Motivation Monday – Training For a Half Marathon

Yup. I did that. Went outside and styled my running shoes. In my defense, they ARE my branding colors….so that makes it ok. This is the first post in my first blog series! It is officially going to be known as Motivation Monday. These will be up bright and early. So when your alarm goes off and you roll over to your nightstand to instantly start scrolling through your social media….these posts will be there! Who doesn’t need a little extra motivation on Monday mornings? In our house (along with millions of other people), every Monday is the chance to start over. Just ask Vernon as he is crushing his ice cream with Carson on Saturdays (it’s a ritual). He will tell you that he’s “cleaning it up” on Monday. The ultimate re-do button. These posts are to help get your week off to a great start!

So I don’t know what actually made me do it, maybe it was some leftover New Years confidence. This past February I decided I was going to run the Shamrock Half Marathon in Virginia Beach. It gave me a month and one week to train. I then proceeded to TALK about running the race for a week before I actually started training. I decided my goal was to finish the race without stopping. I did my training like I was supposed to (I did miss a few runs throughout that month), and I ended up finishing the race 13 minutes before I thought I would (2 hours and 17 minutes). I didn’t stop. Not even for a bathroom break. The feeling I got when I hit the Virginia Beach boardwalk for the last 1/4 mile or so was incredible. I was hooked. I did another half marathon the next month. The Outer Banks Flying Pirate race didn’t go as smooth, but I still did it. I am doing the Rock & Roll half marathon in Virginia Beach on Labor Day weekend. Kinda nervous because it’s going to be hot. As of today I have 4 weeks left of training. I’ve been running more in preparation for this race. I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to hit 2 hours flat. But the warmer weather makes me nervous. Either way, I’ve put together a few tips that I have learned from my experiences. I am by NO means a pro, but these things have helped me!

This is Caitlynne. She is the one who REALLY helped me in the beginning. She was always positive, and I could text her about boring running stuff. She always seemed happy to hear my times/distances getting better. She was probably sick of hearing it, but she never let me feel that way! Carson also ran the kids Final Mile with her school that weekend. She had a blast and can’t wait to do it next year!

This race was HARD. I didn’t go into it as prepared as I should have, and the hills of mulch/sand at the end killed me. BUT I did run through 3 cities, and it’s pretty cool to know that!

Sign Up For a Race Now!

There’s nothing more motivating than shelling out some money for a race. You’ve invested in it. You have to do it now. When you sign up within a month of a race, it’s typically somewhere around $100…usually a little more. Try to find a nice flat course that’s all pavement for your first race. Congrats! Now you have an official date to train for!

Push Yourself a Little at a Time

When I started I couldn’t even run 1.5 miles without stopping. Each run I would push myself a little farther and a little farther. I found a training program online that told me how many miles to run and on which days. So on my first week, my long run on Sunday was 6-7 miles. I had to walk for about 2 minutes after each mile. For each run I pushed myself maybe 1/2 mile farther before I would stop. It’s SO important to listen to your body! I had shin splints once in Florida, and I did NOT want that to happen again. It worked, and I found out that I “hit my stride” around 2 miles. After that, running was less intense. You may hit your stride at a different point, but find out what it is!

Plan for Success

If you don’t schedule your runs (ESPECIALLY your long runs!) you are doing yourself a disservice right from the beginning. The farthest I ran before each of my races was 9 miles. I had never run double digit miles before, and I wanted the first time to be during a race. But those 9 miles took me 1 hour and 37 minutes! It’s also a good idea to get up and start running when your race will be starting. That way you will get your timing down for breakfast, getting ready and then actually running during the same time as your race. I did this the week before my races. I should be getting up in the morning now and running to adjust to the warmer temps, but I haven’t learned my lesson yet.

Get Your Gear Straight

I bought a Camelbak because I was wanting water after each 1/2 mile when I was training. The last thing I wanted was to not run as well as I wanted to because I was thirsty. Something I could prevent. I love it. There are water stations throughout the courses, but sometimes just one swig of water can rejuvenate me a little. Same with different energy products. I like GU Energy Gels. But there are also Bloks, powders, all kinds of stuff. Some of it can upset your stomach, so it’s important to try it out during some of your long runs. Don’t forget a great playlist! I know people who run without music….I am NOT one of them. I add to mine every time I hear a song that I know will work great, because they can get a little repetitive.

The most important thing to remember, is that yes it’s scary. Anything worth doing is. Starting a photography business was scary. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start! Training for a half marathon is terrifying, but it can be done. Preferably with more than 4 weeks of training, but you get the idea. By the end of this year I will have run FIVE half marathons!!! That’s just crazy! I’ve also already signed up for one in Florida next year! I hope this helps at least one person! Not all of the Motivation Monday posts will be about running, but this is what has been on my mind lately.

be silly. be honest. be kind.