HalfWits Gone Wild - Half Way There!

Week 9 of our marathon training schedule calls for a 3-mile, 4-mile, 7-mile, and a 10-mile run. This is one of our "cut back" weeks, and we're doing just 24 miles. After this week, our mileage will increase significantly so enjoy this week! I know there are many of you putting in more mileage - it is important to listen to your body to avoid overtraining and overuse injuries and ailments.

With Abe's Amble next Sunday (August 20th), I will not be scheduling a long run for Saturday morning. If there are people still interested in meeting on Saturday for a ten mile run - post a comment here so that we can get organized. I plan to do my four mile run tomorrow morning (Monday), my seven mile run on Tuesday (combined with my Abe's Army platoon workout), my ten mile run on Thursday evening (any takers to run the Lost Bridge Trail with me starting at 6pm?) and just do a three mile run on Saturday morning so that I'll be ready to run hard for the Abe's Amble 10 K. August 26 will be our longest run yet - 15 miles. Hope to see all of you there. No route is planned yet, but it will start at 6:30 from Panera West.

Whatever your schedule, be sure to incorporate cross training on most of your 'non-running' days. You're building core muscles and cardiorespiratory strength, all of which you'll rely on October 22nd!

T-shirts have been ordered and I'll let you know when they're in. Thanks to everyone who showed up for our 14 mile run (more than a half-marathon!) - just a Saturday morning stroll through Springfield! I think there were about 15 of us. The weather was perfect, and the company of the group seemed to make the run a little easier. Thanks to the Faircloughs for putting water out at the park and to Jan Wilson for loaning us the water coolers for our training runs.

There is no doubt that training for a marathon involves time - something which most of us already feel we don't have enough of. The next half of our training comprises the most time-consuming part of the plan. It's during this time that many of us will experience turning points in our training. and "existential rededication" of sorts. Training for and running a marathon is not a single event, rather an experience. It is a discovery of self that will forever change your perceptions, perspectives, priorities, and possibilities.

You will meet yourself at what you thought were the boundaries of your potential and endurance and watch in awe as they evaporate to reveal only an open expanse. The only boundaries in life are those we create ourselves - are you ready to knock them down?

Focusing is hard when you have other things going on in your life - these next nine weeks are crucial to your training and successful completion of the marathon. Have faith in your training plan, enlist the support and help of your family, friends, and fellow runners, and make sure to allow yourself time to recover from your long runs and hard workouts. Use this week to rededicate yourself to this commitment and remind yourself of why you're doing this all in the first place. And remember - this is supposed to be fun!

ideas taken from The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer

See you on the road!

BTW - here's one of my reasons: http://www.active.com/donate/TeamTiaraSpringfield/spgMRogers Can you help me make a difference?

Mary R.