The Inside Track: Training for a Half-Marathon [Part 2] at Her Active Life

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The Inside Track: Training for a Half-Marathon [Part 2]

Posted October 18, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Alexandra Haller

Section: Her Fitness, Athletics, Training Programs, Her Health, Her Motivation, Special Features

Running Shoes Her Active Life writer Alexandra Haller is currently training for her first half marathon. Here, she shares the ups and downs of her training routine as she readies herself for the physical challenge of a lifetime.

My half marathon is about 10 days away and I’m increasingly nervous. I wonder how the weather will be that day. I wonder if I’ll see any of my friends on the sidelines or at the finish. I’m anxious about even making it to the finish line still upright. Of course there are only so many factors that I can control, so it probably doesn’t make much sense to worry myself into some sort of frenzied panic. I’ve been running long enough to figure out what to wear if it will be 45 or 65 that day. As to finding my friends, I’m sure that will have a way of working itself out.

In terms of my cardiovascular readiness, I think I can handle the demands of 13.1 miles. Don’t mistake my psychological boasting for haughtiness. Without a doubt, they will be 13.1 tough miles. However, one thing I have realized is that attitude goes a long way. I can choose to dread the miles ahead of time or I can psyche myself up by breaking them into smaller, more tolerable segments. I like to think of it this way - I can definitely run 4 miles, and then I’ll just do that 3 times!

One tangible fear I do play with is the fragility of my knee. As I mentioned in my last article, my left knee has recently started bothering me. To the point where, during my last 10 mile training run, I ended up not finishing and then spent the rest of the day limping. How can I control for that? This past weekend I was on vacation but managed to sneak some time for myself. I ran 5 miles on a treadmill. While I was proud of that, I had planned to run for 6 until my knee flared up again. This presents a new challenge. Would I serve my body best by not running at all until October 21st? Should I only run very short distances so that I don’t even get to the point where my knee usually bothers me?

A friend of mine suggested I play with some variables. For instance, maybe stay away from the hills. It’s a possibility that the repetitive up and down stresses my knee. Plus, the Detroit Marathon course is pretty flat anyways and it’s best to train in similar conditions. Another thought is to really slow down my pace. I’m a pretty slow runner and that’s what works for me. Slow and steady is how this turtle will manage to cross the finish line. Perhaps slowing down my pace by 60 seconds or more will provide some relief? Last night I ran much slower for 4 miles and felt fine. I’ll try for possibly 6 or 7 this weekend to really test the pace factor.

Edging closer to the finish line, I really do see that the strength comes from what is gained along the journey, not by what is merely achieved on the one day with a starting gun. I’m learning new things about my body and my limits every week. I’m also discovering strengths of which I never thought I possessed. In these past months of training, my friends have referred to me as a real runner. I kind of shrugged that moniker off because it seemed to be reserved for someone stronger, faster or more athletic. However, as the days bring me closer to that starting line, I am learning to embrace the idea that just maybe, after all, I actually am a real runner.