So, in order to keep our Cockalier Spaniel, Pumpkin, in shape, I started running her in the mornings around our neighborhood just over 3 years ago. What started as a few miles a week turned into going out with her 3 or 4 times a week on courses between 5 and 7 miles. And as I've already blogged in other posts, she's the 2010 Puppy Love 5K champion, and 2011 3rd place finisher, even though she shaved over 4 minutes off her 5K time.
Well, back in November, I had the last minute offer, from AJ, to transfer his bib to me for Coronado Silver Strand Half. I was always curious if I could run that far, especially since I was already "training" with Pumpkin, so I accepted the challenge. I ran that race, Pumpkin-free, having never run over 8 miles in my life, and still got a 1:46 time. The course is mainly straight, fast and downhill, and I got leg cramps at mile 11, and vowed to never do one of those again, but as my memory of the "pain" faded, I started to get the itch again.
This time, it would be different. What pulled me through on my first half was my routine of 3 runs a week (usually between 15~20 miles total) and doing Zumba with Laetitia on my off days, which she teaches at the Carmel Valley Boys and Girls Club, Polster Branch. Unknowingly, I was in a pretty good cross-training program for fitness maintenance, but not really for training for a half. I decided that I would see how I could do with actually following a training program.
So, with my favorite tools, Lose It for iPhone and Runkeeper, I would track my calories, nutrition and fitness activities. I would follow the @MarathonGuru training schedule, which would introduce the concept of strides, intervals and long distances into my training, and also mix in some weight lifting using Chalene Extreme and our adjustable Bowflex dumbells.
I committed in mid-January, and found several immediate challenges. The first was running slow. @MarathonGuru could not emphasize enough that on the days designated as slow, I'd need to keep a pace down, even under 9:00, to allow my body to recover from previous runs, as well as build me up to longer distances. Also, I decided I could not take Pumpkin on any runs over 7 miles, so I'd have to do a make-up walk for her or have Laetitia cover on days of longer distances.
Challenges that came along later were scheduling. I had a trip to visit my parents, so I substituted a shorter run where they live on a day that was really supposed to be my first 14-miler. Also, I had the 2011 Puppy 5K, which was completely off program, since I had this extra 5K sprint where I was supposed to have another distance run. Finally, in March, I started getting leg pain, so it was very difficult to want to take the time off of exercise to heal. I would substitute shorter runs or go to Zumba instead, when maybe I should have stayed off the leg? I eventually reduced my Zumba attendance to almost nothing in April, and cut out the last 2 long runs.
On race day, I just had a primary goal to not walk at any point and feel better at the finish line than I did at Silver Strand. I didn't let the fact that people passed me force my pace above what I was comfortable with, and ended up setting a new personal record: 1:43:15, which beats the Silver Strand time on a much more challenging course.
I am not registered for another race; don't know if I will. I have had kind of an itch to knock out a full Marathon at least once in my lifetime, but I'm going to roll back my runs to recovery mode, get back into enjoying Zumba and dancing, and running with Pumpkin, since that's how this all started in the first place.
The photo attached to this post Laetitia took at Brockton Villa, which is where she watched me come in at the final stretch (YouTube Video). She had already ordered my post-race breakfast, Mexican steamers, and I walked from the finish line straight there. We then drove from La Jolla to pick up some Sprinkles. Now that's a great reward!
In case you want to know what my training schedule was:
Mondays: Morning Slow Run, Evenings Zumba
Tuesdays: Morning Intervals, Weights, Evenings Zumba
Wednesdays: Mornings Intervals, Evenings Rest
Thursdays: Mornings Walk, Weights, Evenings Zumba
Fridays: Mornings Slow Run, Evenings Rest
Saturdays: Long Runs, Evenings Rest
Sundays: Complete Rest!
My new maintenance plan will be:
Mondays: 3 miles with Pumpkin, Zumba with Laetitia
Tuesdays: 30 min walk Pumpkin, Weights, Zumba with Laetitia
Wednesdays: 5 miles with Pumpkin, Evening Rest
Thursdays: 30 min walk Pumpkin, Zumba with Laetitia
Fridays: 7 miles with Pumpkin, Occasional Zumba
Saturdays: Zumba with Laetitia, 9 miles alone
Sundays: Complete Rest!
Maybe I'll sub in a 12 or 13 on a Saturday here and there.
Thanks to all for cheers of support during this process!
