Image courtesy of Rock n Roll
Looks like we are back at with another round of half marathon training. Also, this will be my second time running Rock n Roll DC Half Marathon. Hopefully, I will have a better experience than last year.
From what I remember, I thought the course was pretty cool giving us a grand tour of Washington DC with a small taste of Virginia. I do remember a huge hill in Rock Creek Park, so I'm not looking forward to that. ;)
Since I'm still figuring out what's going on with my back, I'm taking a "Que será, será" approach to training for this half marathon. Basically, my goal is to run better than I did in last year's half. With a time of 2:39, I do not think it will be that difficult to beat this time. Hey, if I run the half in 2:38, I've accomplished my goal. Also, I am not trying to put too much stress on myself (in particular, my back) training for this thing because I only have like 1.5 months to train.
Training Plan:
I think my training plan is pretty straightforward. I will admit that I asked ChatGPT to help devise a training plan. While it gave me a decent training plan, it was not anything too groundbreaking. I guess that makes sense, since ChatGPT pretty much regurgitates what's already out there. Also the plan it gave me was more or less similar to what I was going to do anyway.
The plan
Monday: Rest day (from running) / yoga / strength training
Tuesday: Easy run (3 - 5 miles)
Wednesday: Strength training
Thursday : Speed work
Friday: Yoga / light strength training / rest day
Saturday: Long run
Sunday: Easy cardio - biking, row machine, Cize (a dance workout), or absolutely nothing.
For stength training, I'm kind of getting back to basis, and I plan to work through Joel Freeman's LIIFT 4 from Beachbody (oh they go by BODi nowadays). I will admit that I do like looking at a muscular dude with an oblong-shaped head. ;)
The 35 - 40 minute workouts are pretty straightforward with each workout targeting two 1-2 muscle groups. In terms of time, I think the workouts are ok. However, I think that I might start doing two workouts at a time once I start getting into my groove. If I make it through the eight weeks, I'll write a brief review.
Workout update:
So I did not follow my training workout to the T. I hope ChatGPT will not get me. However, I did manage to get in my easy run (4 mi), my long run (6 mi), and a couple of strength training. Unfortunately, the weather as been extremely cold in the mid-Atlantic region so my runs were pretty much treadmill runs.
Unless I absolutely have to, I refuse to run in temps under 35F, so treadmill running was my go-to Also, a lot of the sidewalks and trails have not been cleared of all the snow and ice, and I am not trying to take a spill.
One thing about Planet Fitness, they really know how to motivate me. ;)
Speaking of treadmills, check out our wonderful set up in my apartment building's "gym".
One thing about this building - NOTHING is ever in working order. Also, the gym is a joke because some of our wonderful neighbors have stolen pretty much all of the dumbbells that are under 65 pounds. Ugh! i cannot wait until we move in June.
Since I have other stuff to do, this update was short and somewhat sweet.
Goals for the week:
-Since it takes me a minute to get moving in the morning, I need to prepare my gym stuff the night before.
-Actually pay attention to my alarm and do my stretches on a nightly basis. I have been good with doing my stretches, planks, pushups, and/or situps throughout the day.
-Since I have been pretty good with my 14-hr intermittent fasts, I wanna increase my fasts to 16 hours. To be honest, I accidentally did a couple of 16-hr fasts last week bc I forgot to eat. In the near future, I would like to attempt one 24-hr fast during the work week.
Playlist for the Week:
Since we are in the beginning stages of Eurovision 2025. Well, the beginning stages of the participating countries' national selections, this week's playlist is from the Benidorm Fest (Spain's national selection) playlist.