Jedi Jen's Quest to 26.2 - Week Four is out the door!

1/24/2012:

Tuesday's run called for 4 miles - and I ended up doing them with negative splits, even in the wind!!! :)

1/26/2012:

Thursday nights are usually reserved for the social runs at Red Coyote in OKC, which is a little over a 3 mile run. Since my plan called for 5, I decided to do 3 in the morning and then 3 that evening. 

I didn't feel like either run was amazing, but at the end of the day it felt good to have the miles completed.

Thursday morning route

Thursday morning splits

Thursday night route

Thursday night splits

1/28/2012:

After a very stressful week, I was extra giddy and a little nervous for this long training run. I had a hard time getting to sleep the night before because I was so excited to wake up and go run with some of my favorite people! Even though Rachel and I had gone 11 miles the previous week, 12 miles still sounded so far. The miles flew by and I had a fantastic run with Rachel! This run started and ended at the Devon Boathouse - which is amazing by the way! The community with the OKC Landrunners is simply incredible, I am so happy I joined this group! 

It felt great to not only beat last week's time of 11 miles, but also to have a good overall pace!

Rachel and I after finishing our 12 miles! We had a wonderful time! 

So proud of Rachel pushing through. Her foot started to hurt around mile 9. 

It still isn't feeling great, so keep her in your prayers that she can pick up her training again ASAP!

Some of the OKC Landrunners (and OKC Zebras!) after the week 4 long run!

Band directors who also run thumbs up pic! 

Although I felt great during and after this long run, my legs were pretty stiff. I probably didn't stretch as much as I should have and I probably ran a little faster than I should have for 12 miles but... :) 

I decided to try my first ice bath. It was chilly, but I think it helped! 

My Saucony Kinvaras are amazing shoes, but it was time to get another pair of shoes into the rotation since my mileage is going to increase soon. So, after a trip to Red Coyote - I got a new pair of kicks! The Saucony Cortana! These feel just as good as my Kinvaras, but have a little more rubber on the bottom, which should help them last a bit longer. I can't wait to start putting miles on these beauties! 

Jedi Jen's Quest to 26.2 - Entry 3, Week Two complete!

And just like that I am already done with my second week of marathon training!

1/10/2012: 

Day nine started off my second week of training with 4 miles. Since I had plans for the evening of the 10th, I knew I had to get my miles in before school. This was the first of my early, early morning runs. I went to Norman and started on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. It has a lot of sidewalks and street lights, plus the added security of emergency phone booths. I didn't eat exactly how I planned, but I still got some food in my system before heading out. I put all of my clothes out the night before, which REALLY helped the getting ready process!! 

I ended up going a little more than the planned 4 miles because I guesstimated wrong, but I figured it was the fastest way back to my car! Overall this was a great run! The city was asleep and I felt like I had total alone time. 

That evening I got to help coach the 5k Newbie Class at Red Coyote Running & Fitness in OKC. (http://www.redcoyoterunning.com/index.php?newbie-training-program) Over 100 people showed up and they all did a fantastic job! We walked to a nearby track and back, which totaled a mile, and then followed an interval schedule. Our intervals were run 30 seconds, walk 90 seconds repeated for a total of 8 reps. I really enjoyed getting to know some of the beginners and sharing with them about Red Coyote, RunKeeper, the OKC Landrunners, & dailymile and how they have all helped me get where I am today. Not only do I care about runners getting started, but my sister is doing this training program. I am so happy for her and hope she sticks with it. I remember how intimidated I was when I started training for my first 5k almost two years ago - but I think this program and 100 other people will really help her push through this!

1/12/2012:

Day eleven called for another 4 miles! Usually I run at the Red Coyote social runs on Thursday evenings, but they are taking a couple weeks off so I decided to get my miles in before school. This time it was easier to wake up and I ate better before heading out. "Arctic air" blew in the afternoon before this run causing the wind chill to be 16F - and there was a wind advisory! It was a REALLY tough run. This was the first run I hadn't enjoyed in a while. But, it happens. And I felt much better just getting the miles in regardless of how bad I thought it was at the time. Also, since it was so cold - my nose was sno. tty. So I got an opportunity to work on my snot rocket technique. 

I took a picture afterwards to remind myself that I pushed through 

and finished my goal even though it was a tough run!

