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’ve run many distances, but I would have to say that the 1/2 marathon is my favorite….not too long & not too short, just right 🙂
I tweeted!
I’m from Wisconsin so outside runs are pretty much limited to a few months a year! I think my fave distance is 6-8 miles at this point!
Tweeted!
I tweeted @obrien_julianna.
I love the half! Perfect amount of training while still pushing yourself!
I love hiking — beautiful scenery and exercise! BONUS! For runs, I’d say a 10K would be my favorite. Trying to decide if I want to push up to a half marathon or just stay put.
I’m still new to the running game so I’ll stick with 5km as my distance.
I have ran 2 half marathons and loved the feeling of accomplishment afterwards!! I would love to run another one soon! I’ve been trying to talk my hubby into doing one with me. 🙂
Agree on the 10k distance! 7 miles is my favorite “long run” distance…so 10k seems to work best!
Awesome giveaway!!!
I like short distances. I’ve only done 5K races, but I wouldn’t mind trying a 10K, too.
I tweeted! @meganstecker
I love running half marathons! My mom and I are running the More Fitness Half Marathon in NYC in 2 weeks!
Good luck in the More/Fitness Half Catherine!! If you’re in NYC and planning on stopping by the marathon expo, head over to the Erica Sara Designs booth to say hi!
http://www.esddaydreams.com/2013/04/meet-team-sneak-peak.html
Twee tweet!
https://twitter.com/laurabridgman/status/319463832621826048
I’m new to running and just finished my first 5k race. Now I’ve found my sweet spot at 8.25 miles!
I love the 10 K distance too! But since I’m pregnant now, I’ll start with 5Ks again this fall to get back into the swing of things.
I really love 10Ks but there aren’t a whole lot of them…I usually end up running halfs for the challenge 🙂 I love the new Garmin!! Good luck with your training! I wish I lived closer – I would definitely join you if I did!!
I like the 10k distance best – I get into a running groove but don’t get exhausted like I do with the half marathon 🙂
I love marathons but for everyday life a good 8 mile run is perfect!
I love a 10k distance. But I recently have been mixing it up with lots of intervals and loving that too!
Love running 5ks or 10ks, but would love to run a half marathon! Nursing a swollen ankle now :(.
I love 5k’s. I’m still alittle wary of anything longer, I like hill sprints and speed work too!
I agree, I love the 10ks but there are less of them around here. Granted, Brazen Racing will always have 10ks, but I don’t always want to be on a crazy trail 🙂 I have signed up for a lot of 1/2s recently. Running my 3rd (4th?? dunno if the trail hike race counts) this weekend.
And I signed up for my first marathon. CIM in December. I quiver with fear.
Tweeted! @notsoaverage89
Hi Fitnessista,
I love running in general…My fav distance is 7-10 km’s!!
But my goal is to be a stronger runner and beat my last 10km time, and then who knows where that will lead lol
I am coming back from runners knee and this watch would help me so much to stay motivated and strong!
BTW…I also mentioned your blog in my last blog post in reference to your awesome workouts!!
Thanks for all the motivation!!!
I love 5ks but I’m training for my first half marathon this summer!
Tweeted too!! 🙂
I like 10 mile races and hope to make the Cherry Blossom 10-miler in DC this weekend if I can get over strep in time – here’s hoping!
Just tweeted! I just looked up the Garmin and it looks amazing. So much better then using my iphone to track my runs. I never can find a good place to put it while running!
Hello! I love 10Ks as well, they fly by. Good luck training!!
I’m working on training for a 5k in June, but considering up until a few months ago I’d never run on a treadmill, it’s a big challenge. It’s a fun run so there’s less pressure, but still. I do want to run more though, I’ve found I enjoy it more now than I did before (like when I’d have to run warmups laps at bootcamp or something).
My favorite is a 10K but, you’re right, they’re hard to find. I’ve run a bunch of 5k’s and two half marathons. Last year I had to skip running a half due to injury. I’m hoping to run one this season if the legs hold up. I’d love to try the Garmin for training. I’ve been running with a $4.98 watch from Wal-Mart for 5 years. I can’t complain… it’s held up… but it would be nice to have a watch that does more than just measure time!
So far I have only tackled the 5k race distance, but I hope to train for a 10k very soon and eventually progress to running my first half and full marathons!
My favorite outdoor workout is doing a mix of walking & running at the local arboretum! They have a great walking track and there are always plenty of people there exercising. I’m hoping to work up to being able to run longer distances without having to stop to walk, the garmin would definitely help track my workouts and stats!
I love running half trail marathons, I live in Colorado so we have a lot of beautiful trails to run on. 13.1 miles seems perfect too me, not too long and not too short, I’m training for the Aspen Golden Leaf in September as well as an Xterra Tri in August. Always good to track mileage, which I have to do without the help of a Garmin right now. This one looks great, smaller than most and a great color!
Thanks for the giveaway.
Carey
I’ve only ran 5k & 10K so far. I like 10k better they are the perfect distance for me right now with my current fitness level. I really would like to try a half marathon in the near future but we will see :))
I’m still a new runner, so I like the 5K distance. I did an 8.1 mile race this past weekend that I loved! But that’s a really odd distance. I hope to run a half this summer.
I’m with you. I enjoy a good 10k.
I love the 5k! Short & sweet.
However, right now I am currently training for my 2nd half marathon and up to 8 miles for my long run.
A Garmin would be so useful right now 🙂
I have wanted to do a half marathon for SO long. I think my favorite distance is 6-10 miles. Long enough to feel proud and accomplished 🙂 10 is my longest, though. I’m ready to increase that mileage!
I plan on doing a half or full marathon this year sometime. Go big or go home, right? I just need to commit to it.:)
Thanks for the giveaway!
And I tweeted, too! @JlooLori
So far my fave is the 5k. I’ts the furthest I’ve gone but I need to start training to do the Mackinaw Bridge run which is 5.1 miles. I plan to just once a week (on the weekends) do a longer run instead of a gym session. I also plan to take advantage of the 4 draw bridges in my town to get used to ascending and descending bridges. I’d love a Garmin to help with my first real actual training plan.
I’m very new to the running game, so definitely 5K.
I have tried to be a “runner” so many times, but since January something clicked and I have really stuck with it. I’ve been doing a combo of Crossfit and running and I can tell my endurance is so much better. I ran my first ten-minute mile a few weeks ago and I am so proud of myself! I ran 2.5 miles this weekend and so far, that is the furthest and my favorite distance, but I’m hoping to work up to 5K status soon!
Tweet tweet! https://twitter.com/themexigarian/status/319464266036047872
I think if I win this, I may give it to one of my sisters or give them my old Garmin. my little sister is running her 1st 1/2 with me in May and my older sis is doing the 10k of the same event.
I’d have to say a 10k is my favorite workout distance. But a half marathon is the perfect race distance!! 7 weeks away from doing a half marathon and I love watching my distances get higher and my short runs get faster! ( the new garmin would be such a great tool to have!!)
I love the half marathon – it’s great to train for, allows you to get into a zone, and isn’t a sprint (I’m horrible at Sprints!) I’m training for 2 half marathons and a reach-the-beach relay in the Fall, this Garmin would be great on my training runs and so much lighter than my 410.
My favorite running distance is a 10k too!
Half Marathon Lover! But trying to convince myself I like fulls 🙂
My favorite distance is the 10K but I’d love to run a half marathon this fall, post-baby!