After a bit of soul-searching (sole-?) over the holidays, specifically after a couple of longish runs and some staring at training schedules, I've decided to target the Halifax Bluenose Half-Marathon as my next race rather than the Full. There are a couple of reasons for the decision.
The first is that about a year ago I picked up the FIRST running book and the training runs look challenging and I'd like to give it a try. Having read through it again and pored over the training programs I've determined that there is no way I'm ready for the first week of the marathon training program with my current level of fitness, but the half- seems doable. Hard, but doable. I would be in fine shape a few months from now, but not just yet.
Second, I could probably work myself into reasonable marathon shape using a five-day per week program such as the Running Room one I used to run in 2007, but I've been having a really hard time fitting in more than three or four runs a week recently and I don't know if that is going to change in the near future. The FIRST program has a couple of cross-training days in the schedule which are easy for me to fit in as I have my lovely WaterRower sitting in my basement and can easily point it toward the television for a half an hour in the evening after the kids are in bed. Five workouts a week is much simpler this way than trying to work around my wife's crazy work/class/symphony schedule and arranging for someone to be home with the kids while I run.
Finally, I've tested each of the major key runs in the FIRST program over the past couple of weeks, and while the training paces are challenging, they are fun. All I've ever really used in the past are the Running Room programs and while they have gotten me pretty far, I'd like to try something new just to shake things up. Besides, a new program gives me something else to geek about.
In any case, there is plenty of time later for marathons. After I've established a new half-marathon PB!
Update: It's done - I've just registered for the half. Now I'm officially committed.
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5 comments:
Registering does get you in that committed mode, doesn`t it. :)
I am actually thinking of buying a fluid trainer so that I have the option to do indoor cross-training workouts. They are much cheaper and smaller than treadmills. :)
What's a fluid trainer?
One of those things you put a bike on to do workouts inside. Like this:
http://circlecitybicycles.com/jpg/kk-train.jpg
I'm not even a cyclist, but I have a bike I could use for training, so this thing would only cost about $300. They have them at MEC.
Cool! I have a bike that I use for fairweather commuting. Perhaps I could use it for more...
Awesome! Good luck with your training, better get back into racing mode with a half than burning out with a full.
I heart my bike trainer! =)
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