Week 1 Half Marathon Training Review

Today was my rest day!  Sweet!!!  I started it off by going to breakfast with the boys at a local West Philly restaurant called Rx.  I mean, as a future pharmacist it was only fitting that I try Rx restaurant.

cute glass diet coke bottles =no free refills

Eggs Benedict with some potatoes and onions

my dates

I came home to my apartment, took it easy watching some more Twilight movies, and cleaned up some things in the apartment that have been on my to do list for a while.  I went through all of my t-shirts and put them away or put them in a bag for good will.  I also put them back in the drawers according to category so that I could find all my Phillies shirts in the same place, race shirts, etc. Then I went through my closets and got 2 bags of clothes that I didn't need anymore as well as hung everything I owned up and organized it by type and color. 

dresses and coats

scarves and belts...and a lab coat of course

tops

My evening was then filled with some delicious dinner, a celebratory stop at Dairy Queen downtown to get an oreo blizzard in honor of national ice cream day, and then some great tv shows.  Not a bad rest day all if you ask me! 

Chicken marinated in a little honey, paprika, and soy sauce, garlic and oil spinach, and whole grain Mediterranean rice

Week 1 Half Marathon Training

Monday - SHRED and 3 mile run

Tuesday- SHRED (strength and stretch day)

Wednesday - SHRED (cross training day)

Thursday - SHRED, 3 mile run, swimming lesson

Friday - SHRED and 30 minutes elliptical (30 minutes cross training day)

Saturday - 4 mile run (long run day)

Sunday - Rest Day

This week's half marathon training went great, especially considering that I integrated the plan I had made with the two week Shred program I am doing.  The shred consists of 10 workouts, one each day Monday to Friday, for an hour a day at 6 am down by the art museum.  The workouts are always different and challenging.  In addition to the workouts, we are encouraged to eat a clean diet during the week and normally but moderately on the weekends.  The only challenge that was difficult was Thursday's 3 mile run.  I only ran about a mile or so of it, and then I walked the rest.  I had decided to run it in the middle of the day, in the blazing Philadelphia heat after I already had done one workout that morning.  Not the best run at all. The clean eating during the week went fairly well, I tried a lot of great new recipes and it wasn't too bad.  I have cut down on the diet soda which is good, but I definitely enjoyed my "normal" eating on the weekend.

Overall a successful first week of half marathon training!  I hope this week is even better!

Half Marathon Training Plan

I am not a good trainer.  I work out fairly consistently at 3-5x per week, but sticking to a training place is really hard for me to do.  I like to do what I am in the mood for...some days I want a good stretch and do yoga.  Sometimes I want to go to a really challenging spinning class.  Maybe I want a good run?  So many choices!  

So with my first half marathon approaching in 12 weeks, I have decided to make a training plan.  I am basing it off of Hal Higdon's novice training plan for a half marathon with a few modifications.  I am going to make a genuine attempt to stick to this plan to the best of my ability.  I made Sunday my off day because that is the day that I work.  I also tried to make my strength training days on days that my gym has classes that I know I like. 

I know that life sometimes get's in the way, but I am going to try and keep to the integrity of my plan as much as possible.  I want to run my first half marathon with confidence, and I certainly don't want to struggle through it. 

click to view larger

In addition to this plan, I will also be adding in swims and bike rides to continue preparing for my second triathlon, SheRox.  I will also do yoga when I feel like it, spin when I want to, etc.  I just am going to try and fit these in on the cross training days or do them in addition to the runs (without burning myself out of course).  I am also looking at doing some other interesting training things this summer, but they will be in addition, and I will integrate them into the schedule.  

Lunch - 4th of July leftovers :-)

2 deviled eggs, potato and pasta salad, corn, wraps

P.S. Casey Anthony...not guilty.  I am not surprised by this.  To be honest, I watched this trial from the beginning, and the forensic evidence was lacking.  The jury couldn't see what we saw...all the news reports and analysis of the case...they just had to look at what was presented to them in court.  The evidence presented wasn't enough to convict her of murder.  Hopefully she has learned something and doesn't squander this second chance. 

Training Plan Spring 2011

Took a break from studying to make myself some dinner.  Tonight was corn and light raviolis.  I ate the rav's with light Buitoni Alfredo Sauce, grilled chicken strips, tomatoes, and red onion.  It was alright.  I could have seasoned it up a little better.

While taking my eating break (/sanity break!) I worked on my tentative training plan for the spring semester.  So far I haven't really been following a strict training plan because my races are not that close.  I figure, if I want to run a 10 miler by May 1st, I better get my butt in gear.  This training plan is more detailed when it comes to the runs, although I did include biking and swimming because I am starting to prepare for the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon that takes place towards the end of June.  I'm starting so early because I am not the best swimmer, and I am not the greatest biker either.  I really don't want to be the last person to cross the finish line at this thing, so I might as well start working on my skills.  I think I am going to allow myself to switch my days around if I want to, but ultimately I am going to try and complete all the workouts in the week.  At the end of the day I know life is busy, and I plan to do the best that I can do.  Please let me know what you guys think!!  I am new to training plans and if you have any input or suggestions, I would love to hear them!  

click on the picture to see a larger image! (And yes, I forgot that Spring will be 2011 when I wrote Spring 2010, don't mind my finals brain..)