Hello, friends!

I still can’t believe I a) registered for a half marathon and b) have completed all of my scheduled runs.

Don’t get me wrong – I love running, but I also have a very full plate (new baby, active toddler, full-time job). In the back of my mind, I think I halfway expected to fail.

Exhibit A: As I type this post on my iPhone, we just finished tucking both girls into bed. I fill the kitchen sink with warm soapy dishwater and begin gathering a day’s worth of bottles and pump parts while Tim straightens up the living room, tripping over and setting off a cacaphony of toys in the process.

On a good day, we both fall into bed feeling incredibly blessed, yet completely exhausted. On a bad day, well – let’s just say we give ourselves and each other the grace and space we need to survive (even if it means consuming a glass of sweet red wine while scrolling Facebook in the pantry).

As it turns out, running has provided me a physical outlet and an emotional escape – a release from life where I can channel all of my tension and aggression and set new, healthier intentions.

Yes, waking at 5 am after a long, sleepless night spent desperately trying to cajole a teething infant to sleep sucks. But the feeling of sweet satisfaction after completing that early morning run makes it all worth it (even if my under-eye bags do scare my coworkers). Plus, watching the sun rise over our pond works wonders for my soul.

#mindovermatter

With that said, here’s a look at the past two weeks:

Week 4 Workouts

• Monday, August 12 – 3.62 miles
• Wednesday, August 14 – 3.5 miles
• Friday, August 16 – 5.2 miles

Week 5 Workouts

• Monday, August 19 – 4.25 miles
• Wednesday, August 21 – 4.25 miles
• Friday, August 23 – 6.15 miles

Finally, I will leave you with a quote:

XO

Erica

Hello, friends!

As the month flies by and my weekly mileage continues to slowly increase, I have fallen into a rather pleasant running routine. Overall, as long as I remain fairly flexible, I usually have no trouble completing my scheduled runs. My training routine looks something like this:

• Monday mornings I roll out of bed at 5:30 am, pump Sophie’s morning bottle, and down a quick cup of coffee before going for a short jog through our neighborhood.
• Depending on my schedule, I go for another shorter run again on Tuesday or Wednesday evening/night.
• Every Friday, my employer lets everyone out early, so a coworker and I head out for a brief jog together before I continue on by myself to complete my long run.

Surprisingly, my family life seems pretty unaffected by my training schedule. My biggest hurdle when it comes to balancing work, kids, and running actually involves breastfeeding and making sure I pump within at least two or three hours of working out so that the girls don’t get too full. Let’s just say I already need all the support I can get these days, and any extra weight up top has my maximum control sports bra begging for mercy. Ha. (Sorry. TMI alert.)

Anyway, here’s a quick recap of the past two weeks.

Week 2 Workouts

• Monday, July 29 – 3.41 miles outside before work
• Tuesday, July 30 – 3.1 miles on gym treadmill
• Friday, August 2 – 4.25 miles on work trail

Week 3 Workouts

• Monday, August 5 – 3.62 miles outside before work
• Wednesday, August 7 – 3.75 miles outside after work
• Friday, August 9 – 5.2 miles on work trail

So there you have it. Next week I plan on incorporating some strength training into my routine. And who knows – I may even go crazy and add some yoga to the mix. Fun times!

XO

Erica

Hello, friends! Guess who just completed week one of half marathon training? This girl! (Both thumbs pointing at myself.)

Side bar (fair warning, I have a lot of these): Jogging is my jam. I am convinced there is nothing in life a quick run can’t cure, or at the very least, make more manageable. It’s pretty much the only form of exercise that has remained consistent in my life since college. I don’t go for speed, or distance, and especially not fashion. (Hello, my favorite Nike running shorts have logged more miles than some commercial airliners.) During both of my pregnancies, I took a quick break from high-impact exercise to focus on baking my babes and providing the best womb service possible. But as of last month, I’m officially back to pounding the pavement. An average jog for me ranges anywhere from three to five miles at a 9-9:45 mph pace. Slow and steady finishes the race.

As I mentioned in my last post, I recently registered for the Scenic Byway River Run Half Marathon (my third half marathon in my lifetime). After giving birth to Sophie in March, I slowly started exercising (jogging, elliptical, Beach Body workouts, Jillian Michaels DVDs, YouTube videos) again. Running a strong 5k back in June gave me the motivation and confidence I needed to sign up for a longer race. Ideally, I wanted to run a 10k or 10 miler, but this race caught my eye for two reasons 1) It’s super close to home (major convenience factor) and 2) It gave me a bit of time to build up a nice base before diving into a 12-week training plan.

The mid-October race date means I have exactly 11 weeks from today to get my rear in gear. I plan on following Hal Higdon’s Novice 1 training plan, which I plan on modifying to fit my schedule as needed. For example, I’d like to substitute some strength training or cross training exercises for one of the mid-week runs. And, while I will do my best to complete all of my runs (especially the long ones), I hereby promise not to judge myself too harshly for missing a workout or two when life gets too busy.

Week 1 Workouts

So here’s how week one of half training went:

• Monday, July 22 – 3.28 miles outside before work
• Tuesday, July 24 – 3.3 miles outside after work
• Friday, July 26 – 4.15 miles on a regional trail near my work

Overall, it feels great to run again. Cheers to a happy, healthy training schedule!