Let's Talk Running...and Plans!

Let's be honest here, I love a good plan. I'm an accountant, after all. When I graduated from grad school last August, and had 3 months off until I started my first job, I constantly thought, "What am I going to do with all that FREE time?" For someone who had spent 15 hours a day studying for the CPA Exam for the previous 8 months, you would've thought I would enjoy the idea of waking up with not a darn thing to do. But it was weird. No plans? No schedule? No classes to attend and no tests to study for? Those, my friends, are the thoughts of a Type A, slightly OCD, girl.

But, those months came and went, and when people asked me what I did all day, I simply said, "I wake up, eat breakfast, watch the Today Show for a couple of hours, go for a run, lay by the pool, cook dinner, and sleep." It was wonderful. The most carefree months I'd had in a long time. I trained for my first half marathon during that time, which gave me a goal to work towards and something to do.

I wish I had started the blog back then, so I could look back on my training. The only two runs that stick out in my head are a 6-miler and a 10-miler, both of which were my longest distances to date at the time. The 6-miler was the first run EVER where I didn't stop once. I ran a whole hour and didn't stop. I remember coming back into the apartment and jumping up and down with Lauren, saying "I DID IT! I RAN 6 WHOLE MILES!" I texted several people. It was an exciting day.

Then the 10-miler came along. Same thing. It was actually the same day as the half marathon I'll be running this year. I set out, and ended up running part of the race course, to which volunteers offered me water and Gatorade even though I wasn't running the race. It was a great run. I didn't stop. I wanted to tell people as I passed them on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, "I've been running for an hour and a half and I could keep going!"


DailyMile Snapshot from that great 10-miler (ya know, for proof)

What is my point in all this? (I promise I have one). Training for this year's half marathon is going to be extremely different. And I'm a little nervous. I'm unavailable from 7 am - 5:30 pm, a solid chunk of the day. I can't just set out for a run when I feel like it. I think I've had the half marathon on the brain a lot lately, mainly because my last couple of runs have been difficult (and only 2 miles). Ryan and I went for a short run on Sunday morning, and it sucked. I chalked it up to giving blood several days before, but as Ryan so honestly put it, "You're breathing awfully heavy for only running two miles." Thanks Ry, love you too. That was weird. I've never called him "Ry" before.  Side note: I actually do love his honesty.

I shouldn't be surprised that running isn't effortless. I'm not exercising on a regular basis. I workout for 4 days in a row, then take 10 days off because I'm out of town for work, on vacation, lazy, would rather take a nap instead, etc. I know, they're excuses. I rarely deny myself a "I feel like doing nothing today, so that's exactly what I'm going to do" day.

All this to say: I need to get back on track. With working out and eating better. Did you know that working in a town for three days where the only food options are McDonald's and Huddle House does not allow for healthy eating? I've got to buckle down and work hard if I want to kick this half'marathon's butt (which is exactly what I plan to do). I'm heading to the beach the first week in July, and it seems like a perfectly good time to get back on track (and fitting, too, since it's my birthday month and practically a fresh start)! I can wake up early before the humidity gets too awful and go for a run on the beach. A beach run is a great workout for the calves, too!

I already have my half marathon training plan ready to go. I created it oh, probably, 3 months ago. I'm a nerd. Yes. I freely admit it.

So there you have it. 12 weeks of delightful running, all which will be recapped for you here. Those Monday's of "Rest" will probably involve Kettlebells at the Y, as I'm now officially obsessed with the class and the fact that "Call Me Maybe" is on the playlist rotation. Friday's will probably be yoga at the Y, or maybe the elliptical. I haven't quite decided yet.

I moved my long runs to Sunday and made Saturday a rest day, as it's football season, and I have season tickets to see my Tigers play. So Saturdays are out of the question, workout wise. Clemson is notorious for noon games, which means leaving Greenville at 8 am or earlier. It's all worth it, though, so I'm not complaining one bit.

Remember at the beginning of this post, when I talked about plans? Drumroll, please. My plans are TO RUN BEFORE WORK. Groundbreaking news. But honestly, it's just the only logical thing. It'll be before it gets too hot and humid, my run is already out of the way before 7 am, and I'm free to do whatever my heart desires after work. I'm self-admittedly a morning person, so I know this is do-able. Getting up at 6 am instead of 6:45 won't make a huge difference. It'll just mean I'll have to go to bed a little earlier in order to wake up at a decent hour. I can do this. I'll start next week.

Congratulations if you stuck with me through that entire post. I know I rambled, but I feel like if it's out there in blog world, I'm more likely to stick to it. Stay tuned.