First Week of Running

On Monday I had to travel to Orlando for work.  I'll be in Orlando until February 11th.  That's right...three weeks in Orlando.  It's been nice so far, but it's still a long time to be away from home.  One of the benefits though is I have started my running training since I don't have as much to do and I have access to treadmills in the hotel to help me learn distances and the pace I am comfortable running.  It's been a difficult week to stay motivated to run...and the first three mile run I had to do was not fun...but I think it will be good.  I learned a couple of things about the training experience though in this first week.

1.  I am so thankful for the program set up for me.  The program that has been set up for the group of gals I'll be running with is:
Monday-cross training
Tuesday-longer easy run
Wednesday-shorter easy run
Thursday-strenth and core
Friday-hard run
Saturday-rest
Sunday-long run

If I didn't have this program set up, I don't think I would have any clue of how best to go about training.  This is a great jumping off point since I am a new runner.

2. Keep thinking positive thoughts.  I was running today (odd since it was supposed to be my rest day) while in a competitive scavenger hunt with a gal in my large training group who used to train people for marathons and half marathons.  We were talking a little bit about running and she kept correcting some of my verbage.  I said "I'm not a runner" when I was talking about having to run on treadmills to guage my distance and speed.  She corrected me and said "you're a new runner".  I also said I have bad knees...she said I have delicate knees.  Her basic point was that I need to think positive and phrase things positively if I want to do this and be successful.  Saying "I'm not a runner" doesn't make my brain think that I am a runner and capable of running this half marathon. 

3. Hard runs don't necessarily mean fast.  On my Friday hard run, I didn't do very well.  I didn't push myself super hard 1. because I was tired and 2. because pushed myself too hard immediately after the warm up.  Since I pushed too hard in the beginning part of the work out...getting through mile 3 was very difficult.  I reviewed my training materials and it gave me a few ideas for how to have a hard run without just running faster (e.g. inclines, run-jog-run-jog intervals, etc).  Now I'm looking forward to Friday's run to try something different and see how it pushes me.

4...I'm going to be my own worst enemy.  Not just because I phrase things in more negative thoughts, but I also have a tendency to give up.  When I reach a point where I think I did a good job, I'm ready to quit...even if I didn't run the full distance.  For my first run this week, I was supposed to run 3 miles.  I did it...but that last mile was a mental fight.  I kept thinking that I didn't need to complete the three miles after 2 because 2 was pretty good.  But I pushed through and saw that my mind can win that battle.  In a couple of weeks I'll have to run four miles...then five...then six...then seven...etc.  It might be a battle each time, but I think it will get easier and I will prevail...all the way to 13.1 miles. 

This is already proving to be a challenge and a good experience...and the training has just started.  The next couple of weeks will be good to get me into the habit of following the plan so when I get back to Omaha I am on the right track already.