Half-Marathon Halfway Point

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So this week I began Week 9 of my Half-Marathon training plan so that means that I am officially HALFWAY there!! I figured that now is probably a good time to give a little update...

I began training for my half marathon that will be taking place on January 11, 2014 way back on September 30...you know, back when it was still summer-like conditions unlike the very fall to winter conditions that we are experiencing now? That first week called for 14 miles total with the long run on the weekend at a whopping 5 miles! But considering that I was going into training after coming back from injury that took me all the way back to re-doing Couch to 5k, doing 5 miles for a training run was pretty awesome.

Since that time I believe I have done just about every single running workout that was planned! I do know right off the top that I missed that one for Depeche Mode (but it was so totally worth it!). I might have also had to shorten miles a time or two, but no more than a little teeny bit, due to time constraints; and I might have shifted workouts around a couple times, but all in all I've hit my targets!

I still have a long ways to go though and these next 7 1/2 weeks are going to be the ones that test me as the long runs are just going to keep getting longer. But that's what it is about right? If I don't do progressively longer runs then I won't exactly be ready for 13.1 in just 7.5 short weeks!

As I've been going through this training cycle I do realize that I absolutely love training. I think it's just the racing that I don't love so much. Is that weird or normal??? I know that part of it is because when you are training, you are running at a smaller percentage of max effort; whereas, when you race you are pushing pretty hard. So then I realize, is my problem with the pushing hard part? Why yes, I do believe it is!! Nobody likes to be outside of their comfort zone, me included.

So these next 7 weeks I am really going to try to be mindful about pushing my limits, yet continuing to listen to my body. I am going to really focus on my eating (yes, I do realize that I sound like a broken record that actually doesn't follow through!) because I am in the home stretch and now is not the time to lose sight of my goal.

I was reading the most recent Runner's World issue during my lunch break today and there was an essay by Dr. George Sheehan and something within it really struck me:

"It is from lack of enthusiasm that the failures of the spirit multiply during the day. When we are enthusiastic, we develop a determination to equal the endurance of our muscles, a fortitude to match the courage of our hearts, and a passion to join with the animal strengths of our bodies." ~Dr. George Sheehan

I am enthusiastically looking forward to the next 7.5 weeks of training. Let's hope that I develop a determination to equal the endurance of my muscles!! I think I'm going to seriously need it. ;-)