Tag Archives: BAA Half Marathon

Sep10

BAA Half Training: Long Runs and Pace

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Can you believe the BAA half marathon is less than a month away?!  Seriously, it seems like just yesterday I signed up for the race and was creating my training plan.  Where does time go?  Training for this race has been a completely different experience than before.  When I created the plan I was concerned about how it would all fit in with yoga teacher training but so far this really hasn’t been a problem.

At first I definitely missed a lot of my planned runs.  During my 9 day intensive for yoga teacher training I didn’t run once and I skipped the long run I had scheduled before that started in favor of some extra rest…needless to say training was not off to a great start.  In the weeks since then I’ve kicked it in to gear and have gotten in a few good long runs.  Now, I’m above the long run mileage I actually planned to be at, which is awesome if you ask me.  I managed to get in a 6 miler, two 9 milers and as of yesterday an 11 miler.

On Labor Day my friend Lauren, her husband, sister and I took on 9 miles.  We ran in Gloucester, MA along the ocean with the views of the gorgeous beach homes.  It was such a nice change of scenery.  It was nice to just chat it up and run.

9 Miles in Gloucester

Yesterday I ran 11 miles by myself on what was a gorgeous morning to run.  It was nice and cool with overcast skies.  I found my groove early on and the miles just ticked on by.

11 Mile Long Run

My pace has been kind of slow for me lately.  The other night I was telling Michael about this; he asked me if my runs felt good and I told him they feel great- relaxed, easy and peaceful.  Then he asked me if I’m enjoying them and having fun.  I am, a lot actually.  Then he simply said, who cares.  He’s so right, who does care?  No one but myself and even I don’t care! I’m loving yoga lately, my practice and this journey is like nothing else.  I love just going for a run because I love it.  Training for this half-marathon is just enough to help motivate me to keep my mileage high, get my long runs in and let me enjoy the fall running and racing I love so much.  For so long (like the past year) all I’ve worried about was long runs, pace and training plans but now it feels so good to be thinking about yoga poses, playlists and which arm balance I want to tackle next.

I haven’t done one speed workout the entire training cycle which is likely contributing to my slower than normal pace.  In the next few weeks I plan to add some speed to my runs.  I can’t bring myself to hit the track so I plan to do fartleks within a 4 mile run a few times over the next few weeks.  Maybe, if and only if, I feel motivated will I do a tempo run.  I’m kind of hoping the motivation hits me, so that is a good sign that a tempo run will likely happen.  As for long runs, I have a 12 miler planned in a couple of weeks and hope to sneak in a couple more 8 milers after work before now and the taper.

My goals for this race? I’m thinking I might just run this one for fun.  No time or pace goals.  Just a good, solid, fun 13.1 miles.  Wouldn’t that be a nice change?!  I feel like I’m in a really good place with yoga and running lately.  I’m enjoying each for different reasons and it’s nice for running to be in the backseat for a change.  There’s no pressure from myself to be anything or do anything when it comes to running and that feels awesome.  I’m just running purely because I love it!

How’s your fall race training going? Has your pace been fast or slow? What are your fall race goals?

Aug23

Faith, Fears, Yoga and Running!

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Today I’m feeling inspired, motivated and hopeful.   One of the things David said to us during yoga teacher training is that if we constantly hold on to our pasts, our fears and our worries and fill our calendars and schedules how will there be room for the things we want in life?  He encouraged us to make space in our lives for the life we want.  I remember going home that night and thinking about his words.  I vowed to myself to let some things go, to make room for the things I wanted.  Well, maybe the universe heard me or maybe it’s just fate or maybe I’m just more aware but it seems more and more opportunities are coming my way.  I’m a believer that once an opportunity presents itself it’s up to you to make the most of it.  I’m trying my hardest to make the most of all of this.   The funny part about this is that, just maybe, there are signs that the world likes my new outlook on life.  Just recently my friend Erin and I were talking about my yoga journey and sharing all that we have going on in our lives, she’s said multiple times how she has good feelings about this journey I’m on.  My mom said the said the same thing too.  And then yesterday there was not one but two posts by a couple of my favorite bloggers talking about faith and releasing our fears.  Jess talked about having faith in all that we do and letting our faith be bigger than our fears.  Katy talked about re-framing our fears so that we don’t manifest them and we give the universe a chance to reward us.  Coincidence? Maybe.  But I’m going to take this as positive reinforcement that the universe likes the way I’m thinking lately.  Or at least a girl can hope. 

