My Official Training Plan

I am the type of person who needs a plan. I'm not that good at winging it. In the past, I've tried my hand in winging it, and have failed big time. I do not want to fail at the half. I need to do this!! I need to prove to myself I can do this.
Enter my new training plan...
I have been for the past couple weeks now meeting with a great group of ladies for one long run on Sunday's. That has been very motivational and, fun. However, it's not enough if I want to get to my final goal with out injury. My plan is to run 3 days a week, cross train/strength train 2-3 days a week with either 1 or 2 days Rest time depending on pain etc.

The days missing in between are cross training/Strength training or Rest days. Also, just for this blog's sake, week 2 is next week. I think I am actually on Week 6 or something around there. A beginning runner wouldn't normally start their training with a long run at 8 miles. They would normally start at 3 or 4 depending on their comfort level.

WEEK 2: 17 Mi

Tue Mar 6 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @16:00 Thu Mar 8 Speedwork Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2x1600 in 13:35 w/800 jogs; Cool Fri Mar 9 Easy Run Dist: 2 Mi @16:00 Sun Mar 11 Long Run Dist: 8 Mi @16:00

WEEK 3: 18 Mi

Tue Mar 13 Easy Run Dist: 2 Mi @15:55 Thu Mar 15 Tempo Run Dist: 5 Mi, inc Warm; 3 Mi @ 14:19; Cool Fri Mar 16 Easy Run Dist: 2 Mi @15:55 Sun Mar 18 Long Run Dist: 9 Mi @15:55

WEEK 4: 19 Mi

Tue Mar 20 Easy Run Dist: 2 Mi @15:51 Thu Mar 22 Tempo Run Dist: 5 Mi, inc Warm; 3 Mi @ 14:15; Cool Fri Mar 23 Easy Run Dist: 2 Mi @15:51 Sun Mar 25 Long Run Dist: 10 Mi @15:51

WEEK 5: 15 Mi

Tue Mar 27 Easy Run Dist: 4 Mi @15:46 Thu Mar 29 Easy Run Dist: 4 Mi @15:46 Fri Mar 30 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @15:46 Sun Apr 1 Easy Run Dist: 4 Mi @15:46

WEEK 6: 20 Mi

Tue Apr 3 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @15:46 Thu Apr 5 Speedwork Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2x1600 in 13:23 w/800 jogs; Cool Fri Apr 6 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @15:46 Sun Apr 8 Long Run Dist: 10 Mi @15:46

WEEK 7: 21 Mi

Tue Apr 10 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @15:42 Thu Apr 12 Tempo Run Dist: 5 Mi, inc Warm; 3 Mi @ 14:07; Cool Fri Apr 13 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @15:42 Sun Apr 15 Long Run Dist: 10 Mi @15:42

WEEK 8: 22 Mi

Tue Apr 17 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @15:37 Thu Apr 19 Tempo Run Dist: 6 Mi, inc Warm; 4 Mi @ 14:10; Cool Fri Apr 20 Easy Run Dist: 2 Mi @15:37 Sun Apr 22 Long Run Dist: 11 Mi @15:37

WEEK 9: 23 Mi

Tue Apr 24 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @15:33 Thu Apr 26 Speedwork Dist: 6 Mi, inc Warm; 3x1600 in 13:11 w/800 jogs; Cool Fri Apr 27 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @15:33 Sun Apr 29 Long Run Dist: 11 Mi @15:33

WEEK 10: 23 Mi

Tue May 1 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @15:28 Wed May 2 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @15:28 Thu May 3 Speedwork Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2x1600 in 13:08 w/800 jogs; Cool Sun May 6 Half Marathon Race Day 13.1 Mi @14:16 Time: 3:07:05

Training Plan courtesy of Smart Coach with some of my tweaking.

I'm baacckk!!

Heeellllooo party people!!

Guess what?

I'm back! I thought it was a perfect time to bring back my blog that's been in hiding for quiet some time. Why did I leave? You ask. Well, I had a great bit of difficulty blogging after I had gained a lot of the weight back that I had lost. I was embarrassed, and ashamed. What's different now? I sort of threw away the scale, and stopped obsessing over the weight. I started focuses on eating healthy and just staying active. I joined a new gym where I go to every morning. I've put more focus into weight training too. I feel so fit and energized as of lately.

I had been dreaming of the idea of participating in a half marathon for quiet some time now but, always felt I wasn't ready. Not to mention it scares the pants off me. After running an 8 mile run last Sunday with out stopping. (Yep, you read that right peeps) I said to myself, I have come a very, very long way since I first started my running journey. I needed to celebrate that. What better way to celebrate it than to finally face my biggest fear head on. A half marathon!!! I officially signed up! I will be running on May 6, 2012. I will need all the support and motivation I can get. Hence the reason for starting up this blog again.

I need accountability. A swift kick in the pants if you don't see regular blogging here. Shout at me on Facebook or here and, let me have it. I would also like to use this platform to share my training with any newbie runners or anyone thinking about running a half. What better way to make a big decision like that than to follow someone else on their journey, and learn from their celebrations and mistakes. I would like to post some product reviews of my favorite running products as well as some huge misses for me.

So, who's excited!!! I know I am!