1/14/2012:

Day thirteen of training - long run day! 8 miles were on the schedule for today and I have been looking forward to it all week! Crazy how giddy I get over doing the long runs. I enjoy driving to the city for them, I enjoy the company of other runners even if we never talk, and I was especially looking forward to the time with my friends. I was able to bring up some friends with me for this training run! Today was my last chance to run with Katie before she heads back to Kansas so she came along to get in some miles. My friends, Connor (also training for the full) and Jacob (training for the half) also joined us! We stayed in my car until time for the announcements before the run began. At 7 AM, we took off! I think over 400 people were there today - awesomely crazy!! My friend Clinton (training for the half) ran to the water stop with me and then he headed back. I saw Jacob and Katie (they each ran around 5 miles) after they turned around and then later saw Connor on his way back. (He ran the full 8.) Overall I felt great about this run. I felt like my breathing was good and that I maintained a good pace for myself. In the last mile, I met another woman training for the full. This isn't her first full, but it is her first time to train with the Landrunners. I got to talk to her a bit and invited her to the next Red Coyote run! (And my last mile was the fastest out of all 8 miles!!)

After I returned back to my car and waiting friends, we went to Starbucks! We all talked about our runs and enjoyed each other's company. Jacob has needed new shoes for a while and Katie has had some hip pain lately so we went to Red Coyote to see what they could do to help! Both Katie and Jacob did the video gait analysis and got new shoes. I hope this will help them while training for their big races!! 

I have the best friends!! They did the thumbs up pic with me!! :)

Some of the OKC Zebras post second week of training!!

A few of the OKC Landrunners at Starbucks! 

Jacob getting his video gait analysis! He purchased his first Newtons today! 

Katie getting her video gait analysis! She also got new shoes!

I can't believe I am already done with the second week! I am looking forward to week three! 

My long run will be out of town so should add to the hype of the long run! :)

Jedi Jen's Quest to 26.2 - Entry 2 - First week done!

Done with my first week of marathon training!! I feel great! (Tired, but great!)

1/3/2012:

Day two (technically day one, but day one is a rest day, hehe) called for 4 miles. Since it was my first day of official training, I was feeling a bit nervous! My friend Katie was nice enough to come along with me. (She is also training for OKCMM!) Let me tell you about Katie since you will most likely read about her some times in my blog. Katie was a junior in HS my first year teaching. During her senior year, she was one of my band aides and we became close. She is now at the University of Kansas studying to be a Music Therapist and we still remain in close contact and try to run together any time she is in town. I am so proud of Katie and her bright future. She really feels more like a little sister to me! 

On Tuesday we met in Norman to run along Robinson Ave. If you live in the area, this is a nice, flat path. There are a couple stoplights, but only around the two mile mark. When I was training for my first half marathon, I did some speed workouts here because of the nice conditions of the area. (And, it's more entertaining than a track!)

The map from our run!

And...first run of training is DONE! 

1/5/2012:

Day four called for 3 miles. This worked out quite nicely because I usually do 3 miles at the Red Coyote Running & Fitness Social Runs on Thursdays! (http://redcoyoterunning.com/) This was the first social run of the new year & I had a couple friends come out for their first social run! I ran this with one of my best friends, Genevieve. Gen was a little nervous since she hadn't been to a run like this before. (Which I totally was too, so I am so happy we were able to run together!) We had a nice time running our three miles in OKC. The weather was gorgeous and we got some quality time together. It looks like her schedule is going to make it possible for her to be able to make it on a usual basis to the Thursday night runs - I am so excited about this! Now we will hopefully get at least an hour a week together...and being active while visiting!! :) 

1/6/2012:

Day five called for a walk. The weather was SO amazing - it was so difficult to not run. (In the 60s when I was out. I think it got up around the 70s today though. Wow!) But, I knew I had my six miles to do the next morning so I just enjoyed the scenery and listened to music. :)

Some cows I saw while on my walk! 

1/7/2012:

Day seven - the first of the long runs! 6 miles were on the schedule! Because of the Red Coyote social runs, I met a bunch of people from the OKC Landrunners and I am now a member! (http://www.okcrunning.org/) To join the Landrunners was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. I already felt so welcomed before even joining (I got to eat dinner with several of them in Tulsa the night before the Route 66 Half Marathon in November) and I was blown away this morning! Over 350 people were in attendance for this first training run! The course was set up for six miles today. Typically the people training for the full do the full distance and the people training for the half do half the distance - but you can obviously do whatever you want or need! :) 

During announcements before we started!

