HMT - Day 6 (3 Miles), Day 7 (8 Miles) and Day 8 (OFF - Cross Train)

Day 6 - The training schedule only called for 3 miles ... but i'll tell you ... being the 6th day in a row working out ... and after my friday cross training session (I felt that for sure!), my legs weren't excited about running even something as little as 3 miles.  Thankfully I had support and motivation!  But wowza ... that was rough!  Also, I've been fighting a slight cold all week, I knew getting up and doing some small amount of cardio would be helpful to my immune system, just hoping I didn't overdo it.

Ran 3.04 miles in 28:17, pace 9:18 min/mile


Day 7 - I felt much better this morning after taking last night pretty easy.  My friend made me pastina in chicken broth for dinner, amazing how much that stuff helps!  I felt good, so I took the legs out to Central Park.  I did all right, I ran 7.5 miles in 1 hour 12 mins, I usually run it 2 minutes faster, but i'm not complaining, I felt good at the end of the run instead of dead tired, which is good.  I'll take that as an indicator that I could have gone for longer and been fine....  does that mean i could have gone for 10 miles?!?!?!  But again, I knew I had a slight cold, didn't wanna push it.  I did what felt good, hopefully my legs continue to feel good.

Ran 7.5 miles in 1:12:10, pace 9:37 min/mile


Day 8 - Feel good, eh???  Yeah, I woke up this morning and my hips and quads were tiiiiiggggghhhhhht!  I also have a 7AM TRX session with my trainer.  I had a feeling this morning was gonna HURT, and it did. HAAAA!!!!!  Thank goodness for tylenol before a workout.  Dreading tomorrow's run a little ...

Just when i was learning to enjoy a good run .... LMAO

HMT Day 5 - OFF (Cross train)

No Running!  No Running!  No Runnnnniiiiinnnnng!!!!!

Muwahahahahahahahahahaahaha!!!!! =D

After 3 days in a row of medium to long runs, I can't express just how excited I was to give my legs a day OFF from running! HA!

While long runs are important in preparing for a half marathon, so are short sprints, hills and cross training.  Your CORE is so integral to good running form as well as balance, so don't forget to work these muscles and do CORE and balance workouts in between your runs.  For my Cross Training session today, I turned to a super fitness guru, Jeanette Jenkins (personal trainer to the stars!).  She shared some great exercises in this month's FITNESS magazine.  I did this workout twice through in about an hour (one circuit should be completed in about 25-30 minutes).  Give it a whirl!  I thought it was a great cross training workout and some of the moves pushed me outside of my comfort zone!  There was plenty of abs, upper body work, balance and core work!  Enjoy!

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/lose-weight/burn-fat/burn-500-calories-circuit/

HMT (Half Marathon Training) Day 4 - 8 Miles

Day 4 Mission - Run 8 miles

I ran a total of 8.7 miles in 1:21:48, with a 9:24 pace... or that's what my ipod said anyways.

It's not my best, not my worst, but i'm OK with that.  This run was so much better than the last 2 runs and they were shorter!  Maybe my body's just getting used to running outside.  That would be ... AWESOME! =)

Conversation in my head:
Mile 1 - Seriously?!  I have atleast 7 more miles to go?????????

Mile 2 - that seemed like it took a really long time ...

Mile 3 - Really???  I think my ipod needs to be recalibrated.

Mile 4 - ....

Mile 5 - Light as a feather, light as a feather ... you got this Chang ...

Mile 6 - Owwwwww......

Mile 7 - OMG!!!!!!!! Don't quit now!  Look!  A golf cart, maybe I can ask the guy for a lift????

Mile 8 - Damn tourists and rude new yorkers!!!!!!!  OMG there's the gym!  Last sprint Chang! Last sprint Chang!!!!!

Today was grueling, especially when I started in on Mile 6.  Thankfully tomorrow is a cross training day, NO RUNNING, THANK GOODNESS!!!!!!!!! I can't believe I'm saying that ...

Half Marathon???

This time last year, if you had told me that I was going to be signing up for a half marathon, I probably would have died of laughter.

Fast forward from last year to this past Monday (9/23/2013), my gchat conversation with my friend Nelly:

sherry chang

nelly!!!!! how are you feeling girl???

Nelly Baez

My quads are cursing me out :)

I got tons of bruises but I am a TRIFECTA woman aroooo10:54 AM

the Super has nothing compared to this one Sherry

this race was the hardest thing I have done in my life so far

i told u that Laura hurt her knee right :(

sherry chang

all those mountains

so i'm guessing you don't wanna do the half marathon then???

LOL!!!!

Nelly Baez

Oh I am doing it :)

i be good next week

i can do anything now lol

sherry chang

lol are you serious?

Nelly Baez

when we were in mile 10 of mountains f$%^&* dying i was like ok if they give me a choice to run right now i will run 10 miles instead lol

sherry chang

ok ... i'm down i promised you i'd do it with u, if you were up to it

Nelly Baez

my quads are hurting right now but they will be ok .. i will start running again Friday

awww thanks Sherry :)

sherry chang

but the half marathon is on oct 6

that's in 2 weeks!

Nelly Baez

yeah i be good in two weeks for it

sherry chang

really!?

okie dokie ... so are we signing up then?

Nelly Baez

yeah we are :)

Awesome.  Just awesome.  So i'm doing this ... i'm on day 3 of training and my legs aren't liking me very much.

Now, if you can believe it I only started running last year, April 2012.  I remember when ONE mile was too much for me.  I can hardly believe that I regularly clock 6-8 miles now when I run.  But believe it!  I'm doing it and if I can do it, anyone can.  I NEVER EVER ran until April 2012.

As a matter of fact, I did 2 Spartan Sprints (NY Tristate, June 1 and PA Spring July 13) and a Super Spartan (Sept 7 - as a 33rd birthday gift to myself) and the Run 10 Feed 10 - 10K on September 22nd.  Looks like I got bit by the "racing bug".  I never thought I would be here.  But here I am.  

I'm going to blog my training for this Half Marathon ... it's for a really good cause that's close to my heart so I couldn't say no ...

http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2013/memorial-sloan-ketterings-freds-team-presents-gretes-great-gallop-131m

Here's my 2-week training plan for the half marathon (from runner's world):

Day 1 - OFF (Crosstrain - did TRX with Alex)

Day 2 - 5 Miles (It's clear that I have not been training for long runs and that I've only been practicing sprints ... this was a struggle, I wanted to quit at mile 3 (on the treadmill!).  It's discouraging when your legs don't have the stamina to go, but if i'm going to run this marathon then, I gotta keep going)

Day 3 (TODAY) - 5 Miles (I actually ran 6.38 miles today.  While I didn't struggle as much as I did yesterday, I was still intensely frustrated with my run.  I've run 10 miles before and not been as tired as I was on this run.  My stamina sucks, gotta get back on track, tomorrow is 8 miles, but I plan on going for somewhere between 8-10 miles if I can.)

I ran 6.38 miles in 58:32, pace 9:10 min/mile

Wish me luck.

See you tomorrow for a report on Day 4.

xo