Summer Training Begins

On Saturday, I did my longest post-half marathon run. I broke up my run a bit. I ran from my house to ParkRun, and then from ParkRun back home. That was a total of 15km.  It was threatening to rain but just ended up being humid. I really struggled in the heat a few times during my run. I think my body is still not used to the summer temperatures, as I did most of my training in the winter.

After I ran the 15km I decided it was time to start training again for another half marathon. I'd told myself that I would start training again in mid-June but now felt like a better time to start.

In September, I will be running the half marathon distance at the Lethbridge Police Run. Last year I did the 10km race at this event, and I wanted to bump it up to the half marathon this time.  

I was hesitant to sign up for another half marathon this year. My original plan was to take it easy during the summer and train for 10km. I had already run two half marathons since I had run the equivalent distance during my training in the spring.

I want to push myself and see what I'm capable of. I will not have as much training time as I did for the Calgary Marathon. However, I know I've done it before and can train up to that distance again.

I will have to modify the times of my long runs a couple times this summer. The first is when my mom comes to visit in July. We will likely go for a hike in Waterton National Park on that weekend. My plan currently is to try to get my long-distance runs done prior to her arrival.

 

The second time will be at the end of August when I go to Edmonton to camp with my family. There is a running trail near the campground, so I will wake up early and do a run before everyone else wakes up. If I need more distance, I can get it in prior to the trip. 

I love summer, don’t get me wrong, but I dread running when it's too hot outside. I love running early in the morning, as it's cooler out. I will most likely be incorporating more morning runs during this training cycle. It's important to acclimatize your body to the heat, so I will incorporate evening runs as well. When I first started my running journey, I always ran in the afternoons. But now I try to run more mornings as they are much more comfortable. 

I plan to incorporate a few days of strength training during the week this time around. I didn't do very much strength training for the Calgary Marathon. However, I've come to realize that strength training is beneficial for running and needs to be incorporated into my routine.

I would also like to incorporate some biking into my training regimen. I love the summer and want to get outside and try other exercises.

Lethbridge has a lot of paths for trail running, however, I have not attempted that very much. During this training cycle, I want to try and add in some trail running for variety. I'll have to be extra cautious, as there are many hazards around here like snakes and loose gravel. But I would like to explore more areas of Lethbridge with our amazing running community.

One issue I've had with training is eating properly. I did try during my last training cycle, but nobody is perfect. I know that carbohydrates are essential to help fuel your run, but there are healthy ways to incorporate them into your diet. I have recently increased my vegetable intake and changed the order in which I eat my food. I'm not cutting anything out, but I am limiting my sugar intake within reason. 

I still have meals with my family and even have pizza and iced cream. This time around I am not tracking my food. I've been trying a different method for about two weeks and it feels freeing. I may go back to tracking my food at some point, but for now, I am experimenting to see what works for me. In the two weeks since I switched how I eat, vis a vis eating order and vegetable portions, I have felt healthier than I have in a while. I do believe that most of the improvement I feel is from consuming less sugar.

There is much to consider, but I am excited to be back to training for another half marathon. I do not have specific goals, but if I could reach the 2:45-3:00 finish range that would be great. I finished the Calgary Marathon at 3:18 (according to my watch). I know summer is a busy time, but I am determined to keep my training momentum and enjoy the ride.