Yes, I have a Tennis Fixation Half Marathon Training Plan! Why? Because somehow I am signed up to run three half marathons in the next three months. How did that happen?
- First, I signed up for the Rock n' Roll Vegas Half Marathon with my sisters. This one just sounded too fun to pass up. We'll be running on Sunday, December 2, 2012 and the half marathon doesn't even start until 4:30 p.m. Why so late? Because they actually close the Strip down and you get to run on the Strip at night. Yeah, baby! So I absolutely could not pass that up.
- Second, I signed up for the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in January. That one was sort of unintentional. The Houston half marathon (and marathon) are so popular that you now have to go through a lottery process to get a spot. Last year, I entered the lottery and didn't get a spot. I assumed the same would happen this year. Wrong.
3. Third, my son asked me to run with him in the Fort Worth Cowtown Half Marathon in February. I couldn't turn my son down!
So back on August 20, I started my half marathon training. I am pretty much following one of the half marathon training plans in one of my favorite running books – Train Like a Mother: How to Get Across Any Finish Line – and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea. Here's an Amazon link to the book if you are interested in giving it a look:
The tone of the book is easy-going and laid-back but I promise you – these two ladies are serious and very experienced runners. They've put together several complete-able training plans for all kinds of races and dole out plenty of good running advice. They even address some concerns that all of us runners have, especially us women runners, but don't necessarily know with whom to raise them. Example – do you run commando or not? I'm not revealing my personal choice but there is a good discussion of the pros and cons of commando-running in this book.
The plan I'm following is called the “Half-Marathon: Finish It” plan. I'm not trying to set any records. I just want to enjoy myself and remain injury-free so this is the right plan for me. They also have the “Half Marathon: Own It” plan for runners who are more ambitious. And they have similar plans for each race distance from a 5K to a full marathon. The reason I like the training plan I'm following is because it includes cross training days and only requires that you run 3 to 4 times a week. That gives me plenty of time to get my tennis in, or bike riding, or whatever, and reduces the amount of pounding on my legs.
The first book put out by these self-declared “Bad Ass Mother Runners” is Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving – and Not Lose Your Family, Job or Sanity, which I also love. Here's the Amazon link to that one:
Again, this book gets into some really helpful issues – nutrition, running gear, signing up for your first race, “digestive” issues, etc.
Do I think I will complete my half marathon in December? Well, since my training run last weekend was a half marathon race here in Houston that I signed up for because my sister convinced me it was a great idea, I'm feeling no anxiety about Las Vegas. In fact, I'm looking forward to it. And you can be sure of this – my sisters and I will be dressed as Elvis-es along with all the other runners. Photos will be taken and posted!
© Kim Selzman 2012 All Rights Reserved
