Training for a half marathon.

Here is my major goal!!!  Fueled by Fine Wine

This race is on July 15, 2012. I may need to push it back to 2013, but I will do it!

I will not only have to train for a half marathon but I will also have to train for a difficult terrain!!!
ALSO, I will need to make sure I can afford the plane ticket to Oregon. I figure I will plan a vacation around the 15th so I can go visit with family for 5-7 days over a weekend and into the week day.

: - D

Let's get back on track and pursue my goal!!
I ran 14 miles last week. This week, I need to work in at least 15 miles. I am going to Michigan this weekend, so getting in the extra miles will be hard.

When I look at various half marathon training plans I am excited to see how far I can go. However, I have a difficult time getting myself to do the additional requirements. I like running but once I finish my 40 minute run I am ready to go home and finish my day with my boy friend, I don't feel like going for more. Working on my core strength regularly and other strength exercises just don't fit into my schedule.

This article was sent to me by Runners World: 7 minute Strength Training. Perhaps I can add 7 minutes onto my workout today and add these exercises. If they will help my running improve, why not?

Running on a Treadmill at World Gym

We folks...went for it!
...I signed up for a gym membership.

Boy, I hope I don't end up regretting this decision. Signing up for a gym membership makes me nervous because there is a risk that I will paying even when I'm not going. World Gym actually has a good price, it is $25 a month and it was a 12 month contract...
Guess I will be living in Pueblo for at least another year! Ha-ha.

I used my trial visit last night and stayed on the treadmill for about an hour. After 27 minutes or so of running (could have been more I can't remember!!) I stupidly hit "Pause/Reset." Then, when I went to restart the run I hit "Pause/Reset" again and as a normal person might have already known it RESET my workout!! Ugh! Live and learn right? I restarted another work out and ran/walked for another half hour. I think the treadmill calculated that I went about 4 miles or so. I didn't run the whole time, I walked fast and just paced myself. Since this was one of my first days back I figured it was best to take it easy.

Now the debate.
Do I go again tonight or do I wait until tomorrow?

Mike is worried I will over do it...I think I am ok though... I will take tomorrow or Friday off.

Fort Collins - The city that encourages active residents.

Have I gone for a run since my last post?
Yes....once. I'm not going to blog about my experience running in this blog entry, instead I will blog about my experience watching the finish of a 1/2 Marathon & Marathon on Sunday.

Last weekend Michael and I went to Fort Collins, Colorado for a night away from our little forsaken town of Pueblo (Pueblo's not that bad, but sometimes the lack of city gets to me). Fort Collins is everything that Pueblo would like to be. Fort Collins has attracted many active people to it's gorgeous views and amazing trails. We went to the New Belgium Brewery and Equinox Brewing. Great beer! Both places were packed with people! There was an equal number of bikes parked outside the breweries as there was cars...bikes may have actually had the upper hand. Our friend Bob took us on a tour around Colorado State University - Fort Collins. Gorgeous! The view of the mountains beyond Fort Collins was stunning. I was actually surprised that Fort Collins wasn't further in the mountains. I envisioned Fort Collins being in a location that was more like to Carbondale.

We had a wonderful evening of beer, a bit of wine and lots of amazing conversation with Bob and Karen. In the morning Bob made us french toast before we went to see Karen finish a 1/2 Marathon. She ran the Blue Sky Marathon and Half Marathon at Horsetooth Mt Park. I only saw a little portion of the trail but the area was gorgeous. The weather was hot, I can't believe all those runners made it! It had to have been at least 85 or 87 degrees out there. It was inspiring to see someone who had stayed up late, worked a full long day in the hospital beable to wake up and go run...not only run but to run 13.1 miles! To see all the runners complete their 13.1 miles ore 26 miles was inspiring.

I have been so disappointed in myself recently. Every evening I plan on going for a run in the morning, every morning I plan on going for a run in the evening but something or several things alway prevent it. Maybe I am not meant to be a runner? Why can't I just do it, just wake up and get my butt out the door?! I feel like such a failure! I am trying not to let it discourage me from continuing to want to run but I feel distant from my goals. I'm too tired in the morning, my alarm doesn't go off, I snooze the alarm. It is too dark to run in my neighborhood. I want to spend time with my boyfriend and not time alone. I need to go grocery shopping. I want to hang out with friends. BAAAAHHHH!!!!

Here is my next thought...I will either join Worlds Gym to prevent the weather excuse from keeping me from a run and to also provide more strength training opportunities OR I will find a way to motivate myself in another way. This whole being an athlete thing is hard for a mere mortal like me...