Run Less Run Faster Marathon Plan and basic goals for 2013

Sorry I haven't done any major recaps of 2012 or goals for 2013 yet.  Aside from just in general not keeping up on my blog, I got strep and most likely the flu over the time between Christmas and New Years.  I am on the mend, but I had to take additional time off, and have just wanted to sleep all the time.  Not that it is anything new that I want to sleep all the time, but I was sleeping a ton, and still felt that way. 

I am finally feeling more like a capable adult instead of a newborn, which is great, because I started the Run Less Run Faster marathon training plan this week in preparation for the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon at the end of April.  Wow, is all I can say.  It is hard.  I was freaking out about the first workout.  It was 3x1600m.  My least favorite speedwork ever, and at a 6:41 pace.  Oh dear.  I planned to do this workout on the treadmill so I could just set it to the speed and try to not fall off.  Well, on the first mile, I thought I was going to puke, but I made it through with no issues.  The minute rest FLEW by, and I had a coughing fit.  Sheesh.  The second mile, I made it halfway through, and had to hold onto the treadmill a couple times.  It sort of made it harder, because I couldn't swing my arms, but I also wasn't falling off.  The third mile was just plain ugly.  I had to alternate holding and letting go to make it through.  It totally kicked my butt, but I was so happy that I didn't need to stop the treadmill early during the intervals, or fall off.   I am sure watching the Biggest Loser helped.  You just tell yourself you can do it and you can, and I did (well, sort of, since I did hold on a bit).  Hopefully that was just because I was getting over being sick.  I will try harder next week, and I get to do 800s.  I am much better at 800s than 1600s.

Also, I am feeling more positive that this isn't a terrible idea because I totally NAILED today's workout.  I did my long run today while Soren was at school.  I was aprehensive because the weather report showed it forecasted to rain from today through Tuesday, and with me still not 100%, I was a bit worried that running in the rain would be detrimental.  It was dry at my house until I dropped Soren off for school.  Figures. My first mile in the light rain was a few seconds ahead of the 8:30 pace I was supposed to do.  My second mile, with the big uphill, was way slower.  Oh no!  Just keep trying and pushing, I told myself.  Don't give up on the pace just yet!  Thankfully, once I got to the flatter section, it stopped raining (or it just wasn't raining over here), and I struggled a bit with the first 4 miles, but then everything clicked.  I ventured into a new area for my 13 mile run, so that I could explore more options than just running back and forth on Old La Grange Road.  Instead of taking it until it ends on my side of the freeway, I jumped onto 146, which is what I normally use to ride on to get to the IM course from my house, and stayed on that until Old La Grange Road popped back up on the other side of the freeway.  The shoulder isn't super wide on 146, so I didn't love that part, and it was exactly far enough for me to run 6.5 miles from my house before I got to a good turn around spot.  I did have to cross a lot of railroad tracks.  Thankfully, I didn't get stopped by any trains.  It started to rain really hard on me the closer I got to my house.  That last mile, which is uphill, was brutal.  I was super excited to see that I finished up in 1:49:55, good enough for an 8:27 pace!  Sweet! My pace seemed a bit all over the place when I checked my garmin, but I was keeping track of my splits somewhat in my head, so I knew it would be pretty close, but was pleasantly surprised that it was under.

I have one more run this week, it is a tempo run.  2 miles warm up, 2 miles 7:14, and 2 miles cool down.  This should work nice outside.  It is about 2 miles to get to the flat part of Old LaGrange Road, so I can run on it a mile, turn around, and then head back.  I hope I can hit the paces I am supposed to.  Today's run showed me that I really am trying to do the right plan in the book.  I was worried after the first workout and being sick.  I have heard that in the beginning, it is really hard, but it is supposed to be to improve. 

Here is my tentative race schedule for 2013: BOLD are events that I have entered

Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon, 4/27/13, Louisville, KY

Horsey Hundred cycling event, TBD, 5/13, Georgetown, KY

Michigan Mountain Mayhem, 160K cycling event, 6/8/13, Boyne City, MI

Triceratops Triathlon, 6/19/13, Brighton, MI
Cardinal Half Triathlon, 7/15/2013, Louisville, KY
Tree Farm Relay, 7/13, Novi, MI
Oldham County Mini Triathlon, 9/13, Buckner, KY
Columbus Half Marathon, 10/20/13, Columbus, OH
Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon 11/13, Louisville, KY

I am making an effort this year to do more local races.  This should save me a lot of gas money, and the stress and time of traveling.  Please don't tell my mom that I have  the Columbus Marathon down because it is still just tentative.  I actually think doing it next year might be a good idea, because I ran my first marathon there in 2004, so going back in 2014 would be cool, right?  There are lots of half marathons in the fall here, and I think there is usually one in Indianapolis on the Saturday before, so that is also on the table.  I wouldn't mind going back to Indy with the family, but it is always difficult to go to a race with my family unless I have friends going too, so that I can get a ride over to the start.  This is another reason why I want to do more local races, so that it doesn't disrupt my weekends as much.  A lot of the dates have not yet been posted for the KY races, so this will likely change.