I wasn't quite sure what to expect since I haven't done anything like this. People were so encouraging along the way and people of all different paces were there. I ran the first two miles with my friend Clinton who is training for the half. After Clinton turned around, I met up with some fellow OKC Zebras along the way. (The OKC Zebras & Zebros are Landrunners who wear zebra stuff! :) I am #16!) Then around mile 4 something really cool happened. There was a guy who kept running about 50 feet and then walking, repeat etc. We kept going back and forth with each other because I stayed running the whole time. I couldn't figure out if this was part of his strategy or if he wasn't having a good run or what. I kept an eye on him but kept to myself at first. Around mile five a guy passed us and said something about my zebra tights. I laughed and said something back and then the guy I had been running near said, "I really like the encouragement you get from all of the people out here." I agreed and we talked a little about the run and the Landrunners. He went on to tell me that he was happy I came along in the run. The first three miles were fine for him and then he started to really struggle. He said I set the pace and kept him running to the end. He was actually pushing me along and I told him the same. Running is such an awesome activity - especially the people you get to meet along the way. (Literally! Okay, lame joke.)

 I love running in the city!! We passed mile 18 of OKCMM along the way...OMG!

Very pleased with my splits today! Love that my fastest mile was my last!

The weather was incredible this morning! Yesterday it got up around 70F I believe, so I was worried this morning would get too warm. Nope! The wind chill kept around 32F! My favorite running weather!!

After the training runs I have heard that it is tradition to go to the Starbucks that is near. Of course this was not a problem with me! The place was PACKED! And with runners!! I got my oatmeal and coffee and enjoyed visiting and meeting runners from OKC. This was a very good day. I am so excited about the future of my training!!

Even though the cold is nice for runs...it's cold again after! This was a nice, warm treat!

Some of the OKC Zebras!!

Well, that was week one of my quest to 26.2! I am very excited and hopeful for the rest of my training! Happy running!

Jedi Jen's Quest to 26.2 - Entry 1

One year ago I began training for my first half marathon.  I remember starting my training with excitement and nerves.  I was totally excited to begin a bigger training plan than I've ever attempted, but nervous if it would work. This girl who laughed at her 6th grade PE teacher when he tried to get her to run a mile was now going to attempt 13.1? And where thousands of others would be? After four months of training, I finished my first half marathon!  Nothing could bring me down from how accomplished I felt.  

The fall semester is extremely busy with marching/football season so I knew I wouldn't be able to devote the amount of attention needed to train the same way for a fall half marathon.  I went ahead and registered for a half marathon in Tulsa to give me something to help encourage me to keep running and get through some rough personal times.  I didn't train like I wanted to, but getting over the mental barrier of knowing that I COULD do a half marathon really helped me!  I was able to finish my second half marathon and 9 seconds faster than my first! (And I could actually walk the next day, whereas after my first half...I walked like a cowboy!)

I set a goal of accomplishing a full marathon before I turned 30 years old.  And my original dream plan was to run the Disney Marathon for my first full.  But, my thought process changed.  The OKC Memorial Marathon is a truly special race.  I also have met several people through the Red Coyote Racing Team and OKC Landrunners.  Between wanting to run a really special race for my first and knowing I had so much support here in OKC - I took the plunge! I registered for my first FULL marathon!

Disney will still be a very special race for me when I hopefully get to do it in 2013.  I hope to get connected with Team in Training or another fundraising organization on my quest to Disney.  More to come on that later this year!

Last week I was so focused on finishing my 2011 goal of 500 miles that the start of my marathon training wasn't really on my mind.  After my final run of 2011 on Saturday, I have been nervous, anxious, excited, etc.  Today was the first run of my training.  I invited Katie to come along with me & I am so glad she did!  Having a partner not only pushed me, but kept my mind off being nervous.  I can do this - even though I know there will be a lot of ups and downs through the next 17 weeks - I can do this!

Here is a copy of my training plan: (Of course there might be some changes, but this is what I have set!)

    

I don't have a "resolution" for 2012.  I just want to do my best to become a better me - physically & emotionally.  I need to do better with my eating habits.  I need to get over how warm and comfortable my bed is when I need to wake up and go run.  I need to do better on keeping in touch with friends and family.  I hope my first quest to 26.2 will help me on my bigger quest to become a better me! 

 Thumbs up pic after my first 4 miles of marathon training earlier today!