Week 1 of Training!

So running! 


Welcome to my training blog for the half marathon! I am following a training program online http://running.about.com/od/racetraining/a/advbeghalf.htm that my running friend Holly recommended and is following too. 


So I completed this whole week of running. Yeah I know, Aine wait you did 4 running sessions this week? But you don't run at all! Yep you're right! I don't run but I have been running irregularly for the last 5months or so. This would vary from 3 runs a week (I think once) to 2 runs in a month. So this is the first intense training I've started. This is all for the Run to the Beat Half Marathon that I will run on Sept 26th for MND research. I am collecting money for this run with:   http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AineHenley so anything that could be given money/advice would be fantastic! So back to the training!


Session 1: 3miles, Tuesday. This was great I did a little more (3.2km) and was a nice easy run but it did start raining halfway through. Was nice start though to the training program.


CT session: Holly said that she wouldn't be doing this and to take a rest day so I thought for week 1 I may do this as well. Will get to the gym/swim this day next week instead though.  


Session 2: 4miles, Thursday. This run was fine but I did shoot the distance wrong. I only did 3.52miles so had to make up for it during the rest of the week. Thought I was feeling great for a 4mile run lol! 


Session 3: 4miles, Saturday. This was a nice long run along the canal. There was a Race for Life in the scrubs so this did bugger up where I wanted to run but got the distance in (3.99miles). Had to run more road routes to get it on but again was nice. Ii did speed up a little when I saw the runners but this didn't make me that tired. As usual my legs were a little tight at the beginning but this could also be due to the hill I climb initially. Loosened up nicely and felt great.


Session 4: 2.5miles, Sunday. So this was going to be the distance that I extended to make up for the Tuesday run (3.31miles). I still made in an easy run and got pace at 9:49. Though the timing was a little out as I met a friend along the route! Char was also running but she was going for the 10km (crazeee :) ). But was nice to run along with someone and we could actually chat along the run which I was told was a great way to show you are running the right pace. I did feel that my legs were much tighter and the start of this run but again loosened up, took a little longer then usual but was great!


So end of week 1! Not a bad start to the 12 week training program. Slow and steady is this training schedule. I didn't know if I would manage the 4 runs, having the time and energy but feel fantastic after them all so will hopefully keep them up now! Stretching is my best friend. I do take a good 10minutes at the end stretching and doing some muscle work but this means that I won't get injured and can train more. So all in all GREAT WEEK!


Total miles: 14miles (a half marathon!)
Total time:  132minutes 32 seconds