Training for a half marathon by running once a week

I haven't posted in awhile, but I'm coming back to blogging because I'm doing a fitness experiment.  I am training for a half-marathon by only running once a week.  I am increasing my mileage by 10% each week and plan to run my first half in September or October--still haven't decided for sure which race I will do.

In addition to my once a week runs, I will continue to do Jillian Michaels' workouts, other similar workouts, pilates, yoga, ballet, etc.  

This week I did 3.6 miles...

We shall see how it goes :).

XOXO,

Workout 206 and 207

On Monday night, I decided to do Ripped in 30 week 1.  I am obviously a little out of shape having not done weights, squats or lunges in awhile.  I was sore until yesterday!

On Wednesday, I decided to go for a 7 mile run on my treadmill and I did it!  The last 2 miles were a little painful because the bottom outer part of my right foot started hurting.  The pain is still there a little bit today, but for a couple of days, I was quite worried it was a stress fracture.  Thanks to advice from my brother-in-law, I went to one of the Dr. Scholl's Kiosks and was fitted for custom inserts.  Hopefully, my foot will feel good enough to do a short run on Tuesday.

XOXO,

Workout 205 - The Glow Run 5K

Last night, I did my 2nd 5K of the day, this time with Gavin, Kailee and my parents.  We did the Glow Run and it was a fun, blacklight, glowstick, night run.  Like the Color in Motion 5K, contestants were released in waves, though we all wore chips that activated when we crossed the starting and finish line.  I was so proud of Gavin!  He ran more than halfway before needing to walk.  Once he began walk/running, he also began complaining about being sleepy and wanting it to be over.  At that point, I did become annoyed because we had no choice but finish the race to get back to the car.  The last quarter mile was a lot of fun because onlookers cheered Gavin on--he really like that :).  He raced to the finish line and LOVED getting his participant medal.  That being said, he told me he does not want to do another 5K anytime soon, LOL.  We finished the race in 42:42.  He's six.  That's freaking amazing! So proud of my boy!

Oh, and it should be noted that Kailee walked the entire 5K at my mom's fast walking pace.  She also pulled her wagon (that was intended for her to ride in) for over halfway.  My mom said that Kailee was basically jogging the entire way.  She may be ready to do the C25K with my mom and Gavin soon :).

Gavin was so tired after we got home that he fell asleep at the table eating dinner. :)

XOXO,

Workout 204 - The Color in Motion 5K

On Saturday morning, some friends, colleagues and I ran the Color in Motion 5K and it was a messy blast!  If you've never done one, here are some things to note:

1. The color is corn starch powder, not liquid.
2. Entrants are sent out in waves and it's not chip-timed.
3. At various points, there are volunteers lining the path with color powder to spray on you.
4. You can get away relatively clean if you stay in the middle of the path.
5. You can get amazingly colorful if you run along the edges of the course.
6. You can get even more colorful if you dance around at the after party.
7. Bring baby wipes to clean up.
8. Bring trash bags to cover your car seats for the ride home.

It was awesome and we are planning to do the official Color Run in April in Dallas!  Anyone who wants to join our team, can and should!  Oh and we plan to dress up in tutus for that one :).

XOXO,

Workout 203 - Running & PIlates

On Tuesday, I decided to run a quick mile (8:48) and then do some pilates.  It felt great!

XOXO,

Workouts 197, 198 & 199

I haven't been diligent about blogging lately, but basically, I've been running twice a week.  All three of these workouts were runs on different days.

Saturday, October 27th - Workout 197.  I ran 4.5 miles in my new Brooks shoes and it felt AWFUL!  My feet were in excruciating pain for the first two miles but I pushed through.  This one was done outside at my mom's house.

Tuesday, October 30th - Workout 198. I ran 5 miles on the treadmill in my new shoes and it was painful and difficult with the diabetes.  I was 110 pre-workout, had 6 shot bloks before starting, at 6 more in the first 4 miles and finished out at 5 miles.

