Training Advice

twinmom_112002

So I messed up....I have a half on 12/29 and another one on 2/8. I had been running 25-30 miles a week consistently since last year but then I had a bad race experience about 6 weeks ago and life got crazy (I work full time, 3 club sport kiddos and as a cherry on top the hubby just started coaching). All that is excuses and I know that. I know I can find time if I look hard enough. I have managed to maintain a mile or two a day.

The half on the 29th is a date with the hubby who has never run a half before and stopped training about the time my motivation died so we will Galloway our way down the course and just enjoy our time together. My question is how do I get back on track for my February run? I no longer care about my time as much as surviving unhurt.

likitisplit

I'll let somebody with experience actually answer this, but add words of support. You don't lose your base that easily and can probably get back on track with some modifications. Life happens and the important thing is that you are still running. Great job on maintaining the mile or two a day, you are going to be kissing yourself for that at mile 9.

rduhlir

Honestly, I could only tell you what I would do myself. I have only completed one HM before, but if I were in your shoes and having one that I stopped training for, I would at least work up to what I could in such a small amount of time. I would do a 6-7 mile run this weekend, then Run/Walk every mile at the Dec race. So run a mile, walk a mile, etc.. And then focus on the February run as my true effort. But that is what I would do lol.

DavidMartinez2

What are your overall fitness goals? Do you do any cross-training or is all of your workout time devoted to running?

twinmom_112002

My fitness goals are to look good in a bathing suit in Cabo in April, run a half under 2:10 (goal for this summer but doable based on previous race times), be mentally happy which happens when I run.

My time is all devoted to running right now because I am eeking out exercise time from my schedule. I haven't been able to find time for both running and cross training. I do have an online subscription to a barre class that offers short videos that can be done without any tools and I hope to start doing these regularly. Before I stalled in running I was doing 2-3 week day runs of 5 or 6 miles and then a weekend run of 8-10 miles.

My goal for the Dec. half is to enjoy the time alone with my husband sans kids. My goal for the half in February is to finish feeling strong regardless of time and to get back to my fitness level before I had my running break. Knowing this .... what should my next month of running look like?

cococa

Spending that time with your husband on the half in December sounds wonderful . I think the most I'll ever get my future husband to do is a 5K.

My training ebbs and flows with my work and personal schedule too (and I don't even have kids yet). When I get back out there for training, I start back at 3 miles and try to get out there at least every other day. I remind myself that 3 miles is only 30 minutes or less. I think it's sometimes hard to get out there when mentally I'm always thinking that I need at least an hour for a training run. That consistency helps, and then I save the long runs for the weekend.

I don't know about you, but with the 80 degree temperature we just had my runs were awful. Glad it's cooling back down this week!

twinmom_112002

Thanks Cococoa....Of course I would love a nice happy medium. Going from 80's to 50's in a matter of a day is horrible on my sinuses.

DavidMartinez2

So I would suggest working out 5 days a week. 3 one hour sessions during the weekdays and then 2 runs on the weekend.

Monday - 30 minute run, 30 minute workout
Tuesday - rest
Wednesday - 30 minute run, 30 minute workout
Thursday - long-ish midweek run
Friday - rest
Saturday - Long run
Sunday - Recovery run; easy pace 4-5 miles

If you were able to devote more time I would make the workouts longer. I also suggest doing some sort of "30 day challenge" core exercise prior to bed each evening.

twinmom_112002

Thanks David.... I have done the 100 push-up challenge before. That would be a perfect before bed routine.

DavidMartinez2

Thanks David.... I have done the 100 push-up challenge before. That would be a perfect before bed routine.

After I completed the challenge I continue to do the final 3 days on Monday/Wednesday/Friday