Half-marathon training, plans, and goals!

First of all, happy extra day of the year, folks! It's exciting when it's a leap year...an extra day to do whatever you'd like! However, I'm at work :) but I digress....

Yesterday was my last day of Hammer and Chisel. I can honestly say that I have never felt stronger or more accomplished than I do now! I'm so excited to have completed this program from start to finish and shown up every day for my workouts! I'm a little sad it's over, but I know I can do it again anytime (yay for home workouts!) I plan on doing another round starting May 2nd, but for the next 60 days, my focus will be on my half-marathon coming up on May 1st! 

I LOVE running; we seriously have a special connection (sorry Vasken). This will be my 6th half marathon and my favorite one...in Orange County by the beach. I'm beyond excited to begin training this week, but I also don't want to make the same over-training mistakes that I've made in the past. I used to run 6-9 miles/day, no stretching, no strength training, and call it a day. I have busted my knee and hip multiple times while following this "plan" and I don't want to do that again. Which is why I am incorporating strength training and other workouts along with running. My goal is to do 21 day fix/Hammer and Chisel workouts 3 days a week, and run 3 days a week, with one rest/stretching day. I know I'll need to take this rest day with all the training I'm doing, and above all I'll need to sleep and nourish my body well! 

I'll follow this plan for the next 5 weeks, because in mid-April my hubby and I are headed to PARIS for our one year wedding anniversary! I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT! It's our first trip to Paris and we are looking forward to it so much! We come back a week before the half marathon, but we are excited to run and explore the city together (and carbo-load like heck before the half marathon HAHA). Overall, I'm not too worried about this trip because a) it's Paris, b) we plan on running, and c) I always have Beachbody on Demand to take with me if I want to mix up my workouts and stream them in our hotel room! 

Then, after the half-marathon on May 1st, I will be starting another round of Hammer and Chisel! So excited about the flexibility we have with these programs and how I can do them all from the comfort of my home :) total win in my book! 

So! My workout plan for this week is as follows: 

Monday: did total body cardio fix this morning; I had totally missed this workout!

Tuesday: run 3 miles 

Wednesday: upper body fix 

Thursday: run 2 miles + 10 min ab fix 

Friday: run 4 miles  

Saturday: Chisel endurance

Sunday: day of REST! :)  

GOALS:

My goals for this season are to really nourish my body well. I have been practicing intuitive eating but am really watching my nutrition using the container system from 21 day fix as well. This meal plan jives with me because sometimes my intuition tells me I'm too hungry or not hungry enough and I miss out on getting nourished fully. I'll be following the second bracket of containers and am going to try and stick with the balance and portion control this program provides! 

It is so important to get ENOUGH food in order to be healthy. You really don't have to eat less, you really just have to learn how to eat right. I want to eat RIGHT during this training time because I know my body will need allllllllll the nutrition it can get if I want to maintain my muscle that I've gained from Hammer and Chisel! That's what I love about this meal plan: I am amazed and how MUCH food is approved and how nourished and energized I feel from eating in such a balanced way. 

So, that's what is coming up for me! I hope that you find a way to have fun today, eat some yummy food, nourish yourself, and find joy in all you do! :) Happy Monday! 

Training with an Injury

Today marks about 5 weeks until my half-marathon! It also marks that time that I had shooting pain down my back/hip/bottom while running and almost fell off the treadmill :( I have been trying to do 2-3 mile runs ever since my hip decided to grace me with its painful presence last week. I was doing well until this morning. The minute I hit mile 3, I had the worst pain shoot down my left hip/bottom, which is crazy because it is my RIGHT hip that always gives me trouble! I decided, or rather, was forced, to get off the treadmill immediately and do some stretches in order to be able to just walk out of the gym! After stretching I did some arm work and was definitely done with my workout. I immediately got to work on my half-marathon training plan, taking my injury into account. I know that rest, icing, and the lovely smelling icy-hot are going to be the only things that will help my pain and allow me to successfully run my half-marathon in 5 weeks! As hard as it is for me to rest, I have been reminding myself that resting now means better success later. After reading up on my pain online and seeing that rest for a few days up to a week is necessary, I have tweaked my plan and am going to hopefully be running again in a few days! Here is my tentative plan for training with an injury this week:

10/14 (today): Cardio: 3 mile run. Toning: biceps, triceps, back

10/15: Cardio: rest from cardio! Toning: shoulder routine

10/16: Cardio: rest OR try a cardio barre class. This workout could either stretch out my hips and help the pain, OR make the pain worse...I will definitely be listening to my body with this one! Toning: chest, triceps, push ups

10/17: Cardio: 2 mile run OR rest. Toning: shoulder routine, back

10/18: Cardio: 2 mile run OR 20 minutes ellipitcal. Toning: Frisky fall toning routine (minus lunges/squats) from a fall challenge group I am a part of with Tone it Up! (www.toneitup.com)

10/19: Cardio: I am being positive and planning to run 2 miles today! Toning: biceps, triceps, push ups

10/20: Busy day planned out so this will probably be a rest day overall! Maybe some quick toning work in the morning :)

Stretching will also be HUGE as I try to overcome this injury. I have never been a good stretcher, which I know is probably why I get injured like this! Not only will I try to get better at stretching, but will also continue to stretch even after my pain is gone in order to prevent future injuries! Hopefully I can be pain-free in a few days and pick up my running and training for my half-marathon!