Three weeks ago I finished the ScotiaBank Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon in 2 hours and 30 seconds. I had a fantastic time (as evidenced by the MASSIVE goofy grin on my face) and I ran really hard. Yet I feel disappointed that I didn’t finish in less than 2 hours… I’ve flirted with 2 hours so many times that I just wanna grab hold of her! I was *THIS* close to two hours! So close that NOT accomplishing that goal hurts despite the effort I put in.
ScotiaBank Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon
On the upside I keep reminding myself of all of my accomplishments with that race:
- I managed to train despite the fact that I solo-parented the 3 kids during most of the 8 weeks leading up to the race because hubby was travelling and working really long hours.
- ALL of my training was done while pushing a jogging stroller.
- I was less than a year post-partum when I ran the race.
- I was still almost exclusively breastfeeding an 11 month old who had no interest in food.
- By the time I finished the race my breasts were engorged and in A LOT of pain. The last 3 km were excruciating with all of the bouncing….
- I beat all but 1 of my half marathon finishing times from races I ran in when I was in my mid-twenties.
- I set a new post-children personal best.
Then I read that one of my favourite bloggers, Tina of the blog Faith, Fitness, Fun finished the Savannah Rock N Roll Half Marathon in 1:50. Holy crap, that girl is FAST! I am in awe!! She had her second baby a few months after Amber and also was a breastfeeding mom. And I just read that Heather, of Run Faster Mommy finished the Manchester City Half Marathon in 1:55! (Seriously – go congratulate them on their awesome races, they deserve it).
But now my competitive juices are running incredibly wild…I want to run a sub-2 hour half marathon!
I KNOW I can do it. I KNOW my legs and lungs are capable. I KNOW I can handle the pain & muscle through it, because I did it – I ran a 1:51 half marathon almost ten years ago. I KNOW I can do this!
So I put together a training plan….
My plan has it all: long runs, easy runs, tempo runs, speed/track workouts, strength training, and cross-training…. I even printed off a HUGE copy of my plan, and it hangs by my desk at work reminding me to run:
GIANT Half Marathon Training Plan and Log
Watch out Chilly Half Marathon…. Here I come!!!
Forward to a friend
Hey Janice, Did you manage your PB for your HM ? 1hr40min? will add ya in Twitter
isaac976 recently posted..Draw Something by OMGPOP
Hi! Yes, I did manage to run a sub 2-hr half marathon. I finished the Chilly Half in 1:52:47 just over a week ago by following that plan. Thanks for the twitter follow.
SWEEET ! bet the training was worth it!! keep on going !
isaac976 recently posted..Draw Something by OMGPOP
Your plan looks really solid, I like the way you have it laid out with plan vs. actual all on one big sheet. If you don’t mind I would suggest more of a taper before your race, especially that long run the week before. You don’t want to get to the end with tired legs and a good taper will really give you the spring you need to hit your goal on race day. Good luck!
Thanks Julie! What the plan doesn’t show is that I’m running a 30k race 3 weeks afterwards. I have since changed the 19k a week before the half mary to a 10k, then added some training runs for the 30k after the half mary. The goal with the 30k is just to finish.
[...] rest meant that I could workout/train for my half marathon harder. I put together a very challenging sub-2 hour half marathon training plan and my intent is to follow it to a “T” in order to run the fastest half marathon of my [...]
Twitter: courtneyfos
says:
I think you will be able to do it, sounds like you have a good plan and all of the factors from the last time probably did hold you back. I thin kits awesome that you were able to do as much as you did. I watched my two girls solo last week and it was so dang tough, I cant imagine on an off for 8 weeks…I would go bonkers!!
Courtney recently posted..how to run!
You can totally do it!!!! Love the training plan!!!!! Looks great
Jen recently posted..Not Giving Up
Twitter: Kodjoworkout
says:
Janice,
Can you please tell all the other moms out there, that having a child doesn’t grant them the Visa to slack on their exercises? I can’t understand why some women use a child as an excuse to stop exercising! Have they forgotten that they are not cheating anyone but themselves? ANYYYWAY, no negativity –
You are a true inspiration to a lot of people and I hope your friends take advantage of the bright spirit you have about life! I don’t have any kids but I can imagine 3 wouldn’t be a cake walk! Kudos !
Here’s the article I wrote a while back on losing post-pregnancy belly. I will link your post to it when I get home tonight. http://kodjoworkout.com/2011/10/lose-post-pregnancy-weight/
Kodjo recently posted..High Fructose Corn Syrup Should be avoided at all Cost
You are going to destroy 2 hours!
Is that plan originally in Excel by any chance? Any chance you could send me the file? Looks like a great format for putting mine together (I bought that smartcoach app you mentioned was on sale, I like the looks of the plan it produced for me, with a bit of tweaking).