How I started running (for reals!) Path to the MCM2014.

Most of you know I was in the Marines. The first thing you do in the Marines is run. Run. Run. And more running. Its what we do. We do it together. All the time. And we sing cadence. Together. Many Marines end up being fantastic runners and enjoy every minute. And there are the others that drag themselves to PT (physical training aka running) each time tolerating it at best. I was the latter.. Until now.

Running was boring. Dumb. Waste of time. Bleh. Something I was required to do with everyone else. Until now. Today I realized that I enjoy it. I can't wait to do it again. I plan ahead about it and it's because I follow a program. 

I started with a Coach to 5k program this summer and my schedule didn't allow me to finish. It was fun but then I got an iPhone and my old program I was using was not meshing with it so I found another and another. I finally settled on the PEAR program (www.Pearsports.com) And I'm NOT endorsed by this company, I just love it for me!

I follow Jenny Hadfield (@jenny on twitter) and her programs. I started with zero to running and it starts with 30 second run with 2 min walks and adds run time (10 weeks @ 3x a week) each week. The last two runs were 10min run/1 min walk (3 intervals). The final run was 30 min straight. NO walking intervals. It was a bit of a challenge. It was good. I passed the final! YAH! YES! Phase I complete!

Friday I started Zero to 5k (w/ Jenny) which is six weeks with three runs a week. They are 30 min straight with 5 min warm up and 5 min cool down. Today I did my second one and I did FANTASTIC!

If you want to start running or restart running a running program/app is a great way to get started! 

Ciao

USMCdaffy 

Running Training. EVEN ON VACATION!

So I've completed week 9 of my program! So I literally have TWO runs left and I will be officially done with this program or as I like to refer to it as… Phase I. Then it will on to Phase II (5k training). Which should be complete before I hit the beach on vacation in February. For my birthday. Where I will continue training EVEN on vacation. I have a specific time frame that cannot be changed. So I think I'll be on Phase III training while in the Dominican Republic.

Phase III I thought was going to be 10k training. However my friend Stacy is doing the Chocolate 15k on March 14, 2014. So I'm now deciding should I do the 10k or 15k training. They actually are almost the same amount of training time frame. Right now I'm undecided but I'll be able to decide once Im finished with 5k training. Its only a three mile difference between 10k and 15k. Im leaning towards 15k and I'm considering doing the Chocolate 15k because its close to the end of my training.

Make it happen for you. Go out and run.

Ciao

USMCdaffy