Half Marathon Training!

Am I crazy?? Apparently I'm only half crazy for doing only half of a marathon! I only know one person that has done one and she gave me some great advice. There's a method to the madness of running that many miles! Run three minutes and walk one minute. I have been training that way for the past few weeks and I feel like I could just keep on running. I have already ran my longest distance (6 miles) and felt like I could continue both times! I am running a steady pace of a 8-10 minute mile. I wondered if the walk breaks would slow me down.. but nope!

I also thought since I only knew one person that had ran a half marathon that maybe there weren't that many crazies out there! But when I first went to register for the Rock The Parkway half marathon in Kansas City... it was at capacity. I couldn't register, 4,500 people already registered! I also see the bumper stickers now 13.1 or 26.2! Look for them! There are plenty of crazies out there!

I might like to have this one!

I luckily found another half marathon just a week after the Rock The Parkway one. I signed up for the Kansas Half Marathon (a benefit for health care access clinic). It's in Lawrence.. not too far. I really wanted to sign up for it, because I was afraid if I didn't do it when I planned to that I might not end up doing it.

 I've got about 12 weeks to get ready!

I have always wanted to be a runner. I like how I can always get better at running. I'm not very sporty/athletic or coordinated... so I feel like I'm good at something as a runner. In the past I would run pretty regularly for a while, but then I would hurt my ankles or my shins. Sometimes I would just get out of the habit of it for one reason or another and it would be hard to get back into. For the past year I have been running pretty much routinely (and I haven't hurt myself!). I haven't felt like I have gotten out of the habit of it for very long periods of time. I have been able to get right back to the distance I was last running pretty quickly. I ran my first 5k last June and did another one in September. In December I was looking for some runs to do again in 2012. I wondered how long it would take to train for a half marathon, I found some 12 week training schedules. I was like ok.. maybe I can do it. I have put my mind to it and it may just become a new hobby and something that really helps me stay in shape and keep up with the running! I know there was a half marathon last October in Kansas City, so maybe in April and October I can run half marathons. I see that the next step up is a marathon (26.2 miles) and then tri athalon... but I don't know if I'll get that crazy!

I just got this super cute hand stamped metal cuff bracelet.

http://www.etsy.com/people/Running4Linda

What I need!!!

my cute little stop watch

two really great pairs of running shoes! I like my Adidas and Asics!

A TRAINING SCHEDULE

http://running.about.com/od/halfmarathonracetraining/a/runwalkhalfmarathon.htm

I need a case with a clip for my ipod!!!
AND a music play list! I'll take any suggestions!

places to run!

I really like running at Railroad Park, and I run at the school tracks, and if it's too cold.. too hot I run at the indoor track at my gym. I'm glad the weather has been so decent. I have been able to run outside for most of my training already (in January!) I enjoy a summer run in the rain or at sunset. I only run at night if my hubby watches me (:

SUPER CUTE T-SHIRTS!

I would like this shirt for my training

this is the shirt I want for the race!

I would proudly wear this shirt after the race!

http://www.cafepress.com/

I'm pretty sure running 13.1 miles is the perfect excuse to be able to eat some of these cookies 'n cream oreo fudge brownies I've been wanting to try forever! I just know if I made something like this I would eat way too many of them! I burn about 820 calories running for an hour... let's multiply that by 2.5! I think running for 2 1/2 hours will burn about 2000 calories! So I can have more than one brownie if I want (:

http://www.kevinandamanda.com/new-recipes/cookies-n-cream-oreo-fudge-brownies.html

Wish me luck! I know it's crazy but I'm super excited!