Half Marathon Training: Week Seven Schedule and Week Six Fail

This week’s schedule is a little different since I did my long run on Monday this week because of the holiday. Therefore:

Monday: Last week’s long run
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Run 4 minutes, Walk 2 minutes, 5 times with a 5 minute warm-up and cool-down
Thursday: Crosstrain
Friday: Run 4 minutes, Walk 2 minutes, 5 times with a 5 minute warm-up and cool-down
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Run 5 miles – Run 3 minutes, Walk 2 Minutes

So why do I say Week Six Fail? Mostly because I am being dramatic. I did my first 4 minute interval run and had a great pace. I didn’t finish the full 5 mile long run though. I tried but I just didn’t have anything left in the tank so I stopped just short of 4.2 miles. I normally do my cardio fasting so as my miles increase, this will have to change.

I can say I gave it my all and I will try again this week. I also missed all of my cross training! I’m going to try and be better about that in the future.

Again, I was beating myself up for not completing the 5 miles and thought about repeating the week. Then I remembered my 4 minute interval run and that I was solidly in the mid-eleven minute pace for that, even hitting the high-tens for a few intervals. I realized I need to keep going instead of being worried I’m not progressing enough to push forward. A good all-around life lesson too!

Until next week…Happy Running!

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Half Marathon Training: Week 5 Recap and Week 6 Schedule

Week 6 Schedule:

Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Run 3 minutes, Walk 2 minutes, 6 times with a 5 minute warm-up and cool-down
Wednesday: Crosstrain – Weights or yoga this week
Thursday: Run 4 minutes, Walk 2 minutes, 5 times with a 5 minute warm-up and cool-down
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Crosstrain – Weights or Yoga
Sunday: Run 5 miles – Run 3 minutes, Walk 2 Minutes

Week 5 was definitely a week. I have been so busy at work, it would have been so easy to skip. So did I? Sort of…

I did my Tuesday and Thursday runs and even got below my 12 minute pace goal on Thursday. I did yoga for cross training on Wednesday. So where did I go wrong? I’m going to say I didn’t! For my cross training on Saturday, I wrapped it into my first solo trip to Disney so I ended up walking more than 12 miles! I stayed over by myself Saturday night and was having so much fun, decided to go to the Magic Kingdom by myself on Sunday. I ended up walking almost 8 miles that day! I think it’s great self care to spend a little time by yourself doing something that you love.

I did bring my running clothes and shoes to the hotel but I didn’t feel like running 4 miles after all of that walking. I went back and forth on whether I should do the long run on Monday or whether I should repeat the week. I finally decided just to push forward. So I am moving on to Week 6 and will be skipping Week 5’s long run. We’ll see how that goes and I will report back next week!

Half Marathon Training: Week 5 Schedule & Week 4 Recap

Week 5 Schedule:

Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Run 3 minutes, Walk 2 minutes, 6 times with a 5 minute warm-up and cool-down
Wednesday: Crosstrain – Weights or yoga this week
Thursday: Run 3 minutes, Walk 2 minutes, 6 times with a 5 minute warm-up and cool-down
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Crosstrain – Weights or Yoga
Sunday: Run 4 miles – Run 2 minutes, Walk 2 Minutes

Week 4 Recap:

It was so humid on Tuesday’s run, I felt like I was running through applesauce! I did it though and was able to shave a few more seconds off my pace. Wednesday’s yoga, a 30 minute practice, was nice. Thursday’s run was the first 3 minute interval but it wasn’t as hard as I though it was going to be. I did drop and break my water bottle a few minutes in though, so that was a bummer. I skipped Saturday’s yoga (I was just too tired and decided to read my book then watch a movie instead – well worth it!)

Not gonna lie, Sunday’s run was awesome and terrible all in one. I started well after 8am and it was already 90% humidity! I felt like I was creeping along and the last mile was tough. During that mile, I was really looking forward to the walking intervals and as soon as I hit 4 miles, I started walking. Some days are just gonna be like that, though! When I got home, I realized that I shaved 14 seconds off my pace from last week! I was really not expecting that! I think that goes to show that we can be mentally harder on ourselves than we really need to be.

I’m excited for all of the 3 minute intervals next week and to see if I can get below an 11 minute pace for the 4 mile run next Sunday. An update from last week’s recap: the dog was reunited with his family! I may have jury duty next week too so hopefully I will take advantage of all the waiting time and get some more non-running blog posts done!