Check in time!  I’ve been training for the Nike Women’s 1/2 marathon for 5 weeks now!  I can’t believe how time flies!

I’ve been building my mileage, finding parks that double as 1/4 or 1/2 mile markers, all with my buddy Badger.  Overall, he’s a good running partner, although sometimes he loses motivation.  I thought that we were hitting his maximum mileage, but today he was still pulling the leash when I tried to start walking after 9 miles (on our 8 mile endurance run)!

Lesson learned: trails keeps Badger motivated!

I’ve been keeping up with my scheduled runs, but have been a little relaxed on my strength training workouts.  I typically put them off until the weekend (+surrounding days).  I need to find some balance (errrr, motivation) to get them in.  I’ve substituted my ‘recovery run’ days as prescribed by the NWM app, with riding my bike to work.  Initially, I thought this would be good to get in cardio without stressing my shins.  Well, the extra cross training has been great because my shins don’t even hurt anymore!

In a nutshell, every week has 2 cycling days, 2 quality run (i.e. hills-if I can find them-, interval, tempo, or fartlek), and one long run day.  I should also add 2-3 strength days as double days.  This allows me to get in my rest days (2/week 🙂 and prepare my body for multiple workouts in a day, which it will need to do for Ragnar.

I am slower than my goal time, which sucks.  I am think that I should be faster and should be stronger.  I know this is not the case.  The reality is I would like to be faster, but there I took some serious time off.  I will be faster when I get there.  Its hot. Its humid. I’m worried about my dog. I often try new routes, which often ends with me being lost.  Except for the absence of hills here in DC, I think my race will be much better- a planned/obvious route, and cooler weather.  I am most grateful because my body feels strong.