Behind Schedule

Good morning everyone. It's 5:35 pm, and I'm behind schedule. I was having such a lovely time sleeping that I just didn't want to stop! I'm off to work. Speaking of schedule, I set a goal on NikePlus.com that I would run 12 times in 4 weeks. I have a little less than a week and a half to go and 7 runs left. Therefore, I'm behind. I'm running almost every day, because I don't want to let myself down on my first mini goal. The purpose of my goal was simply to get me running consistently again. In the meantime, I've put together my goofy schedule. No, not the one for work! The Goofy Race and a Half Challenge training schedule. I'll still order John Bingham's program in August, but I'll be ready for it! Oh, and by the way, I need some ideas for new running tunes. I'm quite bored with mine. So, if you've got any songs, just post 'em :)

Nike + iPod = Awesome!

Check this out - I finish my 2.22 mile run (I'm doing little runs - making sure I'm happy! I'm not up to telling you how long it took me though) today after work, and a voice comes over my headphones "this is Paula Radcliffe, congratulations, you've just beat your time for your fastest mile". How cool is THAT!?! I didn't know it did that!!! I was so excited. Ahhh, the little things. Fun, fun. That IS what this is about. Finally.

Good Morning

It's 5:00 pm and I just got up. I work at 7pm, but it's only one shift, so I'm hoping I can convince Greg to run with me after work. I'll have to take my camera down to where we run so I can post it. Maybe I'll get my dolphin in the pics. I think I have a working Goofy training schedule. I'm combining Hal Higdon's Intermediate Marathon Training Guide with the info from the sample 2 weeks from Jenny Hadfield & John Bingham's Goofy Training Program. I plan on buying that one when it gets closer, especially because it's only 4 days a week. I'm sure I'll tweak it a bit throughout April, to start pretraining in May. As I said, I wasn't prepared for Disney, so this year, I'm adding two days a week of cross training (likely yoga or cycling or swimming), two days of strength training, and stretching every day. My diet needs some work, as I've had some issues in the past with fluctuating weight (doesn't that sound much more pleasant than it's been?) so until my training picks up, I'm sticking with 3 meals a day, no snacks. "No one ever died not eating between lunch and dinner."

Next Time No Burnout

Okay. After the Gasparilla Marathon in February 2007, I did nothing for 2 months and gained 15 pounds. I swore I wouldn't do it again after Disney this January. Well, here it is, March 22nd. I've run a few times (let's see...on NikePlus it says I ran 6 times since the marathon) and only gained 3 pounds. I started writing this post to berate myself for not getting off my duff and doing more, but as I see it now, I did better than last year! But, it's getting to be that time. We signed up for the Goofy Challenge in 2009. Not sure what bunch of craziness came over me, but I'm excited.

I didn't train very well for Disney. As John Bingham says " Being a slow runner is not the same as being an unprepared runner." I was unprepared. I had a lot going on (what a crap excuse - maybe I would have had less stress if I ran more!) and used a different training program. It took me 45 minutes longer than my first marathon, when I'd love to be about 45 minutes faster! Plus, Greg and I want to take pics this time throughout Disney so I can't be his literal ball & chain. So, for Goofy, I will be prepared. I think I'm going to go back to Hal Higdon with some modifications because it's a two day event. I've read other bloggers and forums about training for Goofy, and I am going to do so again, because I really would like a training program that is really set. My own personal coach, so to speak. By the way, my Nike plus ipod gadget (who i named iSis (get it?)) is great. I ran 3 miles last Thursday - on the boooooring treadmill at the gym and wouldn't have finished it but for that voice in my ear "one more mile to go".

Alrighty then, I'm off to do some research on Goofy training. Have a great Easter, if that's your thing!

Introductions

This is my husband, Greg, and me in The Woodlands, Texas. He runs faster than I do, but I love him anyway. We ran Gasparilla (our first marathon) in 2007 & Disney in 2008. We're coming up on 9 years of marriage, and of course, every year gets better. Right now we live in Florida, but will be taking our 2 cats & dog to Texas in a year and a half or so. Until that time, we'll finish up our residency program, keep working on becoming better doctors.

Ahhhh finally

I've finally created a blog! I toyed with the idea for a while, because I wanted an easy way to log my workouts no matter where I am. Carrying around a paper log hadn't really worked for me since I stopped running in my neighborhood. Plus, I really enjoy reading other blogs, especially those kept by Disney (and Goofy) runners. So, I had to come up with a title. I definitely wanted Runner in it, and my original training goal during my first marathon was "to learn to enjoy running". Voila! The Happy Runner is born.

Notice I didn't say fast (yet), or efficient, or champion. I said happy. I am happy (albeit somewhat painful on some longer distances) when I run. I am always happy after I run. So, why do I not run more? Hmmm, a point to ponder in future posts.