Saturday, November 3rd - Workout 199.  My ankles were killing me as I began so I switched back to my old shoes.  It didn't really seem to help other than making it easier for me to find my stride.  I knew my bloodsugar wouldn't last for a long run so I did 3.1 miles in just under 31 minutes.  Today my left ankle in particular is quite sore.  Honestly, I should probably go to a doctor, but that's just going to have to wait until Christmas break.  In the meantime, I plan to do a lot of ankle strengthening activities.

I have my first 10K on Saturday!  I'm super-excited and nervous with these ankles and having only run 5 miles!

XOXO,

Workout 194 ~ Running

On Tuesday night, I decided to see if I could do 1 mile at 7mph and I did!  I did it in 8 minutes, 30 seconds.  Not bad for a 30-year-old non-sprinter :).

Before I began, I could tell my ankles were sore, but I did it anyway, adjusting my stride to lesson the pain.  Apparently, however I adjusted has now caused some pretty annoying heel pain.  Today or tomorrow, I plan to go to RunOn and get fitted for new shoes.  I have enough issues that justify the cost though I've been putting it off for awhile.

Tomorrow is Gavin's and my next Fun Run!  I promised him we can go as fast as he wants to :).  I'm going to GPS it and see how fast we actually go.

XOXO,

Workout #192 & 193

I had to edit this post because I forgot to blog about my workout on Wednesday.  I did Chris Freytag's 10-Pound Slimdown: Core workout and was sore like nobody's business on Thursday.  I know I need to incorporate more circuit training to maintain my muscles and support my running.

Last night I ran 4.5 miles!  I was only planning to do 4 but ended up doing an extra half mile.  I probably could have kept going but wanted to end feeling great since I have been ending feeling low the last few runs.

I started out with a bloodsugar of 322.  I did .8 units of insulin (because when starting out that high, exercise can actually raise bloodsugar instead of dropping it) and ate 1 Clif Shot Blok every mile (except the last half which was impromptu).  At the end of the workout, I was 148.

This Saturday, Gavin and I have another fun run on Saturday, though I'm not sure how long it is.  At $20/person it better be a mile and not a 1K.  I considered signing up for the 5K after but I promised Gavin we could run as fast as he wants to at the fun run, meaning I won't have the endurance for a 5K after.

XOXO,

T1 diabetes will not stand in my way

I realized that the type 1 diabetes may become an issue while training at longer distances.  My goal is to be able to do a half-marathon next fall.  So... I did a little research, and found these informative and/or inspirational links.  If nothing else, I'm saving these to reference along the journey.  I figure it's better to be proactive than reactive.

A type 1 diabetic marathoner

Type 1 diabetes running advice from other diabetics

Another type 1 running story

Type 1 runner blog (Sept 2012 post has gear info)

XOXO,

Workout 190 ~ Running

Today, Gavin and I went out for another training session with the goal to complete 2 miles.  Well... He has a bit of a cold and kept wanting to walk.  We completed 2.19 miles in 30 minutes which all in all isn't too bad for a 6-year-old.  I'm thinking we need to start with the C25K Week 1 Day 1 workout and work up from there.  We'll give it a try and see how it goes.

XOXO,

My First 5K ~ Workout 189

Crossing the Finish Line, it's blurry, but notice the huge grin on my face

Yesterday was a huge day for me.  I completed the first thing on my fitness bucket list: a 5K.  When I began this blog, on December 24th, 2009, I had just gone for a short run the night before.  I found the Couch-to-5K running plan and had grand plans to complete it and get back into shape.  On January 18th, 2010, I realized my dream of getting back into running was not going to happen thanks to knee and ankle pain.

