Coming down to the wire

This Saturday is the half marathon in the Smokies.  I have been training for this since February.  I don't know if I would really say training....because I wasn't a runner and basically had to get there.  Everyone says you will get hooked and become a runner, but as you can tell from previous posts I just want the medal from the half....I am not looking for anything more.

I changed my training schedule in April because my shin splints were so bad I was about to throw the towel in.  I tried everything from compression socks, tea tree oil, exercises, foam rollers, and changed my shoes to no avail.  But then I found a running program that increased my mileage by 10% each week - religiously and increased the number of days I ran.  I was skeptical at first, but became a believer after a few weeks when my shin splints went away.

So, I run 6 days a week with my long run on Saturdays, 3 days a week I run 1/3 of the mileage from the long run and 2 days I run 2/3 of the mileage from the long run - amazing!

I strained my hip flexor in June and honestly I don't know how I did it.  I think it was doing squats, but I am not sure.  After 6 weeks I went to the doctor and he sidelined me from anything for a week.  I started back slow about 2 weeks ago, just in time for one more long run before tapering.  I am still babying it a little because I don't want any issues on Saturday.  I live in the foothills of the Appalachians and my runs include hills, I have been running flat(ish) land for the last two weeks to keep healing.  My half in the Smokies is steady incline for the race - so I wanted to make sure I am ready.

I have to say, that after 7 months I feel I am ready for Saturday and I am actually ready to do some long runs again.  I always thought runners were crazy when they complained about having to taper.  My thought process was that you don't HAVE to run 7 miles in one day during week and you GET to run only 3...so why complain.  But, I can see why it drives people crazy.  Our morning are not as humid as they have been and this morning would have been a beautiful 7-8 mile run, but instead I am tapering and did a measly 3.  LOL  It is funny, a few months ago I dreaded doing 3 miles and now it doesn't seem worth getting out of bed for.

My husband said the running bug bit me.  I guess it did.  But, I think it has been a blessing because I haven't been able to put in my mileage on the AT this year with my new business and this has kept me focused.

So, I know I said I only wanted one medal, but I think Becky and I are doing a 6 miler in October, and then of course there is the DRT 30k/50k.  I did the 30k 2 years ago as a hiker.  I will be curious to see what the difference will be as a runner.

So, here goes nothing .....  I will let you know if I get the medal :-)

Finding the groove

Less than 2 months until my first half and I feel like I have finally found my groove with running.  It doesn't seem rational that running more would reduce shin splints - but I am a believer!

This week I ran 2.6 miles three times, 5.2 miles twice (today was a 5.2 mile day) and Saturday I will run 8 miles.  I didn't run a lot of hills this week because I pulled my hip flexor, so I have been trying to stay on fairly flat ground, which is hard to do in the foothills of the Appalachians :-)  One thing that I have found with my running this week is that I have gotten faster.  I had negative splits today and Tuesday (my 5.2 mile days) which is awesome.

After 5 months I can finally say that I enjoy running.  I honestly never thought I would get to that point - the Army had cured me of ever enjoying running, but this training program has changed a lot of that and for that I am grateful. 

 I like having a goal that I am working towards - right now it is the half in Sept.  My goals are normally to knock off miles on the AT, but this year with a new company - work keeps getting in the way and being off the grid for a week or more hasn't played out, so I guess I will just be content with the 25 miles I knocked off in May :-S.  Next year I'll be back to the triple digits and moving my way north.

As running is getting easier I am looking forward to seeing what I am capable of for the DRT 30/50k.  Two years ago I did the DRT 30k (Duncan Ridge Trail).  I hiked the uphills and ran the downhills and with no training other than hiking I finished in just over 7 hours.  This year I am still debating between the 30k and the 50k.  I think I will wait until after the half to make that decision.  

Follow me on instagram - my son got me started on there @sneakerswithmiles.  It is much easier to post there from my phone than wait until I can blog on my computer ;-)  I will keep y'all updated tho!

It's real now folks...

Today is an overcast, cool day in North Georgia and we had 5 miles to do.  I wasn't as nervous about completing it as I was last week because Becky was with me, I did the 4 miles all by myself with no problem, and I have been killing it on our weekly short runs.

We went down to Cumming and did an out and back on a road with a sidewalk and appropriate hills to make you wish you were anywhere but there.  I am still getting in trouble for going to fast and she reminds me that I need to make sure I am with her.  Maybe I am meant to be a record setting runner :)  I am just happy to complete the 5 miles and not die!

She used run this area before and knew the mile markers so it was nice to see my Apple Watch was right on point.

Next week we have the Color Run so a 3.1 mile run will be a walk in the park :-)

Now that I know I can actually run for more than 2 miles I signed up for the Great Smoky Mountain Half.  It is real now folks.

I'm going to ice my shins and be a bum for the rest of the day - I earned it :-)

We did finish our 5 miles in 1:01 - not bad for run a mile walk a minute.  And I'm still alive to talk about it :-)

3 miles!

I started out this morning with a motley crew -

Becky and I were scheduled to do 3 miles.  Her daughter, and 2 of my boys decided to join us.

All of our other runs were running for minutes (run/walking) this is the first true mileage run.  So we started nice and slow at a good pace and the kids took off!!  We did an out and back for the first mile and past 2 of the kids on their way back.  Becky and I were essentially the tortoise to their hare :-)

We finished the hill and walked up to the movie theater where we did the laps around the theater.  When we got to the top we were down to 4 of us.  We had completed 1.22 miles before we started lapping the theater and before we finished the 3 miles we were the last ones standing. :-)

Not the best pic, the sun was in my eyes - but still we were it :-)  

By the way - I ran over 1 1/2 miles straight today ;-)  It is great to have friends that won't let you settle and show you how to get over the hump :-)

The magic of pacing

Last night I was telling my husband that I can't get past the 2 minute run/1 min walk.  I know I'm sick.  I know I just started a month ago - but good grief this is getting old.

Today I laced up my sneakers and Becky had a plan - she was going to set the pace - 13 to start and go faster the longer we run.  Today we have 25 minutes.  So we went up to the movie theater parking lot where there is no traffic and it's flat.  She was all geeked out with a garmin watch on one wrist and a running watch for intervals on the other.

She set the pace and it is slow, but I am a fast walker - basically shuffling my feet faster than I walk.  When we finished the first 2 minutes I wasn't even sweating.  We continued for about 3 cycles of 2/1 and then I ran as long as I could without stopping.  12 minutes!!!!  I ran 12 minutes straight!!!  At the end I had a nice rhythm of about 11 - 12 min/mile and could breathe!!  Even with my cold.

Saturday we have 3 miles to do based on her training schedule.  Today we did 2, so I'm not dreading 3 miles as much.  Now I just need to find a good app for my apple watch to set the pace.  The workout app built in to the watch tells me the average, not what I'm running.  Any suggestions?