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 am embarrassed to admit this, but I am not a very good runner. I have tried to train to run a 5K but seem to not follow through. Maybe a gadget like this could help keep me on track!
I’m a nonrunner…I love biking!!
Half marathons would be my favorite pace. They push me to work at something and it’s so rewarding crossing the finish line. These days I’ve had a hard time making it to 3 miles!! I’m also in the market for a new running watch. This would be awesome to win and give me some motivation to start running… especially OUTDOORS!!
I tweeted!
I love 5ks! They make me work for time, and less distance 🙂
I would love, love, LOVE to win a Garmin!
My favorite distance is a 5K. I dont really enjoying running itself, but enjoy the fun of hanging out with my friends and eating postrun snacks at 5K races, so this is the shortest distance that I can get those things accomplished 🙂
I love 10k’s!!! Just the perfect length, long enough to feel you got a good workout in and short enough you can use a little speed!!!
I tweeted! 🙂
My favorite running distance is either the 10k or and 8-miler…long enough to enjoy and short enough that it won’t take as long to recover.
Just tweeted (@janeyharrison) Holding thumbs
I tweeted too!!! Thank you so much!!!
My favorite running distance is the 10k!
My favorite running distance is a 10K, but my favorite racing distance is a half-marathon. 🙂
I’m new to the whole running thing so the 2k-3k is more my thing at the current moment, however let’s hope that changes! Hope I win 🙂
I try to log a couple runs a week (no more than 5 miles ever), but consider myself a non-runner and am much more of a bootcamp-going, soccer playing gal in the nice weather. Hurrah for spring!
Congrats on signing up for another half! I’ve ran 5k’s and one half marathon. The half marathon was by far my favorite race. It doesn’t hurt that it was a huge accomplishment for myself, but beyond that, the motivational posters along the way, the kids cheering you on and the overall sense of sportsmanship was overflowing at the half. It was an experience unlike any I have gone through and I can’t wait for the next one!
I tweeted! @MandaDubya My favorite distance is 10K also! Half marathons can fun, but they take so much more planning as far as fueling and training. Good luck with your half!
I love half marathons – long enough that it requires some training but not as much of a commitment as a full marathon.
I adore half marathons. I was never a runner growing up (actually not very athletic in general…) and have recently lost 20 pounds because of running and healthy eating, yay! Crossing the finish line for my first half was an amazing feeling and can’t wait to do it again this summer! Thanks for this INCREDIBLE giveaway!
When I used to run – 6 miles was always my favorite distance. Not too short, but not too long! And my favorite route was 6 miles…along a river. Perfect! Now, walking/hiking outdoors is more my speed. We have a mountain with a bunch of trails right behind our house and now that the weather is getting warmer, it’s perfect!
I’m running a half in May, so I’m training now as well. My favorite distance…hard to say…it depends on the day. I love the feeling when I’m done with a long run, but as for the actually running, I’d say 7 miles or so. Long enough to get in the groove, but not super-exhausted when I’m done!
I enjoy 5ks the best!
10Ks all the way! It just over the comfort zone!
My fave running distance is outdoors with my pitbull puppy until she gets too tired and wants to snuggle! and purple is my faaaaavorite color!!!!!! love the garmin! so pretty!
I’ve done a few marathons – but I absolutely love the half-marathon distance. It seems so doable – even dealing with injuries.
My favorite distance is 12 mostly because of the course I run when i’m doing 12 which is an out-and-back where I turn around in the battery in beautiful downtown Charleston and get run along the water for most of the run.
I think 10k is my favorite running distance because its long enough that its a challenge but short enough to not hurt my knees or require too much training. I love doing a half.marathon and I’m hoping to do another soon!
I think I half marathon is my favorite distance. Short enough that you can get away with it if you don’t train enough, but long enough that it really feels like an accomplishment. I’m training for my first full marathon right now!
I love 10k’s as well. I love the new Garmin watch!
I’d say my fav distance is 10k…i’ve signed up for a half this june…so we’ll see if that may be my new favorite 🙂 I also tweeted @emlofstedt
While I don’t run much, I love going on long walks outside when the weather is nice. Sometimes I even throw in some running intervals too!
LOVE 5Ks as a good racing distance, you have to go ALL OUT. If you don’t feel crazy challenged throughout the entire race you didn’t run hard enough! BUT for weekend runs a nice easy 8 miler is where its at!
By the way, I have been following your blog for over a yr now and have never commented to let you know how FANTASTIC it is! I am in the same line of work and its great to get some fresh ideas that I can share when I lacking creativity from time to time. THANK YOU!
I also prefer the 10k! Also,purple is my favorite color!
I just started getting into running since I have been doing 5k mud runs (this one in particular I do supports troops overseas which is why I am motivated to do it). It was a tough beginning so its been a love hate relationship. 15-16 min miles ugh! BUT, 2 nights ago (after lots of training) I did 3 miles in 29:39! YAY!! I also love outdoor yoga, HIIT and hiking. 🙂
5 miles is my favorite! Its a short enough distance that I can fit it into a busy schedule, but it is long enough to make me feel like I got a great workout!
I tweeted!
I am a beginner, so my favorite at the moment is 5K, however I do love taking long walks with my dog (also a King Charles!) I would love to work up to a 10K or even a half, and I think this would be a great motivator! thanks for the opportunity!
I agree with you I love the 10K races. I am going to do OUC 1/2 in Orlando in December…and would love to have the Garmin to help me stay on track with my training.
and i tweeted! from @cassijordan 🙂
I run a 5 miler in town once a year! In love with that race. I wish there were more 5 milers and 10k’s. Perfect distance for me. 🙂
lately, it’s definitely a 5k for this busy mama. i think that investing in a better quality jogging stroller would have made such a difference but i didn’t. boo!!
I’m most comfortable with short distances and have only run 5k’s so I guess that’s my favorite! I really want to try to increase distance and do a 10k though!
I love the 10k distance because it’s pretty easy and I’ve worked up a quick pace. I’m training for my first half right now (only two more weeks!) and it’s harder, but definitely fun!
so far my favorite is a steadyy paced 5-6 miles.. long enough to where I feel that runner’s high afterwards, but short enough to where it’s easy to fit into my schedule. I definitely would love to run a half marathon though! Last time I got up to 12 miles a knee injury made me stop running for a few months, but I’ve already got that spring-time itch to ramp up the mileage!
Tweeted!
Before having a baby my fave distance was the half marathon. Now I am loving doing 5K’s pushing the babes.
My favorite running distance is the 13.1 miler. My body would never be able to double that in a full marathon so I love the feeling of accomplishment that a 1/2 marathon brings. I have signed up to do the Disneyland 1/2 marathon in September. I haven’t run a 1/2 marathon in 6 years so I’m nervous but excited!
Good luck at your 1/2 marathon! :o)
10k is a nice distance, but you’re right, you don’t see much of them. I’m not the best runner, so I’m probably at more of a 5k status, but the length of the 10k seems perfect to me!
Race wise, I prefer a 10k myself. 5k’s are sometimes a little too fast for me and I wind up burnt out. Also, I don’t always feel like I’ve gotten enough of a “workout.” When I’m running by myself, my magic number is 4 miles.
Right now 2 miles is my favorite! Because, well I am just beginning and so far, that is what I can do! I am hoping to keep moving that number up….one painful half mile at a time 🙂 I would love to have a Garmin to track my progress.