Source: via Whitney on Pinterest

Likely adding to my inspired and motivated mood today is the fact that I’m still riding a high from an amazing 9 mile run on Tuesday.  It was my first long run since training for Boston.  I was a little nervous about building my miles up again and on Sunday I couldn’t help but feel like maybe running the BAA half wasn’t a great choice.  After all, I’m completely immersed in this journey to become a Yoga instructor and felt that maybe training and running was taking me away from that.  But after a 4 mile “free run” on Monday I was reminded that this journey is only adding to my joy of running and if anything yoga is making me a better runner.  To add to that running gives me the time to think about all I’ve learned in yoga teacher training and how I’m applying it to my life.

I had originally planned to tackle these 9 miles on Saturday morning but somhing inside me knew to head out on Tuesday night instead.  Maybe it was the fact that Michael had his own things going on that night and I knew I’d have the night to myself, maybe it was reading the inspiring post by Jess about her PDR 20 miler (<—this girl is seriously writing some amazing stuff lately as she chases down 26.2 miles!) or the post by her sister Jo and her 9 mile “sherpa” run to support Jess.  Or it may have just been my own inner desire to get out and run.

I planned a new route since I’ve not run more than 6 miles at the new house and mapped it out so I could run to the nearby lake.  This made me even more excited! Something about running around water makes me so happy!  The loop consisted of 3 miles to the lake, 3 miles around the lake and then 3 miles back home.  Perfect.

I set out around 6:30 when I got home from work and planned to keep the pace light and easy.  It wasn’t my fastest long run but man did it feel good.  The weather was cool and it was just a gorgeous late summer night.  The first 3 miles were the hardest.  I couldn’t mentally get over the fact that I had to run 9 miles and started to doubt myself but then I realized I was only a mile from the lake and it gave me something to look forward to.  The 3 miles around the lake were peaceful and calm.  Something about the water relaxes me and by then the soreness in my legs began to subside and I found my groove.  The final 3 miles home were probably the best.  I had a rhythm and felt awesome.  The miles ticked on by and before I knew it my Garmin said I was at mile 8.  The sun was setting by the time I finished out that last mile.  As I walked up the steps and into the house the sun had completely set and I was so proud of myself and the 9 miles I’d run.  There is something about sacrificing an entire evening after work, and eating dinner at 8:30 just to fit in a run that makes you feel so proud.

9 Mile Long Run!

As I was stretching I realized, that was the longest run I’ve gone in over 3 years without my knee strap or tape.  I’ve been running since Boston without my knee strap but tackling 9 without it felt like such a big deal.  I made sure to stretch and foam roll post run so as not to jinx myself.  Thank goodness I did…my IT bands were tight, tight, tight!   I think I owe yoga for that run, for running 9 miles with no brace.  Yoga really is making me a better runner both physically and mentally.  My body is stronger, balanced and flexible and my mind can find peace and calm within the pain of running.  More than anything I have a new level of respect for listening to my body and now days that means so much more than it used to.

So perhaps I owe this feeling of inspiration and motivation to my fellow bloggers who always seem to say just the right thing at the right time and to yoga for making me a better a runner and in time a better, more aware person.

What inspires and motivates you lately? Do you have room in your life for the life you want? Tell me about your latest long run! How has yoga helped your running?

Jul31

B.A.A. Half Marathon Training Plan

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With every successful half-marathon there is a training plan behind it.  Considering the B.A.A. Half- Marathon is 10 weeks away I figured I’d better get a plan together.  The challenge in creating this plan is that *little* thing called Yoga Teacher Training.  There are a lot of unknowns with Yoga Teacher Training, the most concerning being how tired will I be and how sore will I be.   To be successful this plan is going to require a lot of flexibility.  My goals each week are to get in one easy run, one long run and one track workout in addition to the requirements for yoga teacher training.  Some weeks have 4 runs scheduled which is an effort to get in enough miles since I’ll be missing 3 long runs.  As always, I listen to my body and adjust any training for injury, and tiredness.

B.A.A. Half- Marathon Training Plan

A few side notes:

  • I follow all runs with Abs, Strength and Stretching.  It totals about 20 minutes post run.  
  • I take an easy yoga class at lunch time on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.  It totals about 45 minutes per class.
  • I plan to run a few long runs with a friend, distance may vary slightly. 

