To Train or Not to Train....

When I first started running a little more than two years, training for a race was the furthest thing on my mind. As a matter a fact, running in itself it's not something that I would have imagined myself doing. It sort of just fell into my lap. My daily dog walks during my first pregnancy, turned into a slight jog as I tried to induce labor those last few weeks. After baby number two, just trying to navigate a double stroller uphill turned once again into a slight jog.

I've gone from rocking the cheapest (yet cutest) Nike shoes I could get my hands on to running 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons. Since becoming a Sweat Pink ambassador, and documenting my journey on social media, I've received tons of questions from family and friends about training for races. 

Truth is I'm still not 100% on that topic. Yet once again thankful for my SPA sisters, I'm prompted to share my experience with race training. 

5k: My first race was the JLB's Commit to Fit 5k in October 2012. I wouldn't call what I did training, but i did finish the race (and was not last). About three or four weeks before the race, I stumbled upon a group of women in a local park I frequented. They were very up beat, so I decided to join that group that met every Sunday. I was still walking at the time (while most were literally running laps around me), but they told me about the c25k app. For the next few weeks, I just tagged along with another beginner, and registered for a 5k just for the camaraderie.

So yeah, that wasn't much of training. Today, I would definitely recommend the couch-to-5k program for beginners, but completing in its entirety is better.

10k: Race number two would come about a month later. I signed up for a local 10k because once again, other ladies in my group were doing it. There was also, this runner's high I experienced a few weeks ago. Problem is I didn't know these ladies were running more than once a week. I walked when the weather permitted, and walked/ran most Sunday's. Big fail! I don't think I even made it to the halfway point, before I was struggling. I was mentally, physically, and emotionally checked out of this race. One of the ladies must of saw these signs, and she stayed by my side until I crossed that finish last line. 

Once again....do as I say and not as I did. Find a training plan, train, and complete.

13.1: In June 2013 I completed my first half marathon. I was sidelined with an IT band injury and shin splints after not properly training for the first two races. Still I was determined, and picked up running again after Winter. I was selected to be a challenge athlete for women wanting to train for their first half marathon. Sponsored by Muscle Milk Light, the race was the Zooma Women's Race Series Annapolis 10k & half marathon. I followed the training program almost precisely. That was a first.

My motto for race day was....

strongly believe anyone tackling a new distance should have this mindset.

Since then I've completed multiple races. Learning from past mistakes, here's my current guide for race training. 

1. RESPECT the distance. Yes, that means ALL of them. 

2. Establish a base. AKA instead of running/ training cold turkey you start with regular runs at a short distance to help build and improve your aerobic capacity.

3. Pick a training plan. Most runners have a favorite. These days I follow the Jeff Galloway Method with a few customizations.

4. Train hard + run pretty+ have fun= a successful race!

Now I'm left with making a huge decision: to train or not to train for my first marathon.