1/2 Marathon Training: Week 4-ish

Posted by beth on September 18, 2010

I’ve been “in training” for the 1/2 marathon for over a month now, but I’m just starting week four of the Couch to 5k program. Hey, remember a couple of weeks ago when I was just starting week three and couldn’t possibly imagine running for FIVE WHOLE MINUTES STRAIGHT? Well, friends, I am very proud to report that I did it! Week four means you:

• walk for 5 minutes to warm up
• run for 3 minutes
• walk for 90 seconds
• run for 5 minutes
• walk for 2.5 minutes
• run for 3 minutes
• walk for 90 seconds
• run for 5 minutes
• walk for 5 minutes to cool down

And THAT means that even including the warm-up and cool-down walks, I STILL ran more than I walked. By 30 whole seconds!! I did NOT think I was going to make it through that last run, y’all. The first run was so easy, I laughed at it, and I thought back to the first week when running for one minute was a challenge. Then I did the first five-minute run, and although I was starting to get a little cramp in my side around 4:30, I finished it. And I thought back to the second week, when I had the same feeling after only a minute and a half of running.

Then the second three-minute run came, and my muscles started to stiffen, and although I tried to pick my feet up more and consciously relax, it was still hard. I didn’t think there was any way I could make it through the next run: another five-minute run. And I only had 90 seconds to recuperate before it started.

Every minute of that last five-minute run was hard. Every minute, I was thinking, “I’m not going to be able to do this. I’m going to have to stop early,” but it seemed like every time I had one of those thoughts, Chubby Jones spoke up and said something like, “Don’t you dare quit on me. I know you can do this. I know you have it in you.” And it didn’t even matter that she wasn’t there watching me, and that she wouldn’t know if I quit. I believed her when she said I could do it. I have no idea why I believed her, but I didn’t stop.

I was running reeeeeaaaaaaaalllllyyyy slllllloooooooowwwwwwly, but I was picking up my feet the whole time, even through the last minute, which was uphill.

And then I was done. Just like that. And my first thought was that the next time I do it, I’m 100% sure it will be easier. It always is.

Now. Per my training requirements, I now deserve a cookie.