Half Marathon Training: Weeks 2 - 4

Saturday (4 miles): My calves were still iffy, but I wasn’t going to miss a Saturday run.  About half a mile into it, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to make it back if I went the whole way, so I turned around and ended up only going 3, maybe 3.5 miles.  BUT, I wasn’t able to walk.  It hurt so much worse when I walked, so I jogged the whole thing.  Except it was more of a shuffle than a jog.  I’m pretty sure I looked completely ridiculous.

Monday (3 miles): I didn’t run.  It was the week of Christmas.

Thursday: No scheduled run, Christmas Eve

Saturday (5 miles): I didn’t run this one either!!  Terrible, I know.  I don’t remember if it’s because it was the holidays or what, but I didn’t run.  I do know that my calves were still hurting (hint, we are currently on week 5 and they still hurt, haha, but not nearly as badly)

Monday: We didn’t have a scheduled run this day, it was New Year’s eve.

Thursday (3 miles): I was back in training mode!  I surprisingly had a great run!

Saturday (6 miles): I was SO SO SO nervous for these 6 miles.  I hadn’t run either of the last 2 “long” runs, and I have never run 6 miles before.  Yikes.  But, we set out, and I actually kept up with my pace group!!  First time ever!  I was SO proud of myself.  My calves hurt pretty bad the first 3-4 miles, but after that, it was like I got them warmed up and they were okay the last few miles.  Just as  aside note, we do not actually run the entire thing, not even on week days.  I’m the slowest pace group, remember?  We still walk 1, run 1.  And we will do this the entire training, and I will do it for the half also.  I might do walk 1, run 2, but I will still be doing intervals then.  Also, we average about a 15 mile minute.  So, when I was all self conscious about marking my pace as 13mi/min, I am now laughing at myself, because I was even slower than that!!

I was pumped that I had 1) run SIX miles!, and 2) kept up with my pace group! But when I got home, I could barely walk, my calves were hurting so badly.  Lee talked me into taking an ice bath.  Oh my gosh.  The second I stepped in, my feet went numb.  I’m not kidding, I couldn’t feel them immediately.  It was so cold that it was very painful.  But, after the first 2-3 minutes, my whole body was numb and it wasn’t a big deal to sit in there for a total of 10 minutes.  And after?  My legs felt much better!!  It was definitely worth it.

Monday (4 miles): So, on week days, we can run whatever we want.  They recommend 3-4 miles.  And most everyone in my group usually does 3.  But, I was kind of still on a high from Saturday, so I went 4 miles.  I ran the first 2 alone, and the last 2 with a girl from my group, one of the ones who runs a faster pace than me.  When we got back to the store (where we meet), I was talking about my calves, and some other people started helping me.  Come to find out, it is probably shin splints!  Even though it’s my calf.  But it’s the inside of my calf, where it meets the front of my leg.  Anyway, I was told to try compression socks, so I ordered some online.

Thursday (3 miles): I ran with my pace group this time, and we just ran 3.  Running is so much more fun when you’re doing it with people and chatting.  I was always told that, but never believed that I would be able to carry on a conversation while running!

I’m going to go ahead and say what I thought I’d never say: I like running.  I look forward to it.  Who am I?