Another week closer to marathon training-My Runner's High (Balancing Running for Fun and Staying Competitive)

Marathon training doesn't begin for another two months.  But, I'd be lying to you all, if I didn't admit that marathon training isn't  already starting to  take up space in my brain.  I'm starting to look at possible training plans, and in the next few weeks I will need to decide which plan to use. #Stripatnight

Last year I used Hal Higdon's training programs for the half marathon distance twice.  The first time was for the Mustang Half Marathon. The second time was for the Saints and Sinners Half Marathon.  I had great results with each training cycle.  I thought I would be able to piggy back a marathon off of the Saints ans Sinners Half.

I ran the Rock n Roll Las Vegas marathon six weeks after the Saints and Sinners half.  There just wasn't enough volume (miles) in my training for RNRLV and, I didn't do as well as I had hoped.

The Hal Higdon marathon programs look a little intimidating.  I'm worried about trying to fit in 50+ miles a week.

Another training program that I have also been eyeballing is the FIRST marathon method.  This program almost seems like a dream come true, with only running a few times a week.

I'm even thinking about going really old school and reusing the first marathon training program I ever used from a Running Times magazine.

My Runner's High Balancing Running for Fun and Staying Competitive

I am  a runner that craves that Runner's High.  You know that euphoric feeling when you finish running and you are buzzing with endorphins?  I sometimes feel dissappointed if I don't get to see Nirvana after every run.  For me the best way to achieve that feeling for me is to A) run really far or B) run really hard.  Sometimes it's not possible to do either.


I've been running for over 20 years, I'm sometimes torn, by wanting to have fun, and wanting to stay competitive.  Running is a wonderful stress reliever.  In fact yesterday, when I finished running, I jokingly told my husband, "Running is my favorite thing to do".   I also joked that maybe running simulates bouncing around in the womb, and my inner child loves the comfort of the bouncing around.... Yep that's enough rambling for me.



I think I'm going to race a 5k this weekend to see what kind of shape I'm in and to run it for fun.  I'm not expecting a PR- however, I am expecting to break 22 minutes, because that has always been a bench mark for me.  
I'm a competitive person, I think I always will be.   It's still fun to race small local events, see local runners, and toe the line.  I just don't like putting stress and pressure on myself to PR,
But, I don't think I will ever act like my times, don't matter.  #runnerproblems.


Two weeks ago, I was all about the progression run,  this past week-  I tried to dial it back a little and tried to just enjoy the run, while not focusing on the pace.   I think that with the temps warming up, it is making it easier to slow it down,  I know that once I'm carrying my hand held bottle on all of my runs, tempo pace is going to be harder to run.

-Last weeks runs-

Tuesday 4/7-Rest

Wednesday 4/8- Just under 3  miles at Sunset Park.  I wanted a change of scenery, so I drove over to Sunset Park on my lunch break.

Thursday- 4/9- 6 miles- I had the day off from work.  I took my kids to a play date, and then when my husband came home from work I ran a loop around the neighborhood.

Friday 4/10-Rest,  I took my son, to his first dentist appointment.  Right before we were getting ready to leave, my daughter got really sick..   She caught some sort of stomach virus.

Saturday 4/11- 4 miles on the treadmill-  I ran these in the afternoon-  The first mile was really sluggish,

Sunday 4/12- 7 miles at lunchtime-  I had planned on running first thing in the morning, but that didn't happen.  My little girl wasn't feeling so hot, and I didn't feel right leaving for a long run.  I waited until her  nap time.  I ran a flat loop course and it was a nice 81 degrees when I took off. I brought my trusty hand held bottle with me.

Monday 4/13- 6 miles on my lunch break. It was also a toasty 81 degrees.  I ran with my Garmin, but I set the watch to distance and time only.  I'm just trying to take it easy.  For now.

As always thank you for reading.

ETA: I make a really mean word salad.... I usually will come back here and notice all of my gramatic errors...Thank goodness I'm not getting paid to write this ;)