I've realized I'm not very good at sharing info on this blog in any sort of story/narrative context. For instance, I'm pretty sure I announced I was having twins during a "5 on a Friday" post.
I am currently training for the Cardiff Half Marathon which is on October 5th. It's my first race since 2017.
A bit of running backstory (a running rundown?)
As a kid, I *hated* running. In middle school we used to have to run a mile which was 3 laps of a local park, but I realized that if I hid behind a bush for a certain amount of time I would instead run just 2 laps and say I had done 3. I did not understand how anyone enjoyed running, ever.
I got into sport & cycling when I moved to Wales in 2011, and for some reason Andy and I signed up for the Cardiff Half in 2013.
I don't think I really trained, I think I just was 28 and able to do all the sports all the time. I finished in 2hr 33 minutes. My legs hurt.
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| Andy and I at the 2013 start line |
When Andy and I moved back to the states (in 2014) I decided to join a run club, because everyone I know who liked running was in a run club. It worked! I started to like running. The club was based at a microbrewery in Portland and I loved running and enjoying a beer after.
I joined a lot of races with the run club, and became a running ambassador for our local Fleet Feet.
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| Beat the Blerch in Washington (2hr 26) |
I met some running BFFs. Juliette was my partner in crime at many of my favourite races - generally Triathlons rather than running
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| Haag Lake Duathlon in Oregon |
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| Bend Beer Chase relay bus |
My favourite half marathon was the Seattle Rock'n'Roll half in 2016. It was my fastest half at 2hr 26min
We moved back to Wales in 2016, before we came back I entered the Bath Half, March 2017.
I did not enjoy the Bath Half. Training in Wales in the winter is way worse than training in Portland. We had a lot of life to sort out, (ie get jobs and find a place to live) and I really missed my Portland running family. I trained for that half by running about once a week, as far as I could run.
I found the race itself a major drag - I didn't know anyone there, I ran slower each mile, and I was at the back end of the race where all the fast people with medical emergencies were getting treated on the sidelines while I plodded my way around.
I've run intermittently since then, but I knew I wanted to do the Cardiff Half again when I was done being pregnant and having babies. Which I am!
I'm using the Peloton Road to Half Marathon collection, which has 4 runs a week and I tend to do 3 of them
I'm mostly enjoying the long runs. I have a dream to someday run longer offroad races. I think if I can harness the relentless energy needed to manage twins / 4 kids under 6 then I should be able to use that same relentless energy to run a lot of miles.
The race is 3 weeks from today. I have 3 goals
1 - Finish without injury
2 - Finish in under 2hr 10 minutes
3 - Finish in under 2 hours
I've used this moment here to look up pace charts, and goal 3 is almost certainly not going to happen since my current fastest mile is around 9 minutes
However, Goal 1 and 2 are still in the running! (LOL)
Anyways, that's probably far too much writing on running for today. I still miss my Portland running community.
I miss running in the sun and training with lots of free time, in a gorgeous part of the world.
But for now, I'm happy I can run. I'm happy I get 2 hours to myself on the weekend to run as far as I can. Someday I hope it's more - but for now - it is more than good enough.
Are you a runner? Have you ever trained for a race? Have you done a half, a 10k, or a whole marathon? Have you ever been in a run club?
Being able to train with four young 'uns and life is a major accomplishment in itself. I have a good feeling about this race!
ReplyDeleteI was a late blooming runner and started in my 30s and loved it dearly for a long time. My max was the half, and I did 9 of them but never got under 2:30. Then for whatever reason I started getting slower and running didn't feel good anymore, and nothing that I did was changing that, so I eventually "broke up" with running. I still enjoy following along with other's running adventures.
I’m sort of a runner. I’ve run two half marathons and one full but all pre kids between 2009 and 2015. I like the goal of training for a race but don’t like to just run in general. I’m running a half marathon October 19. I share goal number one with you but am hoping to finish under 3 hours or 2:50 as a stretch goal.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your race! I hope you get your goals and the weather cooperates.
I do not enjoy running, I have to admit. But I do like being outside, and the barrier to entry for running is pretty low, so running ends up being an easy way for me to exercise. Plus I prefer exercise I can do by myself, so running fits the bill for me. I didn't start running until I was in my 40s, and it is still really hard for me to do it, but I set small goals (like 15 minutes or 1.5 miles and then I can stop and walk) and that makes it bearable. Lately, my 8 year old has been coming along on his bike while I run, and that's been kind of motivating - he rarely likes to leave the house, but he loves his bike, so I can sometimes convince him to go on a bike/run. That's been kind of fun.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your race! It's fun reading about your running journey!
I miss my run club too!! Will you run with me? If so I'll run with you!! That is probably what I miss most about home actually. Not the house or any of the things...it's the people, the ones who would get up at 5 am to run in the dark with me. Or go on a road trip and all sleep in the same hotel room and then get up at 5 am to do a really hard race and then eat hamburgers and drink beer and swap stories of how sucky the race was. Boohoo. Good luck at your race!
ReplyDeleteIt was great to hear about your running story! You do have quite a running history! I can imagine that running while managing a household, 4 kids and a career is different!
ReplyDeleteYou probably know my running story. I was a late bloomer (I've always been active but didn't start running until my late thirties and oh how I wish I had discovered it sooner!). I signed up for a 10k, then a half, then ran a halfs for a few years and finally tackled my first marathon last year. I never thought I'd want to do that until I did and it was a great experience.
I have however never been part of a run club. I am a solo runner, although I sometimes wonder what I am missing out on!
Good luck on your race. I know you'll do great and the most important part is to have fun! Never forget that!