Half Marathon Training (Finally) Continues!

So it has been a while since I checked in about my half marathon training.

Last post I was up to week four, using Half Marathon Coach app as my program, and preparing for Run Melbourne in July.

Let me quickly detail what has happened since then.

First, I found out there was a better half marathon just a few weeks later in August, which instead of being with thousands of people in the middle of the city, was smaller and along a coastal road. Scenic is always good when you are going 21kms.

So I decided I would change my goal to that.

This might have resulted in me bludging for a week.

I then tried to get back into my training using the Half Marathon App. It was then I realised a few things I don't like about it:

1. It doesn't let you pause or restart. This means it keeps ticking over and whispering to you that you are getting even further and further behind, which is a guilt trip I don't need from my phone.

2. I wanted to change the date of my final race, but couldn't. So I ended up getting a whole new program, which was annoying because it started again at the low milage. Further, I then found out that it would give me only 2 weeks of the new program, and I would have to pay for the rest! Even though the original was free!

So, I got sick of it and did some research into other apps.

I have since downloaded the Runner's World app (which again is free).


Pros to the app:

- again it lets you put in your final race date and it works out a program towards that.

- it lets you choose 'maintenance', 'moderate', 'hard' and 'extra hard' levels of training which affects the number of sessions per week you have and how quickly the intensity and mileage increases.

- my biggest love comes from the fact that you put in your previous best race time for any standard distance (I put in my time for my most recent 10km) and in all of your training sessions it will give you an exact pace you should be aiming for. Looking at this, I've realised I was going a bit too hard for my 'easy' jogs previously.

- it also is more varied in its training, including tempo and speed work. This keeps the training a bit more interesting. I take whatever distractions I can get :D


Cons:

- can't decide if it is actually a con, but you don't actually record what you do anywhere, so it doesn't show you how much you have achieved. Might be easy to just forget it is there if you didn't have your own motivation to keep doing it.

- It would be better if you could change the 'pace' for workouts to 'speed'. While there are calculators that do this for you on the internet, it would make it easier to use if it did it itself. (I work in speed rather than pace, being a long time treadmill user.)

Overall, at the moment I really like it. Though last week I really was sick, and so am just getting back into it now. Today I did my 11km long run on the treadmill as it was raining outside (and yes, I'm that soft.) 


Weightloss wise:

Last time I checked in for training, I realised my parents' scales were lying to me though they gave me a reading of 75.7.

Over the next few weeks of not training but definitely eating, my weight crept up to 77kgs again until I jumped on the 5:2 Diet. In the first two weeks of doing that, my weight dropped right back down to 74kgs. However, last week and a bit the loss hasn't been as good (which I knew when I started the program, the first two weeks give you the biggest loss.) My weight has been bouncing around quite a bit in unpredictable ways. I had gone down to 73.9, but then back up to 75.6, and lots of things in between. However, today I clocked in at a reasonable 74.5kgs (had hoped to be firmly in the 73s, but it was not to be). 


Conclusion:

The Sandy Point Half Marathon is on the 18th August, just over two months away. Plenty of time to increase my mileage and reach my goal weight of sub 70 kgs... if I'm good. Wish me luck!

Hail the Sunshine! Time to Get Out and Race

First of all, I apologise to all readers who are not located in the Southern Hemisphere. Just think, soon it will be ski season, so life can't be that bad.

But for all of us coming into Summer: life is awesome!

This is a great seasons to get out and be active, even if that is just a walk to smell the roses.

But, why stop there? Been plodding along on a treadmill for the dark, winter months? Want to see if you have actually improved? Want to do something worthwhile and maybe meet some cool people along the way?

If you said yes to even one of those, check out the calendars for Fun Run and events happening around the place. There is so much out there, surely you will find something to tempt you.

Start to Finish has a list of up coming events, including triatholons for kids!

Check out these beauties from Runner's World - Victoria for December, going back through to November (don't ask me why).

(Also love how Runner's World asks you what state you are from: ACT, New Zealand, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA. Points for the person who can spot the odd one out.)

