I came back from my run and I had let my cat onto the screened porch. Came home and there was a new, black, eeewwwweeeie friend in my kitchen. Again...not amused. Hopefully it will stay behind my state of the art trap until Kyle gets home.
Yuck.
Today I began my half-marathon training officially. I had been upping my mileage slowly, however because I actually have a goal for this race I decided to put a little more focus into my training. I am running the Clearwater Half Marathon in January and I really, really, really, really want to finish with a "1" in front of my time.
According to the Clearwater Half's website it is, "the most challenging half marathon in Florida with 4 bridge climbs." Oh joy.
But I knew that. I ran the race in 2008 in 2:14 and at one point I remember running up a windy bridge and not moving.
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| Pre "lived" in 2008 |
After doing some research and having one awful training run where I decided to try to increase my mileage, in the sun, at my race pace...I have a training plan. It's modeled loosely after Marathon Madman's blog. You can read his plan here.
I say "loosely" because I am only doing 2 runs a week. Yes, that's bad, but I have a crooked spine and neck and that is what I know my body can give me. I'm also stubborn and won't give up my butt-whooping's with Kyle in the gym.
Each week I'm doing one long run and one either tempo or interval run. This week it's 6 x 1:50 400's and 7-10 miles with an over 10min pace.
| After the Holiday Halfathon 2010 |
I did a 1 mile warm-up at a 10 minute pace. Then I did 6 400's and I basically went as fast as I could. The workout was supposed to be done on a treadmill, but I was already home. So I just figured "as fast as I could go" would do. After each 400, I walked for 1:50. That was great to get my energy back up.
On Saturday morning I'll do my long run and I need everyone to collectively tweet, facebook, and call me to make sure I do it! I'm notorious for not wanting to get out of bed...bad, bad runner!
This will be my 5th half marathon and the only one I've ever planned out my training for. Let's do this!
How do you plan out your race training?
Love and inclines,
Carissa & Kyle









For my first half marathon and first full I joined a training/running group. We ran together Sunday morning's for our long runs and they gave us a suggested schedule for the other days. I used it as a guide and then made my own training plan knowing what I could do. Usually my week was one day cross-train, one day hills or speed runs, one long run, one easy run, two days of weights or yoga and one rest day.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to ask about something you said... you said you have a crooked spine and neck. I just found out that I do too. Are you willing to tell anything else about how that affects you?
ReplyDeleteCarissa... first off you already know I think you are crazy LOL Along with my sister the Iron (wo)man... But Have you run the Clarmont hills? That will probably help a lot with the dreadful bridges.
ReplyDeleteI completed my first Triathlon (a Sprint Tri, but I was still proud of myself! haha) and then a 10K a few weeks after this past month so I kind of burnt myself out from training and running. I was going to sign up for my first half in April but got kind of nervous about having to train again...for some reason, this post got me all excited and I might just suck it up and dooo it! =)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are feeling inspired! there is no better feeling in the world then finishing a race you trained hard for! it's addicting! I want to do a tri...someday. Kudos to you!
ReplyDelete@Alexis where are the hills she runs? I need to find them!
@Beth- I am luckily not severely crooked. I be scholiosis of 8 degrees which mainly bothers my hips. I also have two herniated discs in my neck that I have to be careful with. I just stretch and visit my chiropractor.