Advise needed - half marathon training plan

I knew when we signed up for the Lake George Half Marathon that I had to modify my usual training plan, since we dragged our feet about signing up and it only gave us 8 weeks to train. I made a modified schedule, have already deviated from it, and now am questioning my next move. I have been doing 3 - 4 miles, twice during the week. My long runs so far have looked like this:

4 miles

5 miles

6 miles

7 miles

and I just did 8 miles yesterday.

I have 2 long runs left. For the past four half marathons I've trained for, I've always done 10 miles the week before the race, so I am planning on doing the same this time around. Where I'm stuck is what to do next week. I am thinking fall back to 6, since I really haven't had a fall back week yet, and up one of my weekday runs to 5 this week.

So this week: 5, 3, 3, 6

Next week: 5, 3, 3, 10

Taper week: 3, 3, 2, 13.1

Thoughts????

Goliath got David today.....but only for about 30 feet...

I was looking forward to today's long run since it was supposed to be another gorgeous day out. I knew it was going to be mentally tough becuase I was running in the afternoon (I'm a morning runner) and it was my reunion with my lovely hills.

If I want to run more than 3 or 4 miles, I need to leave my neighborhood. There are two choices that I have to run DOWN when I leave the neighborhood - Big Hill and Bigger hill. I usually choose Big Hill...which means I finish my long runs by running UP said big hill for the last mile back to the house. Since today had 6 on the schedule, I got to meet up with Big Hill again, for the first time since the fall.

Along with the gorgeous weather today (temp was 67 and sunny!) the wind was absolutely brutal. I really can't complain 100% about it, because I know it helped a ton to keep me cool. There were some parts of the run that I literally had to close my eyes because of the sand and leaves blowing up into my face. It felt great to be out and about on a long run though, with a training plan. I had my GoLite Hydro Clutch and had brought a Gu which I had around mile 4. Overall I was feeling great as I began the last uphill mile.

And right at mile 6, just before I reached the top of the hill, that nice ol' wind hit me HARD. I don't even think I was moving forward! So I did it...I gave in and walked to the next mailbox. Just about 30 feet, but I let it beat me. Next time Big Hill, you are all MINE!!!

I finished in just over an hour. I hit the "stop" button instead of the "lap" button at mile 1 (which was a wicked fast 8:06 DOWN the hill!), and didn't realize it until I went to hit it again at mile 2. Rest day tomorrow and probably 2 or 3 for Sunday, depending on how I feel.
Have a great weekend everyone!

I'm signed up for my next Half!

My sister had emailed a link to me about a week ago to see if I was interested in running a half marathon in April. It's not too far from my parents house, and it's the day before Easter, so it is perfect timing for us to both do it. I went back and forth, but hubby and I decided we're both on board (he actually just signed up for Marine Corps Marathon next October!). It's the Lake George, NY Half Marathon on Saturday, April 23 at 8:00. And its 7 weeks away. I figured out a training plan, since lately I've just been doing random runs with no plan in sight. 3 miles has been my go-to distance with one or two 4-milers and one 6-miler mixed in. I think I'll do something along these lines for the long runs:
March 12: 4 miles
March 19: 5-6 miles
March 26: 6-7 miles
April 2: 5-6 miles
April 9: 8-9 miles
April 16: 10 miles
April 23: 13.1 Race Day!

It is an abbreviated schedule from the plans I've done in the past, but since I've been consistantly running, and this is all the time we have, it will have to do!

Beautiful Day: check. Positive Attitude: check. 9 mile run: CHECK!

Any time that I complete a long run that is a distance that I haven't run since my previous race and/or training, it is a such good feeling. Today was no different!

I woke up to a beautiful blue sky with just a few little puffy clouds, a nice breeze, and a POSITIVE ATTITUDE! I was really looking forward to this run and couldn't wait to get out there on this nice day.

Once I am up to a 5 or 6 mile long run in my training, I like to do a figure-8 loop with my house being the "belly" of the 8. I have a 5 mile out-and-back which entails leaving my neighborhood, and then I can build miles on that 5 by trotting in and out of other neighborhoods along the way. Today I built up to 6 miles by adding one extra neighborhood. Once I was back at the house (the "belly"!), I re-hydrated and grabbed some more GU Chomps that I left in the driveway, and continued along my way. The remaining 3 miles I did in my neighborhood. This is one of my favorite ways to complete a long run because I don't think of it as going out and doing 9 miles. I get the 6 done first, then just have to do my usual 3 mile loop around here that I have done HUNDREDS of times!

The run was a good one and I felt great the whole way. I had hydrated well and decided to bring some nutrition along with me. Like I had mentioned earlier, I used some strawberry GU Chomps. I have used some other chewy-nutrition supplements in the past and wasn't thrilled with them, but had heard great things about the chomps from other bloggers and wanted to give them a try. They tasted great and did the trick - I will definitely be getting more to use for next week's 10 mile training run and for the half in 2 weeks!

Have a great weekend!
Laura Elaine

Grafton Gazebo 5 miler (plus 3!) = 8 mile long run!

Grafton, the town next to mine, hosts a yearly 5 mile race the first Sunday of May - the Grafton Gazebo 5-Mile. For one reason or another I have not ever been able to participate for the 4 years that we have lived here. This year was the exception though!

The Grafton Gazebo!

(Photo credit to: Paul Keleher, uploaded from Flickr)

My half marathon training (see the plan I am following here) called for an 8-mile long run this weekend. The start of the race is 2.5 miles from my house, so with a little round-about run DOWN to the start, I was able to make this an 8-miler! (Yay! I didn't have to run back UP my dreaded hill!)

I drove down to pick up my number and t-shirt at 8:30. My friend Katie, who is also running the half with me on Memorial Day weekend, met me at my house around 9 and we were out the door by 9:20. We both average around 9:30 - 10 minute miles, but we wanted to leave a little extra time to get there, use the bathroom, and get over to the start. It was perfect timing! We ran the first 3 miles in just about 30 minutes and only had to stand around for about 3 minutes before we started again!

I knew that the course was going to be hilly and Katie and I can never seem to stop talking when we are together, so I knew this was not going to be a speedy run, which I was fine with. If I can have someone else to run 8 with, I'll go whatever speed I need to! So we were off, running up and down the hills, chatting away, and we finished the 5 miles in 55 minutes and some change.

Here we are rounding the corner to the finish! My little guy was standing there clapping for us - so cute!! :)

So probably the easiest 8 miles I have ever ran (we both agreed on this!) and did it in 1:25 (10:38 pace). Hopefully we can meet up to do our 9 and/or 10 mile runs together before the half!
Ok, the little guy is napping, time to go do some mulch! Enjoy the weekend! :)