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’m not a runner yet, but I do love walking outdoors. It’s so nice to get in a good walk in the evening, especially in the warmer months. I’m hoping to try running soon since it’s such a great workout and can be done without equipment!
I am training to run my first 5k in May and have been dying to get a garmin! I am just proud that I can run 2.5 miles straight!
I haven’t been much of a runner since having lower back surgery, but I am slowly getting back into it and running a 5k this summer.
I love half marathons! Just enough of a challenge 🙂
5K – its short and sweet!
For races, I love running half marathons. So much training but SO rewarding!
I’m currently training for a RUN OR DYE 5K! This will be my FIRST 5K and it is something I’ve been wanting to do for some time now. I’m in no way a runner at all and I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ve hated running because I’ve always done it indoors on the tredmill. Last summer I started running outdoors and love the feeling of being in the sun and beautiful surroundings. I’m determined to finish this 5K and cross it of my bucket list (and maybe aim for a 10K?). So, to answer your question – right now 3.1 miles seems like the perfect length to me (hoping that length will go up throughout the rest of the year!).
5k is my fave
My sweet spot distance to run is somewhere between 5-6miles 🙂
My favorite distance is probably either a 10K or half marathon. I ran my first trail marathon this past year and had an absolute blast though. If I had more time, I’d seriously consider training for a 50K!
I’m getting in to jogging/running, but right now my favorite outdoor work out is hiking! I love it, it keeps your body moving in ways you wouldn’t normally move it.
I also love the 10k distance, but there are definitely very few in my area (maybe three every year). I also like 5-milers, and there seem to be more and more of them.
I really love to run 10K but did a half marathon once to push my self. I never worried about pace or time but now that I am training for my second half I would love to try and be a little faster
For right now, I am just working on the 5K distance but I would love to work up to a 10K!
Im gearing up to run my second marathon, which I love the challenge but 13.1 is probably my favorite distance to run.
I love half marathons…10k’s are great but I feel that I’m just settling into my groove halfway through. A half marathon is the perfect distance for me….
I love the challenge of the marathon but half marathons are much nicer to my body 🙂
Non runner here due to perpetually nagging knee injury. I love to hike. I actually live in Phoenix so as you know there are tons of amazing hikes right in the city, so I can be at the base of a mountain in ten minutes. Great for this time of year!
I tweeted!
2-3 miles – I love to bring my daughter in her stroller. We are slowly building up the mileage together though! Love the purple!
I also tweeted the phrase above 🙂 @laurenadela
Definitely 5k– it goes by quickly and it’s enjoyable!
I love 5 milers. It’s the perfect distance for me 🙂 I would love to do a half in the near future though!
I enjoy running 4 miles – long enough to get into a groove, but doesn’t take a whole lot of time.
My favorite race distance is a 10k!
I am a 5k girl but am really trying to push myself to be able to complete a half marathon distance. Silly me bought a nike fuel band to help me get up and moving but I really need to track distances in a better way.
I love the half marathon distance- a perfect challenge!!
I LOVE the new purple Garmin- my favorite color!:)
Tweeted!!! @laceylittlebit
I really like the 5-6 mile distance…I’m training for my first half marathon coming up at the end of this month and I’m both excited and nervous! So we’ll see how that whole 13.1 mile distance goes… That Garmin is goooooorgeous.
I am just starting out running and think this would be an excellent tool!
I haven’t been keeping up with running lately but my favorite distance used to be the half marathon. You need to train and run smart.
First time commenting! Love reading your blog, and I’m running my first race (10K!) in July, so the Garmin would be super helpful! Never ran further than 5 mi, but used to do it frequently and is a good distance for me – so far. 🙂
I like 10ks. Fast enough but still covers a good distance.
I love running 10ks but can’t find many around the Des Moines area. 5ks definitely still kick my butt too!! The Color Run 5k was a fun way to mix things up a bit.
AH! I really want that purple garmin! My favorite distance for racing is 5K. Minimal training and it’s over before you know it 🙂
I love 10K distance. The last half marathon I ran (my 4th) was so miserable that I never want to run one again!
I also tweeted 🙂
I like a 4 miler best. Quick enough to fit in most places, not too long that I get bored.
Wish I lived closer to join the half! I had a terrible half-marathon in October and I have a feeling someday I’ll do one again just to clear that one out of my memory.
I think I prefer the 5K 🙂
3 mile runs are my favorite – enough to feel good about myself but not so much that I am exhausted at the end.
I love a speedy 5k!
I’m doing C25K, so I guess my favorite distance is however long the next run is! Hoping to be able to run a few miles with no problem soon!
Tweeted!
After getting injured three times during long distance training, I’m going to say I’m a 5k girl. I think once my knee gets better I’m going to focus on speed over distance. Maybe throw in a 10k there for good measure!
I have only ran 5ks, but I’m thinking I should start challenging myself to run further. I go in and out with running, so I always feel like I have to start over with my mileage. I would love that Garmin!! What a beaut!
I left a tweet on Twitter! Please pick me! I would really get a lot of use from a Garmin!!!! Thanks! xo @goldenhollister
My favorite running distances are 5-mile races. But I love all of them (except anything farther than a half).
6-10 is my perfect distance!
My favorite distance has recently changed. I used to be thrilled running 10k’s…but after a recent half marathon and some long runs, I found that 10k’s can be a warmup. That’s when the endorphins kick in and the will to push myself further takes over like I’ve never experienced before. Ahh- the learning and growing, ups and downs with running!
Good luck on your training. I will think about running in AZ!
I’m working up to running a 5K…not sure if that qualifies me as “a runner”, BUT I’ll get there 🙂 That purple color is stunning! Good luck on the 1/2 traning!!