Mileage

Tuesday: 2 miles
Thursday: 2 miles
Saturday: 2.8 miles (I was only suppose to run 2 miles, but when I drove my route it was 2.8!)
Sunday: a tad over 3 miles (I'll have to drive my route in my car to see exactly how far I ran)

Total Mileage This Week: 9.8 miles

I'm feeling really good about my training so far. I haven't had to stop and walk on any of my runs. Lets hope I can keep that up when next week's long run is 4 miles. I think I can, I think I can...

Busy Weekend

This week and this weekend have been quite busy so I have not been able to write a new post all week. And I don't even have much of anything interesting to write about. So anyways...

I completed all of my training this week and I am proud of myself. I actually enjoyed my time running. I ran on our new treadmill, that a friend gave us. She said it cuts off after about 45-50 minutes, but I just did short 20 minute runs on it and it was perfect for that. I did two of my runs on the treadmill and then the other two outside. I really do enjoy running outside when it is cool weather. I felt like I could continue running longer (but I did't). Ryan went with me today for my 3 mile run. He was very encouraging afterwards and said I did really well. I didn't stop to walk and a kept a pretty good pace. Although, I don't know what my pace was because I do not have a running watch and I don't know what time we left the house. I think I'll ask for a sports watch for Christmas. I've been looking at some of the Garmins.

Here is my mileage for the week:
Tues: 1.60mi
Wed: 1.5mi
Fri: 1.72mi
Sun: 3mi
Total: 7.82miles

Lazy Sunday

Today has been a lazy day. We went to church this morning, grabbed lunch at Tropical Smoothie, and have been watching football since. As Ryan watches and hollers at the tv I've been reworking our training program for the 2010 Shamrock Half Marathon in VA Beach. Soooo....training will officially start tomorrow, although, we have not officially signed up for the race. But I'm committing to it and proving to myself that I can do it. So here is what training will look like this week:

M: Strength training at the gym and Ab Attack
T: 2o minute run
W: 20 minute run
Th: Strength train/Body Pump
F: 20 minute run
Sat: Rest/Strength Train
Sun: 3 miles

The runs this week won't be difficult, piece of cake! That's pretty much routine as it is right now.

Life and Love with the World's Best Dog

This evening I had the house to myself. Well....Penny and I had the house to ourselves. Ryan went to the first UVA basketball game of the season. So I decided to pop in one of my favorite movies, Marley and Me. Penny enjoyed watching it too. Any time she heard dogs barking she ran to the tv and and watched it for a few moments. We just had to close her eyes towards the end of the movie.

I'm so glad Penny is not the world's worst dog like Marley!

Running Partner

Today I went for a short run to start getting my legs ready for my 1/2 marathon training. I decided to take Penny with me. Although I've read you shouldn't run with your puppy until they are at least a year old, I figured I run slow enough and we weren't going that far that it wouldn't hurt for Penny to go along. So, she did and she was a great running partner. We didn't go far, maybe 1.5 miles. I think Penny enjoyed it, but she was definately tired when we got back home. I sat down to drink some water and Penny immediately laid down between my legs. She never cuddles with me, now I know how to get her to. Just take her for a nice run!

Shopping with Mom....

A trip to Richmond with my mom led to an all day shopping spree. We went to 2 craft shows and then to Short Pump mall. We weren't very successful at the craft shows, but did end up getting a few things. At the mall is where we (or I) did some "damage" as my husband said when I got home.

I absolutely love all things Pottery Barn! I would buy the entire store if I could, but my teacher's salary doesn't quite allow that. But I did find some good deals on some drapes for our living room. I'm really excited about them as we have been living in our house without curtains for almost a year and a half now. I'll post pictures after I find some curtain rods and get them up.

We also ventured into Pottery Barn kids. **Just to look** It might not have been the best idea for this girl with baby fever. I wanted to design and buy my baby's nursery right then and there. But instead, I found and bought a Halloween custome on sale for our future little one. I know, I'm crazy! But I couldn't pass up the great deal.

What a great day it was with my mom. I am so grateful for the time that we get to spend together.

To Train or Not to Train?

Yesterday Ryan and I ran the Great Pumpkin Chase 5K together. I thought I would be able to complete it without any walking, but I was wrong. I did not train for this race and that was the problem. We ran it in 36 minutes, which I guess isn't too bad...that was 12 minute miles. But I ran my first 5K, back in April/May, 2 minutes faster and without any walking. I trained for that race. So I was a bit disappointed yesterday, but I guess it was my fault for not preparing myself.



Anyways...this leads me to my title, To Train or Not to Train. Ryan has always wanted us to run a half marathon together. Now I am not a runner by any means, as you can see from my 5K times, but I think a half marathon would be a great accomplishment. So I am at a crossroads...do I commit to training for the half marathon and do it no matter if I have to walk some and my time is horrible or do I just automatically give up? I know what my husband will tell me and in the back of my mind I really want to do it, but my fear is holding me back. I really do not enjoy discomfort and I know training and running a half marathon is not going to be easy. So...



I'm going to suck it up and do it! Not just for pleasing my husband, but as a challenge to myself. I'm debating which training program to use...Jeff Galloway's beginner half marathon training or the Shamrock's Half Marathon beginner training. I guess I'll have to decide here soon, because both programs begin in November. Ahhh!



So here's to the Shamrock Half Marathon on March 21, 2010!