Tuesday 15 January 2008

Back on Track


Yay! I have gotten out and run 3 out of the last 4 days, for a total of 11 + miles. Thanks to your suggestions, I have printed out a marathon training plan from RunnersWorld.com and followed it - so far.

I really, really want to run the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon in Anchorage on June 21. Summer Solstice. The longest day of the year, in Alaska - how cool is that!

I am trying to figure out if I even qualify as a "beginner" in this plan. They call a beginner someone who has run between 11 and 15 miles a week for 6 months or more. I was running 20 miles a week - until my last half marathon. I really cut back after that. In December, I ran only 21 miles. So, do I count myself as a PRE-beginner now? And work for a few weeks at the 11 to 15 mile per week level? I think that is what I am going to try.

I am so psyched. I was out pre-dawn this morning. (the picture is from my run this morning - it looked a lot prettier in person!) I ran a totally different route. It was nice, but pretty scary to be running along a highway in the dark... and there are animals out there. Wild Animals! I saw Elk along there once! Those things are BIG!

OH, and since I was running along a highway, in the dark, I opted to not use my iPod. Do you know that I had my best pace in quite a while. I have run faster miles, but not 4 of them put together. Is it because I run better without music? I have a hard time believing that, but I know a lot of people really frown on using the iPod. Any thoughts?

6 comments:

ws said...

great job Mary. My father would really like me to run that marathon because he wants to go to Alaska, but it isn't in the plan for this year.

I think if you stick around 15 miles for the first few weeks and then do a 16 week plan you'll be set.

As for the with/without iPod, I tend to think I run better without music as well because I notice my breathing more and I can gauge my level of exertion better.

Wes said...

I, personally, found the marathon plan for 11-15 mile runners just too demanding for me. That's why I switched to the run walk plan. I wouldn't run alone in the dark on the highway with an iPod. You couldn't hear the big cats sneaking up on you :-)

Way to go Mary! You are leaving us in the dust!!!

Jess said...

That is a pretty cool sounding marathon. Congrats on getting back into a groove!

Marathoner in Training said...

You are so awesome, you are not a beginner runner, you are an experienced runner. The running plan sounds great and solid, keep up the great work.

Marcy said...

I'm the same way Mary, no music when it's dark out. Too many people could come up behind me LOL

J~Mom said...

I often will just put the ear bud in one side to listen for things. I don't know, I just don't feel most running without an iPod. Maybe I should try it more.