running on purpose

Yup, you read that right, running. If you know me, you know I really don't like running. Like REALLY don't like running. I would rather ride my bike for 100 miles than run for 3. Yeah, I love it that much. So this blog might surprise you a little. It surprises me a lot...and I blame social media. I might have to cancel my facebook account. lol.

I struggle with exercise during the winter. Here in Cache Valley, we get cold. COLD. and I mean COLD. And I hate, HATE the cold. I really need to move south but that just hasn't happened yet. Maybe some day. I'm putting a southern move in my five-year plan. But, in the meantime I live in Cache Valley which has great outside weather for about three months out of the year. So, I struggle with exercising during the winter. But, I want to really hit Spring riding with a good base of fitness. In order to be consistent about exercising, I need something to work toward. Something on the horizon that will kill me if I don't train. But I can't ride my bike during the winter and I don't want to spend a ton of money on a gym and that is my only option for spinning classes so I thought, running, I can run. Well, I can walk/run. And I can do that indoors when the weather is super bad (i.e. Jan/Feb) and outside on nice days the rest of the time.

Earlier this month, I signed up for the Odgen Half Marathon lottery. The minute I clicked submit, I thought "What am I doing? I'm completely insane! Oh well, there is a chance I won't get in." I felt a small piece of relief. AND THEN...I got in!! Ok, several deep breaths later, I decided this is a good thing. This will not be my first half marathon. And I have done this one before so I know the route and what to expect and train for. I now know how to train and have a plan. Since I am woefully out of shape, the next four weeks are going to be walking weeks. I need to build a base of fitness before I start running. In addition, I am going to go back to strength training classes at the Rec Center.

Plan for weeks 1-4: Work up to a 6-mile walk that includes the stairs on Old Main Hill once a week (but climbing them three times on that day) and go to strength training/boot camp classes 2-3 days a week. I have to work up to that much exercise because I would get injured if I did it all in one week. I am starting today with a 2-mile walk at a fast pace to see how my legs and arches keep up. Because I have a ton of meetings and travel scheduled for the next two weeks, I will focus on walking and add the strength training when I get back from Detroit. I also need to start tracking my food so that I am eating well.

No, this is not a plan to lose weight (although that would be a great side benefit). My focus is getting to a fitness level that will get me through a half marathon in about 2.5 hours. My fastest time is 2:47. I want to cut 15 minutes off that, which means much better training than I have done in the past. Here's to running on purpose! Oh, what have I done! :)

  I've started something on purpose!