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
_________________________________________________
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.]
2,124 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I really love 10Ks too! Not as extreme as 5k paces, but just enough to keep a steady pace and still have some gas left over. I’ve never used a Garmin before ($$$), but I’ve always heard how great they are and definitely worth the money. I’m training for my first ever half marathon and would LOVE some motivation from a Garmin!
I actually like half-marathons as my favorite right now. Of course, I have yet to tackle a full, so who knows if that will change, if I ever decide to bite the bullet (I’m scared!! Haha).
I do love 10ks though too just to see how much faster I can go.
Good luck with your next half!
I just started running less than a year ago and so have only completed a 5K so far. I’m running my first 10K later this month. Based on my weekly running habits, I have a feeling I’m eventually going to be loving half marathons. They seem like the perfect distance to feel really challenged without taking too much time from your daily life training.
Love your site and and that Garmin looks awesome!
I love 5ks!! You can push yourself hard all the way without much pacing. Aiming for a sub 24 minute 5k next month!
I’ve only done 5ks, I like that distance, but worked my way up to training for a 12k, but got sidelined the week before the race. I’m ready to get back out there and try a longer distance.
I don’t really run (except if wobbling around in the forest at a pace that makes a turtle look like a Ferrari counts as runnning…). I do like to do that for as long as I can, which isn’t very long… about 3k. Other than that, I love making a complete fool of myself and doing my HIIT training outside 😉
Love my Garmin!
My favourite running distance is about 100 meters! Anything more than that is just a killer, still walking 🙂
One day I’m going to do a half marathon….just watch me!!
I really like 5K’s because they incorporate a lot of the community (via walkers, runners, in-between-ers), but there’s something liberating and awesome about a half! So excited to see you progress through this training! 🙂 Hooray for running!
Marathon relay! They are so fun with 4 people and I love being part of a team. There are different distance options for each member and it’s a blast to cheer each other on 🙂
I usually run around 4 or 5 miles it is a good distance for me on cardio days. I feel great but not overworked. I like 5 Ks or 10 Ks for me, I just don’t want to run 26 miles!
I tweeted 🙂
I don’t run, but I would like to start! I do enjoy water sports (kayak, canoe) and playing frisby.
10K, hands down.
Im not much of a runner but i always like to swim in an outdoor pool once the weather gets nice!
My favorite running distance is probably a 10k. You can go out comfortably and still have plenty of time to pick up pace and pass people. 5ks are too aggressive/fast and half marathons get stale after mil 8:)
My favorite distance is the 30k trail run! kinda nice a little longer then a half marathon but not quit the whole 26.2. (15miles)
So far, I can only do a 5k…Thanks for the chance to win, I really need a Garmin!
I tweeted:
https://twitter.com/margievis/status/319544167451729920
I ( in theory) really like the half–it feels bad ass to finish, but its not super-human to think you can walk normally the next day. I feel the same way about the long-but-not-quite-that-long races we have in my area: there are a couple of 10 milers and a 12 mile trail race that I also feel like a bad ass for having finished but have been able to go to work the Monday after without wearing my finisher’s medal to explain the limping 🙂
I would love to try out the Garmin, I feel like my life could use some sweet GPS action, I’ve become a google maps obsessive after runs lately to figure out how far I’ve gone. Happily, almost always further than I thought–which, you know, would be good to know on the run when I am stressing about the time and thinking I am dragging when I’m not actually. 🙂
10K!!! Long enough to be a good training goal without the huge commitment of a 1/2 or full marathon.
I love 10k distance. I am trying to work my way back up to half marathon again. I Garmin would really help the process! 🙂
5k!!!
I switch between being a non-runner and a sort-of runner! When I’m a sort-of runner my favorite distance is 8K (10K just takes it all out of me!).
When I’m a non-runner, my favorite outdoor exercise is, without a doubt, cycling!
I’m not a long distance runner, but do love a good 5K! I still tend to prefer cycling as my cardio of choice, though!
My favorite outdoor workout is a nice hike!
I also just left the tweet! https://twitter.com/shewanderlusts/status/319545241944350722
I’m a newb to running so I’m going to say 5k!
Thanks for the chance to win! Good luck on your run as well!
I’m just starting out, so I don’t have a favorite distance yet. My goal is to complete a 5k this summer and go from there!
love 5K’s it is something that everyone, friends and family, can get pumped and participate in.
Amy
My favorite race distance is the half marathon. I’ve completed several marathons but the training is hard with job and 3 kids these days.
Love your blog! Thank you for your work!
My favorite distance is a 5k – fast and then it’s over! Haha.
Since I’m still building my mileage, 5K is my favorite distance so far!
I love 10ks, you don’t have to put in a lot of training time for them as you would for a half marathon. I do love to run outside because it feels like you are covering a lot of miles. It’s hard to stay motivated while running on a treadmill.
“I want to win a Garmin from fitnessista!
Gracias
Half Marathons are the perfect distance for me! I love the purple, it’s my favorite color:)
5ks make me happy 🙂
There is nothing better than a 5 mile walk around the Lake with my mom on a weekend morning 🙂 I teach Les Mills group fitness classes, and I don’t usually run…..but my goal is to run a 5k this year!
Any race distance (5K, 10K, or half marathon) will motivate me to get out and “train;” however crossing half marathon finish lines brings me the biggest sense of accomplishment!
I am a super slow runner, but LOVE to run. So, that makes a huge difference. I typically run about 3 miles at a time, but some days I try to plan longer runs (about 6 miles). It just takes me so long! I’m working on it though 🙂
I like 5ks the best!
I’m not a runner at all, but some friends and I just walked a 5k. It was really nice!
My favorite distance is anything I’ve properly trained for, which lately is 0 miles. I am a former marathoner who just got back into running after having my first daughter..My goal is a 5k in May and 10k in October. I’m even going to try some training runs with the jogging stroller.
Yay to the new purple garmin!!
Halfs would have to be my favorite! Don’t require as much of a training commitment as marathons, but it’s still a good challenge.
I’d say the half is my favorite right now, but I haven’t done every distance yet. I actually just signed up for my first 10K–and it’s a night race, which I’m pretty pumped about! I’m a night-workout girl, too. 🙂
My favorite distance is the half marathon. I have another one coming up on Sunday.
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/healthy_nest/status/319548458035994624
My favorite distance is 10k, but being 37 weeks pregnant right now, I am thrilled with a brisk walk! Can’t wait to start running again. Thanks for hosting this giveaway, love your blog.
My favorite distance is the 10K! I have time to warm up and really get focused, but not so long I feel like dying:) Anything over 8 I don’t feel so great afterwards!
10 miles runs are my fave-far enough to feel very accomplished, but not so far that all you want to do is rest after!
I’m currently training for my first run EVER (an 8k) and I’m loving the distance so far. I haven’t made it all the way up to 5 miles yet, but so far 4 is a good start. 🙂