I’m a little surprised. I’d been assuming that training for the 2015 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon would start early January, just after the holiday revelry subsides, but no. I’m following the Hal Higdon “Intermediate I” program, which is 18 weeks long. Counting backwards from April 26th of next year, I will actually run my first training mile today. And I’m really excited about it! For the last few months, running has taken a back seat to a pretty hectic and unpredictable daily life, which is fine. Fitness is supposed to be a tool for a happy, balanced life, after all, not my main goal. But returning to some structure and gradually increasing challenges will be wonderful. Refreshing both mentally and physically.
Are you interested in running any of the events in OKC? Click right here for pricing and details. Take note that if you register by New Year’s Eve you enjoy the best price break. I feel extra lucky because as a thank you for participating in the marathon committee’s focus group, I get to register for half price of that. Nice! More money to drop in my new-shoes fund. My Brooks situation is getting kind of desperate.
So, Hal Higdon. This is the same training program that got me to my first half marathon in 2013 and then my first full last April. It’s simple, effective, and slightly famous. I felt more than ready by the end of each 18-week stretch, and it also allowed me some flexibility on weird weeks. Happy, balanced life first, right? Well, happy, balanced life first with a heavy focus on marathon readiness. The two are simpatico. Totally. The more I run, the better life is.
Is this true for you? That the more you run, the better life is? It’s a wonderful addiction.
With only a few days before Christmas weekend, I am really glad to have my shopping (mostly) done. I’m glad to have time to spend on the trails this week, burning off some tension and tapping into whatever stamina I have left from such a paltry autumn of low mileage. Reevaluate my fitness and sweet talk a few more dozen miles out of my cute, filthy, moth-eaten little Brooks. The shoes that used to be turquoise and white but now are spray-painted black.
With the onset of training season, my Marathon Monday posts will be more consistent, too. Are you training for anything, or are you on the fence about starting? Is there anything you’re interested in reading about? I have some fun, different ideas for this section of my blog for the coming months, so please stay tuned. Diet, shoes and clothes, music, weight loss, literature, and (of course) the philosophy of running. There’s so much to talk about!
For week one, here is my easy peasy running schedule, slightly modified to accommodate the holiday:
Monday: 3 miles
Tuesday: 7 miles
Wednesday:3 miles
Thursday: Merry Christmas! Rest Day. Family time. xoxo
Friday: 8 miles
Saturday: 3 miles
Sunday: cross train (yoga, elliptical, or strength)
Thanks as always for visiting me here! If you’re working on a running goal I’d love love love to hear all about it. And please enjoy the next few days of Christmas prep. Let it be joyful, ok?
Run for Your Life
XOXOXOXO