I can’t believe it but I’m in the final stretch again for my half marathon training program and the race is coming up next weekend. Every time I start this cycle it feels like such commitment yet always manages to fly by!
I often do spring half marathon training. It’s always quite the journey — training my way through almost all of the snow for the year (if not all of it) through rainy impending spring and finally into spring’s arrival.
This year it’s been light on the snow and heavier on the rain. I mostly shifted my run schedule around to avoid the rain but did have one inevitable drenched run toward the end of the cycle.
Training program
This time I again did Hal Higdon’s Novice 1 but around half-way through, I also started using his app (Run with Hal) to track. I’ve never done a real run coach but it’s sort of like doing his training program with a virtual coach. You input your runs and it updates to tell you what to do next. It was a little concerned when I started since it didn’t realize I’d actually been training for twice as long as it was assuming. Eventually Hal chilled out!
For the most part, I’ve stuck to the schedule. I did miss a couple of runs when I was feeling particularly sore and one was after I’d been in the city the night before and went to bed pretty late. I thought the Hal app was going to yell at me for skipping but nope! It told me you must have needed the rest. Indeed I did, Hal. Indeed I did…
Gear
I’m behind on sharing but I have several shoes I’ve tried this training cycle that have been fun to experiment with as well — from zero drops to 3D printed midsoles! More on that soon.
I’ve been loving these new reflective crews from Bombas (get 25% with this link). I love my Bombas but would love to see them pull some of their vibrant tennis sock colors over to the running side. Not quite there with these but with the neon accents and reflective stripes, I’ll take it.
I also got an amazing buy on this pre-loved Fluff Off Lululemon jacket off of Poshmark. It is a fun red, has an asymmetrical zipper, high-neck and — my favorite part — has a short built in run skirt. How much warmth can that add? Oh man. Just enough. Loving it!!
For fuel, I’m keeping mostly with my staple of Honey Stinger. Before big runs, I’m doing one of their waffles — easier to do then than to try to have it on the go. If I go with a gel, I’ve also been using their fruit smoothie energy gel. It’s my favorite flavor out of the different ones they make.
I finished up my 10 mile long run this weekend — the longest one before next Sunday’s race. I’m exited for race day — whatever may come. I have pretty much improved every half I’ve done but as always — no pressures or unrealistic expectations. Just want to have fun and finish.
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