Notice I didn’t say, “If you like to run…” because I don’t know too many people who admit to loving the act of running itself. No, it’s the post-workout high, the release of stress, and the feeling that you are in total control that keeps many runners coming back for more.
I was never a distance runner growing up. In fact, my workouts rarely included running in the first 33 years of my life. While I cannot recall a day of my childhood when I wasn’t on a sporting team and thriving on competition, my level of focus and ability to train independently had never been tested. Then came the summer of 2010 and the Omaha Triathlon, when I knew my husband and I were done having children and I yearned to reclaim part of my pre-baby self. I decided to compete in my first-ever endurance race.
I could barely run a mile without getting seriously winded when I started my conditioning. I was not in bad shape. Both my weight and Body Mass Index were in normal range for my height. I just did not have the lung capacity or proper frame of mind for endurance running. Chalk that up as an excuse that repeatedly ran through my mind: I will just never be able to run long distances. My body isn’t made for that kind of exercise.
Now I have a couple of years under my belt and can confidently claim that I can complete a five-mile run rather easily. Do I enjoy the act of running any more today than I did when I started to build up my endurance? Well, I can definitely claim to enjoy the time I make for myself to run and to clear my head. Every mom needs that mental escape.
I’m registered to complete my second half marathon on May 6 in Lincoln. For anyone else out there who also plans to run a half-marathon this summer, here’s a little guide to help you get in your proper training miles. (thanks to marathonrookie.com)
| Week | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Rest | 3 | 3 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 13 |
| 2 | 3 | Rest | 4 | 3 | Rest | 5 | Rest | 15 |
| 3 | 3 | Rest | 4 | 3 | Rest | 6 | Rest | 16 |
| 4 | 3 | Rest | 5 | 3 | Rest | 8 | Rest | 19 |
| 5 | 3 | Rest | 5 | 3 | Rest | 10 | Rest | 21 |
| 6 | 4 | Rest | 5 | 4 | Rest | 11 | Rest | 24 |
| 7 | 4 | Rest | 6 | 4 | Rest | 12 | Rest | 26 |
| 8 | 4 | Rest | 5 | 4 | Rest | 9 | Rest | 22 |
| 9 | 3 | Rest | 4 | 3 | Rest | 8 | Rest | 18 |
| 10 | 3 | Rest | 3 | Walk 2 | Rest | 13.1 | Rest | 21.1 |
maternalmedia 
Haha I was caught by your title and can’t help but to agree with the fact that those of us who run mostly just enjoy the feeling after!wards
Best of luck to you in your training by the way! 🙂
Thanks gabby.runs! I love your site and envy your passion for running. Three years of running consistently is to be commended. Congrats.
I love your story, as I too was in sports growing up, but never had been ‘tested’ in that way. I am training for my first half. I know that I bit off more than I can chew, seeing as all I have ever done were 5k runs. I have asthma, so my lung capacity is not as great as I think it needs to be. In fact, I have finally just completed a run where in the first mile, I ran the whole time and in under 10 minutes. Don’t ask about the miles after that 🙂 Any words of wisdom as to how I can increase my endurance? Yes, I know that I am crazy to even attempt a half, but hey, it’s on my Bucket List so I have to try, don’t I?
Nicole – good for you! Seriously…no matter what your per mile pace is (it’s natural to try and keep up with others who have been doing this a lot longer than us), think about where you started and how far you’ve come. Knocking out that first mile in under 10 minutes is awesome. I actually had a mentor runner who had to slow down his natural pace to run with me, but I always ran faster with him than I did training solo. Also, what is interesting is that he had scheduled “walks” every few miles on race day. He would run at a fast pace for 2-3 miles and then walk 30 seconds – 1 minute to regroup. His overall time was better doing this than had he ran the entire way with zero walking. I also recommend buzzerk (Sp?) energy drink powder to add to your water when you start extending your runs beyond an hour. If you put in the training, YOU WILL CONQUER THE RACE ITSELF. And you will feel on top of the world crossing that finish line. Anyone else have any advice on increasing endurance?