In the Groove

Things are going very well with my training. Today begins week 5 and I still feel great! The only things I really need to increase are my cross training and strength workouts. Since Hal Higdon's Novice 2 training schedule only has me running 4 days a week, I have plenty of time to get those workouts in, but....I just don't. So sometimes I feel guilty about that...and another thing I feel guilty about is the fact that I'm only running 4 days a week! I know that its what I'm supposed to do according to my training plan, but I just feel like I'm slacking somehow. I guess if I did my cross training like I'm supposed to, it would help to fill that void. So my new plan is this:

Monday-Pilates
Tuesday-Easy Run & Strength Training
Wednesday-Mid-length weekly Run
Thursday-Easy Run & Strength Training
Friday-Off
Saturday-Long Run
Sunday-Cross Training & Strength Training

Really, Monday is supposed to be a rest day, but Pilates will be ok, don't you think? I'm not doing cardio, plus Pilates is great for running. I did it while training for my first marathon and after a few weeks, I felt so much stronger, leaner and smoother when I ran. It felt like my stride and my running form improved. I know that core workouts are all the rage right now, but there really is something to it.

So my long run of the weekend was 11 miles. I intended to do it on Saturday, but ended up sleeping in til 9:00, which is so late for me. Rather than head out for my run then, I decided to do it on Sunday instead. The weather was PERFECT so I really wanted to be out there early when it was nice and cool. Well, I just so happened to wake up 15 minutes before my alarm clock, at 4:45. I wanted to be up early to have a cup of coffee, some breakfast, relax and whatnot...and so I put the coffee on to brew and picked up a book and before you know it, I'm sound asleep again! I woke up for the second time that day at 6:30 and finally did get ready for my run. In typical April fashion, I goofed around (did the dishes, played with the dog, had TWO cups of coffee and watched some TV) until about 8:30. So much for getting out early!! And then, when I got to the park, I found that there was a triathlon going on so of course I had to watch that for a while. Fortunately the weather was wonderful the whole day, so my piddling around didn't result in any misery from the heat.

And so...11 miles down! Yay! You know, I really do love long runs. I think weekly long runs are what separates a runner from a jogger. A jogger might go out everyday and run a couple of miles, but a runner trains, has strategy and runs a longer distance at least once during the week. You know...I think that's a whole other blog post...