Half marathon news + a Garmin giveaway-ENDED
Thank you so much for those of you who entered the giveaway! It has ended as of 4/5 12:48am.
HUGE congrats to the lucky winner, Morgan, who said:
I love 10Ks too! Just enough to get the endorphins going, but not too much that your legs are completely screaming the next day.  (Just loudly complaining.) |
Stay tuned for more giveaways in the near future <3 xoxo
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For a while there, I was doing ok with the half marathon distance. I was running consistently, even pushing the jogging stroller for a few long runs, feeling great, wanted to keep running/racing, and then the cold weather hit. You might have remembered the Tucson snow (!) and nothing about that made me want to run outside.
(I guess if you really want it and live in a freezing climate, you just suck it up and do it, but I guess I didn’t want it that badly.)
Since then, I haven’t had much motivation. I’ve gone back to my nighttime workout ways, and have been doing HIIT intervals indoors even though the weather has been so beautiful. I need to enjoy it before it’s back to 6am training run time.
Yup. “Training run.”
I’m running another half marathon, but here’s the kicker: I’m actually going to train for it.
[Scared bird face. You’re welcome, haha.]
For the past two races, my training was really sporadic (some times I went a few weeks in between running at all) and even with the fact that I felt ready, the races were rough, and I didn’t run as well as I’d anticipated. This time, I’m ready to be more consistent and emphasize strength training. At that time, I wasn’t consistent with strength training, which likely had a negative impact on my runs.
The race deets:
I’ll be running the Women’s Running Series Half Marathon in Tempe/Scottsdale in November.
Use the discount code “FITAZGINA” to get $10 off your registration until November 3 if you’d like to run with me!
Here’s my plan:
-one long run a week (anything more than that, and I could overtrain with my teaching schedule) building on mileage (Sunday or Monday)
-one short run each week (Tuesday or Thursday)
-consistent strength training. I aim for 3 sessions each week, even though, realistically, I’m happy if I get two
For my training, I’ll also be using my Garmin Forerunner 10 to track distance. I love my Forerunner so much -super light and compact compared to the 305- and was so stoked when Garmin asked if I’d like to do a giveaway.
One lucky winner will receive the new Forerunner 10 in the just-released gorgeous purple color!
You have two ways to enter:
1) Leave a comment and tell me your favorite running distance. I love 10ks but feel like there are less and less of them lately. Non runners: what’s your favorite outdoor workout?
2) Tweet, “I want to win a Garmin from @fitnessista #beamazing #lovemygarmin” and leave an extra comment to let me know you tweeted!
I’ll pick the winner tomorrow (4/4 at midnight EST).
Ready, set, go!
xoxo
Gina
Some posts on half marathon training:
About half marathons + a training plan
Veteran’s Day half marathon recap
[I’m running the women’s half as part of a paid campaign with Fitfluential. I was pretty stoked to be offered the opportunity- it was a great kicker of motivation. As always, all opinions are my own.]
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I don’t run much these days, but my favorite outdoor sport has always been tennis.
I would love to win a garmin! I am training for my first half now and my fave distance is a 10k. I wish there were more 10k races!!
I’d like to say that 4 milers are my favorite, but I’ve only run one of them, so I wouldn’t know for sure. I’m running my first 10K on Sunday! I’m excited, but nervous b/c I keep hearing about a GIANT HILL at mile 5.
I agree-the 10K is a great distance & there are not many around! There’s a 5K every weekend if you want it, but seems like that is about it. 🙁
I love 10 K’s too.
I love 10ks but right now am training for a 12k…it’s a bit challenging without be way too time consuming!
My favorite distance is the half marathon. It is challenging and you feel so great afterwards.
I love 15Ks and they are becoming more and more popular in the midwest!
My favorite race distance is the half marathon. I am not super fast, so this distance seems to be the best for for me.
I am learning to live the half marathon distance!
I’ve never run longer than a 5k, which is a nice distance, but I will hopefully start training for a half marathon sometime in the near future!!
