Hal Higdon - Week 4!

Week 3 was a bust, this time I blame my husband. Due to him being sick, I didnt have anyone to watch Brooke, which made going out for a run a bit difficult (ok, impossible). Here I am, week 4, and I havent done any running since week 1. I had such high hopes, and now instead I am beginning to panic. I'm supposed to be up to a long run of 3.5 miles, and the longest I have run is 2 miles ... two weeks ago.

I was complaining to Jeff last night about the looming 8K, and how I worry I might not be able to do it. I know I can finish it without training, but I want to run it, not walk it. He didnt seem to get the scope of my issue.

When you were training for the marathon, you started with three miles. Whats the big deal?

The big deal is that when I started training for the marathon I was already in great shape. I was working out 4-5 days a week, doing cardio each time. The challenge to doing a marathon was that I had never run a step in my life ... not that I needed to get into shape. This is a whole new world. I havent done any cardio since my 1st trimester, and now have a five month old baby. (Thats about a year of no cardio.)

Anyway, I am still optimistic and now onto Hal Higdon's 4th week of my 8-week training!

Monday: stretching & strengthening
Tuesday: 2.5 miles
Wednesday: 35 minutes cross training
Thursday: 2 miles and stretching & strengthening
Friday: rest
Saturday: 45 minutes cross training
Sunday: 3.5 miles

My ab class is going great and at least I am doing the "stretching & strengthening" part! Of course, Brooke has a doctors appointment this week during one of my classes, so again I am falling behind :) Jeff is better and I plan to get back on track this week. Although I will likely have to alter the plan a bit from Hal's suggestion, I think I will still be on track ...

Training Log Time:???   Distance:1.95 mi   Pace:??? Darnit Run Keeper! I went out tonight for 2 miles, knew if I didnt today that my "tomorrow" excuse would become too permanent. It was tough for two reasons: 1) my lack of running over the past weeks and 2) my pre-existing lethargy from this mornings ab class. I finished my run, and looked at my iPod ... only to notice that RunKeeper had screwed up again. The screen indicated that I had been running for only a few seconds and ran about .05 miles, despite the fact that I hit start when I left and didnt touch it again until I hit stop. I dont know what happened! Jeff said I had been gone about 25 minutes, with the 2 minutes or so I spent stretching out in front thats about 23 minutes (in the general area where I have been doing this run).

For my next run I plan on doing 2.5. I know it doesnt sound like a lot, but I'm already getting nervous ;)