DateTime	EventName	Location	Distance (km)	Comments
Sun 9 Dec 12	Anaconda Adventure Race, Race #3	Lorne, VIC - Australia	1.9 swim/13 paddle/14 run/18 bike/1.2 run	Some rate the 50km course for the premier Lorne Anaconda Adventure Race as one of the hardest courses in the series. Others rate it as one of the more spectacular, especially when the sun is sparkling off the ocean in front of the adventure village event HQ, making the swim and paddle look particularly alluring. And some simply rate it as a must-do event on their bucket list of adventures.
Sun 9 Dec 12	Sri Chinmoy Williamstown Foreshore Run	Melbourne, VIC - Australia	10, 5	Location: Sadler Reserve, The Esplanade, Williamstown. Melways 56 B11. 8AM start. A picturesque, fast and flat 5km loop road circuit along Williamstown Beach. Features: Post race pancake breakfast, drink stations every 2.5km, online entry, age category awards and chip timing. Online entry available.
Wed 5 Dec 12	Emma & Tom's Christmas Run 2012	Albert Park, VIC - Australia	5,10	Get fit for summer, fundraise for a worthy cause and celebrate the festive season with us by entering the Emma & Tom’s Christmas Run. Catering for both serious runners and those participating for fun, the 5km or 10km run/walk around Albert Park Lake includes a group fitness warm-up and post event activities including event presentations, spot prizes, food and drinks.
Sat 24 Nov 12	30/50 Team Challenge	Mornington Peninsula, VIC - Australia	30, 50	The 30/50 is a team endurance event created by Australia’s leading Adventure Trekking and Events Company, SRTT.
Sat 24 Nov 12	Mirabella Mountain	Mt Buller, VIC - Australia	21.1, 10	Mirabella Mountain is the inaugural challenging mountain run/walk up Mt Buller. Choose between the 21.1 km or 10 km events followed by post event celebrations on top of the mountain. Awesome atmosphere and breathtaking scenery makes this event a unique, once in a life time opportunity.
Sun 18 Nov 12	EveryRun	Burnley, VIC - Australia	2, 5, 10, 15	This event will take place on Sunday 18 November along the beautiful Yarra Boulevard. Your entire family can choose from a range of events with discounts available for family entries (2 adults & up to 3 children). The event gets underway at 9am, with walkers and runners starting and finishing at Kevin Bartlett Reserve in Burnley. Whether you walk or run with friends and family or on your own, the day will be about participating and celebrating the joy of everyRun 2012. everyRun suppo
Sun 18 Nov 12	Eureka Climb	Melbourne, VIC - Australia	88 Floors	Eureka Climb is a charity stairclimb event up 88 floors of one of the worlds highest residential towers,Eureka Tower. Registrations to this event - Australia's highest vertical race - open in early August.
Sat 17 Nov 12	Run From The Hills	Avoca, VIC - Australia	21.5, 7, 1	Run From The Hills - The trail run which sees a brand new track put to the running community. The run starts in the heart of the Pyrenees Range State Park Forest taking participants through the newly restored Pyrenees Endurance walking trail; down 21.5k of fire road, 4wd tracks, double tracks and single track. Finishing off with a sprint to the finish line through the grape vines ending at the beautiful Mount Avoca Winery.
Sat 17 Nov 12	Upstream 50km Challenge	Melbourne, VIC - Australia	50km walk/run	50km walk/run from Docklands to Donvale. Individual, Team or Relay entry. Help raise funds for Camp Quality, Disability Sport & Recreation and Entrust Foundation. 100% of all funds raised are passed on to the beneficiaries.
Sun 11 Nov 12	Marysville Marathon Festival	Marysville, VIC - Australia	4, 10, 21.1, 42.2, 50
Sun 11 Nov 12	Arthurs Seat Challenge	Rosebud, VIC - Australia	6.7	THE ARTHURS SEAT CHALLENGE IS A 6.7km RUN/WALK, STARTING AT ROSEBUD PEIR AND FINISHING AT THE SUMMIT OF ARTHURS SEAT ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA. HELD ANNUALLY SINCE 2002, THIS EVENT AIMS TO PROMOTE THE PROFILE OF ‘FIT TO DRIVE’ A ROAD SAFETY AWARENESS PROGRAM HELD IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS ACROSS VICTORIA
Sun 4 Nov 12	Bendigo Bank Fun Run	Bendigo, VIC - Australia	5,10	The Bendigo Bank Fun Run is a fundraising event for the medical ward at Bendigo Health. People of all abilities can challenge themselves to either a 5km run/walk or a 10km run. The course is planned for Lake Weeroona, Linear Trail, QEO, historic View Street, Tom Flood sports centre, Rosiland Park and Bendigo's iconic CBD. contact: Kiri Earl. email: kearl@bendigohealth.org.au. Visit the website for more details.
Sun 4 Nov 12	Port of Portland 3-Bays Marathon	Portland, VIC - Australia	21.1, 42.2, 5 + 10 relays	The 42.195 Kms is a hilly circuit through magnificent coastal and rural countryside. Drink and first-aid stations are situated every 5 kms. along the course and manned by Portland Community groups. Sponges are available from 20 Kms. Light refreshments are provided free to all competitors and officials after the race on presentation of race number.
Sun 4 Nov 12	Lara Fun Run	Lara, VIC - Australia	5, 10, kids dash (2km)	The Lara Fun Run is a family focussed event where everyone can participate. This years event will be held on a great new course through Serendip Sanctuary, Lara. This is your only opportunity to run this great course, so dont miss out. The event aims to provide a great value, healthy, non competitive, enjoyable experience that also has numerous benefits for local not-for-profit organisations.

Well, I'll leave you with those tempting offers just to get you started.

Know of anything else that's happening around the place? Let me know!