Color Codes:

  • Purple = Yoga Teacher Training
  • Gray = Yoga Class
  • Blue = Easy Recovery Run (~9:15 min/mile)
  • Orange= Run (~8:30 min/mile) 
  • Pink= Long Run (~8:50 min/mile)
  • Yellow= Tempo Run (~5K pace)
  • Green= Track Workout

I’m really curious to see how Yoga Teacher Training will impact race day.  You can be sure I’ll be blogging about my experiences in Yoga Teacher Training and will update you all about my training progress throughout the next 10 weeks!

Have you trained for a race and done Yoga Teacher Training simultaneously? What do you look to accomplish with your half-marathon training plans? What questions do you have for me about the plan?

Jul19

I’m Running the B.A.A. Half Marathon!

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So it’s official.  I have an addiction, an addiction to long distance running.  Of course, you already knew that.  You also know that I was going to take some time off from running and just focus on yoga and my upcoming yoga teacher training.  That is still happening but with a small twist.   I’m going to be running the Boston Athletic Association Half Marathon on October 7th!

I feel like I’ve finally kicked the “marathon hangover” and am feeling like my motivated self again.  In fact just this morning I was up before 5am and out the door to get in 4 miles, some abs and some weights before work.  I’m not going to lie, the excitement of registering for this race put a little “pep in my step”.

I first ran this race in 2010 and PR’d.  I ran it in a time of 1:41.38.  It was also the race that motivated Michael to agree to run the Chicago Marathon with me.  I remember the race and the day so clearly.  It was a cool, crisp fall day with just enough sunshine to warm you up.  I made my way to the race on my own, checked my bag, stretched and got into the corrals early.  The gun went off and the first mile of the course was downhill.  I remember telling myself to take it easy and not push too hard.  My first mile was a 7:15.  The miles ticked by and my pace remained low.  I was cruising and felt awesome.  Around mile 6 I was still holding the pace and did some quick math and realized I could PR in a big way.  I kept pushing it and was able to hold the pace.  I saw Michael around mile 8 or 9 for the first time that day and was so happy.  We’d only been dating for a month or so at that time and since he was finishing up his Masters and taking time away from his thesis to cheer me on it felt like a big deal, which it was.  I remember mile 10 was really hilly and my legs were screaming at me but my mind knew we had this half marathon.  I pushed and pushed and loved the downhill at mile 11.  I saw Michael for a second time and threw my pack of Shot Bloks at him and continued on.  He knew I was rocking that half marathon and was in the zone.  As he says, my face said it all.  Part of mile 12 was uphill and I just threw it down.  I pushed and pushed and told myself to keep going.  When I crossed I was thrilled! Michael was waiting for me at the finish and we got my medal and race shirt.  I remember walking through the park back to the car and that’s when we decided we’d run the Chicago Marathon together the next fall.  We went to this awesome diner nearby for the breakfast of champions; eggs, pancakes and a milkshake.  I spent the rest of the day napping and relaxing on the couch while Michael cooked and chatted with me.  It was a pretty perfect day.

I really hope that the BAA Half is just as good to me this time as it was then.  I’m not planning to go for a PR because I doubt I’ll be able to get in as many long runs as I’d like; teacher training takes up quite a few weekends between now and then and fitting in 9 or 10 mile runs after work will be hard.  I still hope to have a good race and enjoy the experience.  Michael will be there to cheer me on again and this time I’m lucky to be running with my friend Lauren.  Lauren and I became friends through Team in Training and ran the Boston Marathon together.  She is a fantastic running partner and will enjoy the post half-marathon brunch just as much as I will!

Lauren and I running the Boston Marathon!

I think running and training for this will be the perfect way to bring in the fall.  It will give me something to look forward to and I know I’ll get the most out of my runs.  I plan on one easy day, one speed day and one long run per week.  The plan will also incorporate teacher training so it should be a good mix.  I’ll post the plan once I get it all together!

And a few random thoughts to round out the post…I took a new yoga class on my way home Tuesday night.  I LOVED it! The room was a perfect 85 degrees, the music was good, the Vinyasa flow felt divine and the instructor was encouraging and insightful.  I’ll definitely be heading back there next week! Tonight I’m heading to Providence, RI after work to meet some fellow lady bloggers for snacks, drinks and some shopping at Lululemon! I am SO excited and plan to get some goodies for the start of teacher training!

Are you running the BAA Half Marathon?  Have you ran it in the past?  What was your half marathon PR like?