Decision

I know this might sound strange, but instead of continuing to train for a 10K, I'm going to start a plan for training for a half. I am able to run 5 miles pretty consistently. I came across a plan over the summer in some fitness magazine...to train for a 5k/10k/half. Well, in the interest of saving money and not taking time off of work to run the 10k, I plan on jumping into the 10K training plan during the 3rd of the 6 week training so that I can finish the 10K training in sooner than a full 6 because really, I've been working toward that all along. I plan on running the 10K by myself (not signing up for anything because I really can't spare the time to drive to DC and there are unfortunately no Richmond or Cville races anytime soon). Then I want to jump into half training, which is another 6 weeks, but this would leave me enough time to complete the training and then run in the Charlottesville Half! OH THE POSSIBILITIES. So now I'm pumped.

Oh right, running update. Not yesterday (because I slept in and then worked a LOOOOONG shift) but the day before, I knocked out 5 miles in 53 minutes on the treadmill. I felt pretty good too. What I noticed though is that I need some different running music or maybe just a playlist because I get bored and end up trying to switch up the iPod tunes every few minutes, which actually takes some energy and coordination which I can't afford to spare while I'm trying to stay up on a treadmill (I tend to zigzag and get rather close to the end of the treadmill when this happens).

And a little update on the plan I'll be following. This training plan consists of strength training (i.e. yoga, pilates, or toning exercises), cross training (i.e. swimming, cycling or other non- running cardio), and speed 2 workouts (speed 1 workouts were left behind after the 5K portion of the training) and those include warming up for 1 mile, "then alternate two hard minutes with two easy minutes for 1 mile" and cooling down for .5 mi to 1 mi after that. **Thank you Self magazine.** 5/7 days are spent doing these workouts and then 2 are for resting. I plan on starting on MONDAY!!! I'm pumped and yet sort of terrified.

I'm also kinda freaked out about working 15-20 hrs a week + interning 10 hrs a week + my 13 credit hours + training, but I guess this just means I'll be waking up earlier on some mornings. At least the days are getting longer and they'll gradually start getting warmer. April 9th, here I come.