runs in the morning and bike rides in the evening. The runs have been on mostly flat surfaces, which will have to change. I will need to add in more hills to be fully prepared. But in the meantime, I can conquer those hills on two wheels. My bike is about to become my new best friend! (I'm even getting fairly good at getting Rory to run alongside me on the bike! We've only had a few issues!)
But what else is there? Does anyone have any tips or tricks to preparing for a half marathon on short notice? Note: I can do 7 miles, as proven by Ragnar Trail, but obviously that number needs to get to double digits. And don't suggest swimming. I'll drown before I successfully manage to swim any distance. I'm that bad at it.
Although, if I drown, I won't need to worry about being HALF freaked out about my impending half marathon... Right?
#runlove, y'all! Oh, and some #bikelove going on as well the next few weeks! ;)
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