Plans

If you're been following the blog thus far, you might be asking yourself why I run in the first place. I don't seem to really enjoy it all that much, plus I am not very good at it. However, even though I am not skilled in the actually running part, there is something about running that I think is fabulous: the planning. When you are training for a race, you get to do lots and lots of planning. Planning makes me happy.

Related: my all-time favorite Kids in the Hall sketch.

Pretty much the first thing I did once I decided to run a marathon was to find a running plan (taken from the Runner's World Guide to Road Racing), then chose one that fit my schedule. Then I went a bought a planner. Oh, happy day. Usually, I get running-specific planners, but this time around I just got a plain one that extends through the school year. But it is very cute with butterflies and ample space to write about my run. It's good to track what goes on with running, particularly in case you start feeling stiff or tense. That way, you have a record of how your body is coping.

My running plan for the marathon is basically divisible into two phases: ramping up mileage (now), followed by the actual RWGRR plan (end of August). Right now, I aim to run 5 times a week, with the following basic schedule:

Tuesday: 3 miles
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: 4 miles
Saturday: 3 miles
Sunday: 5 miles

That should put me in good shape for when the actual running plan starts. I have also decided that Monday will be Stretch Day and Friday will be weights. That way, I hope to avoid any major problems. So far, I haven't felt any pain (prior to this plan, I was doing my best to run every second day, a plan that was thwarted by visiting Nevada/Utah during a July heat wave). Another advantage that I have in running is that I have thankfully not suffered from any major injuries, so I'm hoping to avoid physical problems.

Today was weights; it was the first time in a month that I got to the gym to do them. All went relatively well. I am hoping that I didn't go too hard or tomorrow's run will be lousy!