I gotta say, I was sold when I found out I could walk!\u00a0 I’ve never envisioned being able to run the whole half marathon without walking.\u00a0 My goal is to cross the finish line knowing I gave everything I had.\u00a0 I don’t even really care about my time as long as I’m true to myself.\u00a0 So on Thursday, I set out for a run.\u00a0 I had just read about the Galloway method that morning and decided I would just run and see what happens.\u00a0 Maybe I can run longer intervals than I think?<\/p>\n
Training Day 1 – 4 miles<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n When I woke up, it was cold and raining.\u00a0 I had already told myself that I didn’t HAVE to go while still laying in bed.\u00a0 However, I gathered my will power and put my shoes on.\u00a0 I headed down the 5K course and actually stayed on the right path this time!\u00a0 I ran 10:30 minute miles and stopped a lot.\u00a0 Took pictures…..looked around…..lollygagged.\u00a0 I couldn’t get myself to fall into the runner’s zone for more than a minute or two.\u00a0 I noticed every person that ran by me and every car that passed. After 3 miles, I ended up at the light across from my apartment building.\u00a0 The sun came out!\u00a0 As I was standing and waiting for the walk light to turn, I said to myself, “You’re not dead. You can go for another.” So I did.\u00a0 I ended up running 4 miles even though I only planned to run for 3.<\/p>\n After I got back, I felt strong and not totally dead.\u00a0 But when I thought back on HOW I ran, I was disappointed.\u00a0 I felt like I walked a lot even though I really didn’t know how much of it.\u00a0 I was ok with my times but devastated with my focus.<\/p>\n What Goes Through My Head While I Run: <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n “Is that goose looking at me?”<\/p>\n “My (blank) hurts.” (Insert ANY part of the body)<\/p>\n “Where did she get those shoes?”<\/p>\n “That guy was hot.”<\/p>\n “Oooo.\u00a0 A cloud.”<\/p>\n “I think that dog was giving me the stink eye.”<\/p>\n “Holy wedgie.”<\/p>\n “I hate this song.”<\/p>\n “God I hate running.”<\/p>\n “Why am I doing this to myself?”<\/p>\n So my first day running without the Galloway method was ok but not great. I got a good feel for how I naturally run……..which is very distracted.<\/p>\n Training Day 2 – 6 miles<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Because I had run the course two days before, I knew exactly what to expect on today’s run.\u00a0 I set out knowing that I would have to run the 5K course…….twice.\u00a0 Today, I was going at it with a little different approach.\u00a0 After reading more about the Galloway method, I figured I would give it a try.\u00a0 It makes a lot of sense.\u00a0 Also, in boxing, everything is timed.\u00a0 I usually work at 2 minute rounds with 30 second rest.\u00a0 While looking at the Galloway chart, I adjusted the times a little and chose my own interval.\u00a0 I wanted to do 3 minute runs with 30 second rests.\u00a0 Why? Because if I’m consistently running for 3 minutes with rest, boxing intervals will seem shorter being only two minutes.\u00a0 And I know I can recover my breathing in 30 seconds and don’t need a full minute.\u00a0 IT WAS MAGIC.<\/p>\n My brain is already programmed to working at intervals from boxing.\u00a0 I never thought to use it for running.\u00a0 DUH.\u00a0 Today was the first day I ever visited THE RUNNER’S ZONE.\u00a0 I have been struggling with this for some time.\u00a0 I’ve even begun to think I’ll never be able to run the marathon like I want to.\u00a0 I want to run it focused and determined and not be thinking about geese or pedestrians or self doubt.\u00a0 So today I ran three apps during my run:<\/p>\n MapMyRun – For distance GPS tracking<\/p>\n Pandora – Who knew I’d love Eminem when I run?<\/p>\n RoundTimer – Totally customizable to how long you want your intervals<\/p>\n AND IT TOTALLY WORKED.\u00a0 Instead of worrying about how much farther I should run before I walk, instead of thinking about how bad I want to walk, instead of thinking about how long I’ve already run, I just ran.\u00a0 I set my timer to three minute runs with a 30 second warning and then a 30 second rest.\u00a0 I was able to zone out so much better just because I didn’t have to worry about when to walk.\u00a0 My music just told me.\u00a0 A knock for the warning, buzzer to walk, and a ding to start. For my brain, this was a magic cure.\u00a0 I’m already used to strict focus, activity and expectations for short intervals.\u00a0 It was like the timer gave me permission to walk.\u00a0 I wasn’t even strict about it.\u00a0 Once or twice I ran through the rest.\u00a0 Once or twice I rested an extra 15-20 seconds.\u00a0 After the first lap, I was more than ready for the second. I knew I could do it even though I’ve never run 6 miles before.<\/p>\n It was also easier for me to understand how much work I had left to do.\u00a0 I started to struggle at mile 5 because my feet were hurting (More on that tomorrow!) but then I started thinking…….3 rounds to a mile…..2 miles left…..that’s only 6 rounds! How many times have I gone 6 rounds with Jameson and didn’t die? How many times did I think I didn’t have another round in me, but I did? How many times have I been much more worn out than this and kept fighting? 6 rounds? I got this.<\/p>\n Today was the first day that I know I can do the marathon.\u00a0 Not just cross the finish line.\u00a0 Not just hope for the best.\u00a0 Today is the first day that I know I’ll be proud<\/strong> of how I ran.\u00a0 6 weeks to go!<\/p>\n![\"94ac62df14c4fb168daa527e3b7e7faaf2d888a292e335ac415f6ba34b8a7828\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/yogapantsdiary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/94ac62df14c4fb168daa527e3b7e7faaf2d888a292e335ac415f6ba34b8a7828.jpg?resize=525%2C647\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"race-meme\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/yogapantsdiary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/race-meme.png?resize=511%2C356\")
<\/a><\/p>\n