Gina, what a great giveaway! I’m loving the half marathon distance right now, and 8Ks are fun too.
I think either a 15k or a half are my favorite race distances. Would love to win a replacement for my GIANT garmin.
I’ve never ran more than 5k or so but this summer I’m signed up for the 14k spartan race
my favorite distance is 5k but now I just stroll my 7 mos old baby since he was born but will try to go back for running.
I tweeted too!
My favorite run distance is definitely 5k. I can get away with not training and I won’t feel like I’m dying OR I can train really hard and see some great improvements. Win-win!
I tweeted!
@beckyainsley
I love 5Ks because you can literally do them at the drop of a hat but also really work to train if you want to slim down your time!
My fav distance is the half– good solid long run, but not overdoing it. Thanks!
Love 10Ks but I feel like there are fewer and fewer of them too. Just tried a 10 miler- could be a new favorite!
I tweeted, too! https://twitter.com/nuttylifeang/status/319490615245172736
5k for sure! I need to keep building my endurance to get to longer runs. I’ve been listening to audiobooks while running lately so that’s been a huge help!
My favorite running distance varies with where I am with training. If I’m not training for anything, 5 miles is my favorite. If I’m in the middle of training for longer distances and used to it, I really like 10 miles.
Also, I tweeted 🙂
The half marathon. Long enought that I feel accomplished completing the distance, but not so time consuming to train for like a full marathon.
I ran my first half marathon – Rock N Roll DC – and have already signed up for my next! Going to try and get a bit faster now 🙂
I don’t have a favorite distance yet, but I’m working up to doing my first 5K in May! I love running outdoors.
What a giveaway! For races, I really like the half marathon distance. It’s enough miles so it’s challenging and something I train for but not too long!
I like the 5K
I’ve been planning to get into running for quite a while now, but I’ve finally decided that this is the year for my first 5k race. I guess by lack of experience, that will be my favourite distance for a while!
Yay!!! Congrats on your plan!
Half marathons are my favorite so I love love love that you’ve signed up!!
I love the marathon distance but lately I’ve done a few 50K’s on the trails up in the mountains and I’m having a blast with those too!
Well, I’ve never run a race…but I love running ~5 miles. It’s a great workout, but it’s not too long. And I get a lot of thinking done!
I love 10 milers…great challenge but not so long that I get bored!
My favorite distance seems to be the half marathon – at least it keeps me motivated to keep running! But I also really like local 5Ks.
The half marathon distance is by far my favorite. I love training with friends. It is my Prozac!
I am loving the Garmin in this presh purple!! 10ks or 5ks are the best!
That purple watch is adorable! I would love a smaller training watch. I ran my first full last October & would love to do one again…I’m settling for a half this October after having my 2nd child this June:-)
My favorite distance is the 5K. I just had my baby boy in January, so I started running again about a month ago. The 5K seems attainable while getting back to my pre-pregnancy fitness level, and it gives me a goal to work toward. Plus the jogging stroller gives me a great arm workout in the process. 🙂
I tweeted!!
I am running my first half on 5/5 and am super nervous but excited. I’ve been training with the free Nike app which i like, but I don’t think the distance is 100% accurate. Im starting to think I’m going to show up there thinking I’ve run 12 miles before but really maxing out at 9! ha! So far my favorite distance is 5 miels…but that’s probably because I’m actually only running 4. haha. I’d luuurve that garmin!
I love 10K races as well…training for half marathons has gotten tough with a little one around. But, I’m hoping to try to do one a year! Good luck with your training:)
My favorite distance is a 5k!
My favorite distance is half marathon! It’s a great achievement but not life consuming. I like running long distances.
10 miles is my favorite distance. It’s long enough to make me feel tough, but doesn’t put me in pain for the rest of the day!
A 5K is really a great distance and can be fit in to even the busiest of schedules!
I love a 5k and am slowly training for my first one since I was in high school!!
Running and I have never been friends, but I’m a huge fan of hiking!
I also tweeted!