Planning an invasion

It was the "no plan" plan.

For weeks - really since the December Huff,  I've been following a very loose training plan. The goal was to keep a respectable base and (hopefully) pick up some speed as I looked toward the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans half marathon relay. As I'm doing an 8-mile leg, I needed to keep up my Sunday long runs but didn't have to fret too much about weekday mileage.

After the March race, it was my plan to train for a spring half marathon. I had set my sights on Cincinnati's Flying Pig, which was my first half, but found myself less than thrilled by the $80 entry free. Nevertheless, I set a loose schedule based on the May race date. I planned for three days a week running, per my "survive winter" plan, and I would keep up with the twice weekly strength sessions.

Of course, that all changed when I registered for the Martian Invasion of the Races half marathon on Tuesday. The Martian race is April 14, nearly a full month before the Flying Pig.

Some things would stay the same - the three days a week running and my scheduled runs ahead of RnR NOLA - but I would have to redo the long run schedule. Based on plans by Hal Higdon and one I found on RunnersWorld.com, I came up with something that will get me to the starting line strong.

*Note: I totally flipped a week. My Fanny Freezer 5K is Feb. 11 - not Feb. 4.

As I'm running just three days a week, it's important to have quality runs so I'll be incorporating one speed day. The Runners World three-day plan had one tempo run and one interval run each week but I don't think that's feasible for me fitness-wise nor schedule-wise. Seriously, who wants to push a jogging stroller for 8x400? Not me.

I kept the strength training and Zumba, as well. I find that resistance workouts build muscle and help reduce weak joints thus reducing the risk of injury. Zumba ... well, it's just fun. (I never thought I'd say that!) I think that explosive-type cardio, like Zumba, should help work different muscle fibers and maybe ones that help with speed. Of course, I'm more than likely just making that up and the statement has no basis in reality.

I do have Fridays open in the event that I decide to add a fourth run during the week. I know a fourth run will do a lot to improve my base, stamina and speed but I felt overwhelmed running four times a week when I was training for the Huff. I'm sort of going to see when spring arrives and what sort of schedule Miles is on.

What is your preference when training - 3 days of running or 4? Or, are you crazy and do 5?

Coming up short

You know what the problem is with owning just one pair of running tights?

You own just one pair of running tights. And sometimes (but only sometimes) you discover that said tights are in the laundry basket and smell like ... you know ... and you only make that discovery minutes before you hope to be out the door.

Or does this only happen to me?

I had 4 miles planned for today, and I did not want to cop out just because of something so minor as a pair of pants. Not that pants are minor but ... you know what I mean. So I did what anyone would do - made do with what I had.

 

A pair of Old Navy active capris paired with a pair of knee socks = makeshift running tights. 

Note: I had a pair of running socks underneath so as to not get any blisters.

As it turned out, my haphazard outfit was the least of my worries. The temperature was an acceptable 31 degrees but the wind ... oh, the wind. Weather.com, which I looked at more closely after my run (doh!), said there were gusts from 15 to 25 mph. Eek! Factor in that I was pushing the stroller through a hilly-ish area, and it is undeniable that I had my work cut out for me.

I paused when I could, catching my breath at street crossings and when Denali had to pee, and I made no bones about not running as fast as I could. Even still, as reached my second neighborhood, I had to summon every ounce of #OpHardcoreFit I could and not cut the run short. I knew that if I could push through that I would feel better about the day and myself.

Oh and a little better about this.

After months of "researching" spring half marathons, I finally put my money where my training plan is and signed up for the Martian half marathon on April 14. Maybe it's the awesome medal or the chance to maybe meet the Megans, but I'm super stoked.

What are you looking forward to? Any spring races?

P.S. I'm deeming next week W.O.W. (Words of Wisdom) Week. I saw a lot of questions in comments after the Yahoo! story so I thought it might be good timing. I'll answer any questions you might have - whether it's weight loss, my eating habits, running, etc. Just leave me a comment or shoot me an email!