I did the elliptical for a couple of months and then got into Jillian Michaels and happily got into the best shape of my life over the next 2 years.  Then, this spring, at a wedding shower for my cousin, Ramsey, my Aunt Karen recommended I try Glucosamine Chondroitin for my joint issues.  I researched it and learned that it would take about 6-8 weeks of taking it to feel a difference.  I immediately ordered it and began taking it.  On May 6th, 2012, I went for my first run and was able to run 2 miles at a decent pace.  And so it began, my journey back into running.

All summer, I worked through the couch-to-5K running program (or really the Ease-into-5K running program with the iPhone app) and completed the program on September 5th, 2012, and yesterday, I ran in my first 5K race.

So how did it go?  Well... My friend Jessalea and her husband, Marshall, ran with me and we did a good job pacing the first mile.  I was shocked to learn we completed it in like 9:45.  At that point, we got excited and started going faster than we should have, making us have to slow down later on.  The last mile was a bit excruciating because a lot of it was at a steady incline and my lack of pacing for the 2nd mile made the 3rd that much harder.  BUT, we did it!  I ran the entire time (or jogged, only walking for 3 steps to down a bit of water at the halfway mark).  I finished in 33:28, 84th out of 172 finishers and 39th out of 102 female finishers.  Jess was only 2 spots behind me :).  Her in-laws came to cheer us on and thanks to them, I have documentation of crossing the finish line at my very first 5K!  :) 

I am so proud of myself for working towards this goal.  I took running for granted in high school.  I was never fast, but it came easy to me (not many people can say they transferred into cross country having only ran 1 mile a month before and were able to run an entire 3 miles with only mild problems--I refused to walk unless I had low bloodsugar and often would have to down 16 ounces of juice and then would continue running).  It was a fight to be able to run again, and I appreciate every day that I am able to run now.

Our next 5K will be November 17th, the Color Run in Dallas.  I can't wait!

XOXO,

Workout 186 - Running

Yesterday, Gavin and I decided to go for our first training run together.  We went 1.68 miles and he actually ran most of it.  After depositing him back at my parents' house, I went back out to run 2.1 more.  Yes, I should have held out for .22 mile more but I was ready to collapse.  I cannot believe I almost went 4 miles!!!!  CRAZY!

Only 3 more runs (probably) until my first 5K on the hilly course.  I can't believe it's almost here!

XOXO,

Workout 183 ~ 1-mile Fun Run!

Before the Family Fun Run

Yesterday, my parents, Gavin, Kailee and I did a fun run/walk at Oktoberfest in Addison to Wipe Out Kids Cancer.

My job was to stay with Gavin, who took off at a sprint!  I am very good at pacing myself, but it should come as no shock that my 6-year-old is not.  He would sprint for a minute, then jog a bit, then sprint some more.  I am not a sprinter--at least not for as long as he can sprint--so my lungs were on fire the whole time.  It did not help that I have an upper-respiratory infection.

I am so unbelievably proud of Gavin!  He ran the ENTIRE mile and then wanted to sign up for the 5K.  I promised him that next Saturday we would start training him for a 5K (we have to work on pacing since he just wants to run as fast as he can at first) and after two more mile fun runs, I would sign him up for a 5K.  The reality is, for me, pacing is crucial for my endurance.  I could not run a 5K alternating between sprints and jogs.  I need to go a steady pace and there's no way I would have lasted yesterday following his pattern.  He might, but I could not.  I already downloaded some Kidz Bop CDs for us to run to--I got a belt phone holder for running that will fit the phone in it inside even a bulky case like an otter box.

So today I signed us up for the next fun run on October 28th.  We'll see how that goes and go from there :).

XOXO,

Workout 99 of 2012

Bribed the kids with McDonald's and Dragon Tales to let me do my workout tonight.  I did the C25K Week 2 Day 2 workout while watching episode 3 of Dawson's Creek on Netflix.  My calfs and hips were hurting, but not my knees and ankles :).  I'm so excited to be able to ease back into running.  Maybe I'll be able to do a 5K this fall!

XOXO,