Monday, February 21, 2011

The quiet before the storm

My dear. I've realized it's been almost a full month without a blog post. It's not that I'm tired or bored of blogging...but I feel like not much has been going on that's blog worthy. But, on this snowy Monday morning (blast!) I feel like there is something to talk about.

This is actually week two of training for a sub/2 hour half marathon. My goal race is the LI Half on May 1st. That's about a 7 minute PR. Which doesn't sound like a lot, but sometimes it does. So, knowing I would have to step up my game a million notches, I decided to ask the one and only Speed Sasquatch to help me train for it. I've seen my friends make some amazing progress under his training plans, and I knew he'd be able to keep me motivated and push me when I needed it. That being said, I was also scared he was going to kick my ass and I'd be way in over my head.

The first week of training went pretty well, if I do say so myself. A successful fartlek run (teehee) a 4 mile tempo run just a few seconds short of my PR last year, and a sub 9:30 10K. Who is this girl? The 10k is my least favorite distance...and I haven't run anything sub 9:30 (i think) since a 5k last June. And it was a progressive run, my first mile in the 9:40's, my last mile in the low 9:00's. I really, really hope this is just the beginning of things to come, because to reach a 2 hour half I'm going to have to find a lot of that girl.

8 comments:

  1. I'm rooting for you Sam. I came oh so close in '09 when I ran the Iron Horse half in 2:00:35. I was actually pleased with it despite it being not SUB-2. It was a good effort but kinda died out at 9 and it got hot. Good luck on your training-you're in good hands with the Squatch.

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  2. Wow! I would definitely be happy with 2:00:35...but there's something about seeing 1:59:xx on that clock that would make me ecstatic. Hope to see you out there when it gets a little warmer!

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  3. Sam, I am so impressed with all the progress I see you making! I've always been a "run whatever speed I feel like" kind of girl, maybe because I just accepted the fact that I don't have speed in me. But seeing your training & progress is making me rethink that. You have absolutely inspired me!!!

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  4. Awesome progress. Sub 2 is totally doable. I went from a 2:10 to 1:59:56 last year. You should have no problem getting there by May.

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  5. Aw, Erica you are too sweet! Renee--I went from 2:25 in 2009, to 2:07 in 2010. It was absolutely amazing.

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  6. That is an awesome goal, Sam! Very inspiring.

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  7. Sam: I know you can do it. My first two half marathons were 2:00:16 and 2:00:01 - I can appreciate how badly you want to see 1:xx:xx as your finish time. Put in the hard work (like you are) and it will come. Be patient, and work the plan. I know you can do it!

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  8. Aw, thanks Joe. I can't wait for our rematch at Newport Liberty :)

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