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.]
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10k is also my favorite distance! It takes me about an hour, so it’s long enough that I feel good about the amount of cardio for the day, but not too long that I get bored. We have a great one here in my hometown, and then a 12k the weekend after in a big city…so I’m just splitting my half marathon over two weekends 🙂
I love running half marathons as well Will be running my third in Chicago on June 8th
5ks are my favorite facing distance! I feel like I can jump in without training too much and I always know my time to beat!
I’m not a runner due to an injury that later lead to hip surgery at 18… but I love fast walking long distances. I like to do all kinda of distances but I think my favorite ones are in the 3-6 mile range! A great workout but no horrible pain the next day!
I love this post! My last half marathon I was doing GREAT training then stopped a month out. It was crazy hard, but I loved every minute while running it. A great group of my friends are challenging ourselves to do Disney’s Coast to Coast Medal next year. I have to start training ASAP due to currently my running is ZERO!
*I also tweeted!
https://twitter.com/DeeNaturals/status/319460411856527360
Tweeted that I wanted to win that Garmin!
My favorite running distance is 10 milers!
My fave outdoor workout is running with my daughter in the jogging stroller and then chasing her around the playground 🙂
I tweated! I’m pretty new at doing that.
I live in southern cal so I love to run 5ks at the beach on the weekends during Spring and summer. I’m not much of a runner (I prefer cycling and group x for cardio) but love the social aspect of the 5k an getting out there with friends 🙂
Tweeted it, too!
10 miles – getting ready to run the Washington DC Cherry Blossom 10 mile race this weekend!
I actually really like 5ks. I’m not particularly fast…but I don’t really enjoy running so it’s easy to tell myself that I can do anything for just 30 minutes and then I’ll be done 🙂
My favourite race distance is 5K. I would love to finish one in under 30 minutes (averaging 35 mins now). I may also sign up for another 10k this year. I only ran one 10k face before. 🙂
So far, my favorite running distance is 5k… (I’m currently training toward a 10k). But the Race for the Cure 5k I run with my mom every year on Mothers Day has a special place in my heart! 🙂
I love half marathon- and I hate half marathon. I’ve done two, and I found that doing a long run and a short run and my usual strength/fitness training and teaching/doing yoga was enough for me to “not die” and do the half. I wanna do more! and actually I think 10 miles is about right, the last three are rough.
I’d love a garmin and I’ma do the tweet next!
My favorite distance is 10k’s also! I need to get the courage to work myself up to a half marathon… maybe this year 🙂
My favorite competative length is a 10k and I agree there are too few of them. However I can never say no to a goofy, costume wearing, beer garden at the finish line 5k! 😉
My favorite distance is the half–it’s long enough to feel like an accomplishment, but not so long that it takes over your life!
I tweeted 🙂
I just started running short distances but my goal is to run a 10K. Right now my favorite outdoor workout is walking and jogging with my Lab. He loves being along side me and getting exercise also.
My favorite race distance is a half marathon! I normally get a long run in on the weekend and then shoot for 3 milers during the week. It’s hard to fit running in, but it sure makes me feel great afterwards.
I’m not a runner but there’s nothing like a nice hike, especially with the nice weather here in New Mexico. Trying to take advantage before the heat sets in!
I love running a 5K on a Saturday morning…gets the weekend off to a fun start! Hoping to run my first half marathon next winter!!
I haven’t ever run a 5K but it is one of my goals next summer!
Right now my favorite exercise outside is walking since its IOWA and its just now starting to “warm” up(if you can call it that :)) The treadmill seems to get pretty boring lately so its a nice change of scenery! Great giveaway – haven’t ever owned a Garmin but that color is awesome!
Tweeted about it too!
Oh purple I LOVE! I have been eyeing the pink one, but purple is even better!!! My favorite daily running distance is 6-8 miles. My favorite race distance so far has been the 1/2 marathon I ran. I find it easier to race longer distances vs. shorter distances where you are running “harder.” Good luck on your 1/2 training!
I love running a 10k as well if I have time…for a quick run though, i love doing 5ks
I love 8K’s. A little longer than the 5K but not too challenging that it wipes you out for the rest of the day! The perfect distance for me 🙂
The only race distance that I have tackled so far is 5k, but I am aiming for a 10k sometime in the near future and want to eventually work myself up to my first full marathon!
I love marathon running, it gives me the ultimate runners high 🙂 Unfortunately I’m injured know, so I had to cancel my marathon scheduled for next week… Will be focussing now on shorter distances for a while. Garmin is the best, and I’m in love with the purple colour! Good luck with training!
I love my quick 4 mile training runs. I also love running half races!
YAY on a training plan, I’m sure you’ll ROCK it! 🙂 I’m a sporatic/newbie runner and have to say my favorite running distance is 5 miles.
I love running 5K’s. I am not big on running so I feel that 5K’s are just the right speed for me. I am currently cross training to do my first tri later this year!
I would love this! I am going to start training for a 5k…I’ve never run more than 5 feet before!
I tweeted!
I have done a 1/2marathon one and I wish I would of trained harder and longer for it I was so disappointed in myself but glad I did it. I love the little races like the 5k we had one at angels stadium (california) last weekend and rocked it!
I am a 5k’er and I NEED a Garmin to help me with pacing. I haven’t been able to manage running that distance yet, I always start out too fast and am sidelined with side cramps and shin splints. Definitely need to manage that better this summer so I can rock a 5K in Sept!
I am a fan of 5 km! I haven’t built up my endurance to run much more than that without taking walking breaks, but this summer I’m going to work on getting to a 10k!
My favorite distance is a 5k. I like to keep it short and sweet!
Just Tweeted as well!!
*** I also tweeted! ***
I am a 5k’er and I NEED a Garmin to help me with pacing. I haven’t been able to manage running that distance yet, I always start out too fast and am sidelined with side cramps and shin splints. Definitely need to manage that better this summer so I can rock a 5K in Sept!
*** I also tweeted! ***
I love 10ks! Not too short, not too long
I love 5Ks but really want to train for longer distances! The watch would help
I’ve really enjoyed following your blog and all the “REAL” things you post about. I’m not such a great outdoor runner but I do love riding my bike outside. I’ve even considered doing it competitively. I did a sprint triathlon last summer and a Garmin would have come in handy. I’m 6 weeks out from having a baby and I can’t wait to get moving again!
I’m with you on the 10k’s. Why aren’t there more? I feel like a 5k is a bit short but a half is a bit long to just “up and do” without preparation.
Would LOVE to win that Garmin! I’ve been shopping for one.
Good luck!
I’ve really enjoyed following your blog and all the “REAL” things you post about. I’m not such a great outdoor runner but I do love riding my bike outside. I’ve even considered doing it competitively. I did a sprint triathlon last summer and a Garmin would have come in handy. I’m 6 weeks out from having a baby and I can’t wait to get moving again!
My favorite distance is 10K! it’s long enough to feel like I challenged myself but short enough to push hard the whole time!