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Training for a half marathon: Am I crazy?

Print | Comments () Posted by Elizabeth Comeau July 10, 2012 08:25 AM

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Well, here I go again.

Day one of half-marathon training started today. I'm pumped, nervous, and possibly a bit crazy.

I enjoyed my 10K race so much, I figured I should at least try running a half marathon. Why? Because you know me, I love to push myself (and to me, right now 13.1 miles sounds pretty tough).

Plus, having something to train for really helps me stay motivated and gives me yet another reason to get out there and log my miles. All I tell myself to keep going is that if I don't put in the miles now, come race day I'll be woefully unprepared.

So, what does a half-marathon training schedule look like?

After doing a bunch of reading up on the subject, and talking to several friends who have run marathons, I came across one training regimen that I decided to try.

This schedule below comes from Hal Higdon's web site. If you don't know who Higdon is, he's written more than 30 books (most on running), run eight times in the Olympic Trials and 111 marathons (his first was Boston in 1959).

At 111 marathons, I'm willing to give this regimen a whirl. Plus, he has a mobile app that I downloaded to my phone to help keep my training schedule all in one place.

Monday: Strength training/yoga
Tuesday: three-mile run (distances gradually increase over 12 weeks and taper off toward the end of the training plan)
Wednesday: Two-mile run or cross training, such as biking, swimming
Thursday: Three-mile run plus strength training
Friday: Rest day
Saturday: 30 minutes of cross training
Sunday: Four-mile run

As for my diet, I'm still following the MyPlate guidelines while also following our Nutrition & You blogger's advice on what to eat while training for my big day.

Now, all I have to do is put in the time -- and distance. Wish me luck?

What big fitness challenge have you taken on lately?

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Staying fit is an important part of staying healthy. This blog will offer exercise tips from experts as well as share the personal journeys of Globe staff members committed to fitness. No matter your age or energy level, we invite you to join in and share your own story. How do you find time to work out? What are your daily challenges? Let us know and read along -- and together, we can all get moving.

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Elizabeth Comeau is the senior health & wellness producer at Boston.com. She will be blogging about her personal fitness journey and using a device called a FitBit to track her weekly goals and progress (see below). Follow her journey and share your own. Read more about Elizabeth and this blog.

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