Showing posts with label little rock marathon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label little rock marathon. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Post #26: Marathon Training v. Suzanne Point Oh

I registered for the 16th Annual Little Rock Marathon at 9:24 EDT on August 1st. Technically, I registered for the Marathon/5k combo. I was lucky enough to get ten percent off the price too, because I had signed up for the training program.

The theme is Medieval, and to reveal that they did a cute video that was Monty Python themed. A lot of people were confused or upset about the theme, poo on them!! I loved the video and I am super excited for the theme. Thank you to the Chicks in Charge #CIC for loving what they do and having fun with it!!

I started the "ramp up to training" training on August 7th. The ramp up training is particularly for first timers, and people who are not at the point of running/walking/crawling 6 miles. I specify running/walking/crawling because from now on when I say running, I am channeling Hobbit, and I mean all it: running/walking/crawling, getting through the milage. I would love to be able to run all the way through all of my training runs, but all I am gonna focus on is getting through the milage. The actual training started on September 18th.

09/08/17 Update: My 3 mi build up training run yesterday (9/7) I ran the whole 3 miles, no walking, at a 13 min per mile pace.

10/19/17 Update: As I have already mentioned, I am using the marathon training program provided by the Little Rock Marathon. The focus of the training program is mileage, not time. Sure it is going to take me 5+ hours to finish my 20 miler on February 10th, but you know what I am gonna do it.

Things I need when I go for my long runs (> 6 miles):
1. Water
2. Running GU(s) (1 for 10/12/14 milers, 2 for 16/18 milers, 3 for 20 miler, and 4 for my marathon)
3. Sweatband/sweat towel
4. Lip balm

10/23/17 Update: One year ago today, I finished the ZenLab's Couch to 5k training program. If you had asked me on that day if I would ever run a marathon, I would have laughed in your face. I never intended on running a marathon. It wasn't until June (after I started listening to podcasts regularly), that I stumbled upon the Not Real Runners Podcast and after 5 weeks of listening I decided 'Why not?' It was them talking about the Little Rock Marathon in the first episode 34 (the one from July 11th) that put it in my mind that I wanted to complete a marathon.

I use the run/walk method for my weekend long runs. I don't have a nifty watch that tells me when to run and when to walk so I rely on the ZenLabs Marathon Trainer app. In the app it has daily training prompts, including short runs (45 - 60 minutes), cross training sessions, rest days, and long runs. The long run days are the only ones I use. In particular, I am using Week 11 Day 6 for runs less than 11 miles and Week 20 Day 7 for all above 11 miles. Week 11 does 23 repetitions of run 4 mins, walk 2 minutes. Week 20 does 52 repetitions of run 4 mins, walk 1 minute.
5k Costume?


As of now, 4 ish months before my Marathon weekend, I am thinking of doing a plague skeleton for my 5k costume and a Monty Python Spanish Inquisition themed outfit for my Marathon 'costume' (red shirt, red bottoms, running with a cross, and the hat).

Clif Energy Gel Reviews: I got the multi pack from Amazon so I could try out a bunch of different flavors. (1) Chocolate Cherry w/caffeine: 10/22, not bad, but a little too heavy on the chocolate taste, could have used more cherry flavor. But to be fair, I am not a chocolate fan.
Marathon Costume?

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Post #17: Run Suzanne, run!

I am going to run a marathon!

So contrary to what I wrote in Post #13, and then again in Post #15, I have decided to run a marathon. The decision was thanks to a podcast I listen to: Not Real Runners. The two hosts have made running a marathon seem accessible, and after episode #34 I decided. So, as soon as the registration for the Little Rock Marathon opens up, I am registering. I think having this goal will help me stay on track with my running.

As of right now I have a couple goals in mind:
1. Finish the 10k Trainer by ZenLabs by the end of October
2. Pick up with the Marathon Trainer, also by ZenLabs, after completing the 10k Trainer
3. Take at least 57,000 steps on one day per week from now until March (when the marathon is)

After completing that first goal, I am going to go and get myself a real pair of running shoes, getting them fitted and everything, that I use just for running.

I worked on my vision board for this plan over the weekend, and I am almost done with it. The only thing that is missing is the marathon theme. The race directors have not released the theme yet. This is important because it will be the theme my costume is based on. When it comes to my vision board half of the content is the training for the marathon itself, and the other half is brainstorming my run costume.

A back of the envelope calculation, with running 3 miles/walking 1 mile, has me finishing 26.2 miles in 5 hours, 38 minutes, and 24 seconds - which is a 13 mile/minute pace, totally realistic - I think.