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 love running for an hour first thing in the morning. My distances will vary from 5-8 miles depending on my motivation and consistency. There is nothing like starting the day with dose of fresh air and fitness!
I love 10ks! They feel like a manageable challenge
I am not a runner, but I am trying to become one so right now my favorite distances are short ones. : )
Other than that I love being outside we have a great park that I love to take my kids to and walk around.
I think 5 miles is the perfect distance. Enough to get out of my head, which is why i love to run! I would love to add a garmin to my runs to challenge my pace, and try new distances past 5 miles! 🙂
My favorite outdoor activity right now is walking my dog. I used to be big into triathlon’s, 5k’s and 10k’s and then I got burnt out. It became about competing and always being better than the time before that I stopped enjoying it. So now I’m letting myself do what I enjoy – and that’s walking my dog! She gets some exercise and I get some exercise. It’s a win-win!
My goal is to get back in to running this spring and summer. I’ve already signed up for a 5k next month. I wonder if I can take my dog with me??? 🙂
I like 10ks too. I really need that garmin because I have the old one that is comparable to the old bag mobile phone now!
I am still trying to convince myself I can be a runner after a lifetime of being very active, yet still having a hard time getting beyond a 3 mile run. I would say 5k is my distance of choice for now, but I am hopeful to move up to a half marathon eventually. I know the garmin would be a great addition to my runs and might help me to get past my 3 mile WALL!!
I also tweeted!
https://twitter.com/ridiculousrhino/status/319521311187685376
I am not much of a distance runner, so I would say 5K would be my ideal distance. Would like to learn and enjoy to run further though.
The 10k is my favorite racing distance. However I do like to run an occasional half.
I love 5k runs! 10k would be a fun challenge!
I like 5k’s, only cause it’s really the only distance I’ve worked up to yet. I’d love to complete a half by the end of the year but we’ll see, I’m keeping things realistic 🙂
I’m pretty obsessed with TurboFire these days 🙂 and I walk my dogs 2+ hours everyday outdoors, that’s probably my favorite outdoor activity.
I just signed up for my first 5K!
10K is definitely my favorite as of right now, but i’d love to train for a half marathon. No desire to ever do a full!!
I have been eyeing that new Garmin (even though I have the 110, so it’s not like it’s some huge watch – but this new one is so cute and tiny).
I think my favorite racing distance is the half marathon. With marathon coming in a close second.
Favorite training distance is 8 miles. Long enough to feel like I got something done but doesn’t require dragging hydration and fuel with me (well, unless it’s summer).
I am starting to really love the half marathon distance. After completing 2 last fall, I’m trying to find the motivation for an early summer race. This Garmin would certainly help! 🙂
My favorite running distance is 10 milers, not too long but long enough to feel like a good, solid run! 🙂
Aw man, I just bought my first ever Garmin…the Forerunner 10 in pink. They didn’t have the purple out yet and that’s my fave color! Sad face. I love a good half marathon but I just signed up for my first ever full marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon in October!
I did my first race/half marathon recently at Disney World and while it was adorable
and super happy I think I’m more into 10Ks as well! :]
Not much of a distance person so 5k is my preferred race!
newbie to running….and right now, im at 2.5-3 miles , so im going to say around 5-10K is A- OK!
I like 10ks! It’s short enough for me to be able to go out there and get it done without preparing too much but long enough that it feels like a good solid workout.
5K! but I also love HIIT training!
I love running the hiking trails around my house the best.
As much as I do love distance running (10k is ideal) there is something so fun about running a really fast 5k!
I love the 10k distance, just long enough to feel the accomplishment, but short enough that I don’t have to worry too much about training.
10K is a great distance. I have done a 10 miler and have my eyes on running a half marathon hopefully in the next year!
I love walking 🙂
I love the 5k distance. I usually get injured if I run any more than that. 🙁 Other than running, my favorite outdoor activity is rollerblading!
I love 10 milers! It’s a challenging without taking over your life with training.
I tweeted!
I train for a half every summer, but we have a 6 month old now. I have my sights on a few 5ks now as more realistic distances to train for.
My favorite running distance is around 6-7 miles…seems like when I get up to 8, I’m not as mentally motivated. I still try and do at least 2 half-marathons a year.
My new favorite distance has become the 10miler! I have seen more and more of these races over the last couple of years. Fun, since you don’t feel like you have to train as hard for it haha. Once you put the 3.1 on to those 10 miles then I feel like I need to start training. Plus my first “serious distance” race was a 10 miler : )
Even though I have run a lot of half marathons, I think my favorite distance is a 5K. I like that I can really challenge myself on speed and not have to worry too much about reserving my energy for the longer distance. Plus we have so many of them here where I live that it’s easy to stay motivated 🙂
I also tweeted about the giveaway 🙂
@SarahFrankel56
I love running marathon races but when im going on a run just for fun 8 miles is perfect for me. =)
I just started running within the last 3 years. I could never run more than a mile before, but I finally pushed through my fear and now love it! I have made it my goal to do 2 long races a year, and have done both half marathons and 10 mile races. I think my favorite distance is the 10 mile- it’s still feels like a great accomplishment, but is a little bit less of a commitment 🙂 Right now I’m training for a 10 mile around my school’s campus and can’t wait, just wish the snow would leave!
I’ve began training about a month ago for my first half marathon (which will also be my first race). So far my highest distance has been 8 miles which was challenging but doable. I prefer my shorter runs of 4 or 5 miles though haha.
I also tweeted about the giveaway!
I’m a baby runner! I usually go somewhere between 2-3 miles but I’m fairly new at it so someday I’ll do a 10K!
Actually just got to training for my first 10K after finishing couch 2 5K training plan and I could see it being one of my favorite distances – not too long but definitely long enough to get in the groove. The garmin would be GREAT considering I run alot outside and don’t have a smartphone to do map my run.
5 miles! Such a sweet spot before it gets (for me) super difficult !
My favorite running distance is 10 miles. It’s longer than my usual runs so I feel like I’m pushing myself, but not far enough that I’m hurting for days! My Garmin JUST broke and I would absolutely loooove a new one! What a fabulous giveaway!
I also tweeted 🙂
I’d have to say my favorite running distance is 5 miles. It’s challenging enough, yet I don’t feel like I’m over doing it. I’m running my first half marathon weekend, and while training, I’d do a midweek 5 mile run that has really helped me to keep on track with my long runs while also throwing in some cross training. I’d love the Garmin to tracks miles for future races 🙂
I agree on the half being a great distance – it is challenging but not nearly as time consuming as a full. I have 1 half (later this month in DC) and 1 full on the calendar so far this year.
10ks for me!!!!
I love 10ks and 5 mile runs! Not too long and not too short either 🙂 I’ve never used a Garmin, but have always wanted one.
I like 8K and 10K distances because it’s easier to find non-road races at those distances (not a lot of half marathons happening on trails!) Plus, with a busy schedule, it’s easier to fit in the shorter training runs required for those distances.