Wow, I have not posted here for a long time. Just because my race was over, doesn't mean I'm done exercising. :) (I hope). I'll have to put my (belated) race impressions on here sometime. The Provo Half was really great, it deserves a post darn it!
Since the half marathon, I've learned a few things about myself:
1) I need either a race to set my sites on or a written exercise plan
2) Even though I do not live to run, it seems to be the best for my body. When I stop running as much, I gain weight, start having back problems, etc.
Knowing that race goals come and go, I've been trying to dig deep and get motivation independent of any specific event. Fortunately for me help came in the form of sitting next to a really cool guy on the bus up to the start of the race.
Now you know to listen to the advice of a guy who ran just 27 miles on Tuesday and is running 13 miles on the weekend as his "social run". After discussing training a bit, he suggested I buy the book, "
SERIOUS training for endurance athletes".
It took about a month of my fitness program waffling to decide that maybe I just ought to
get the book.
In a nutshell, it contains everything that I know about training right, listening to your body, working with your heart rate, eating right, etc. It seems to be targetted to Triathletes mainly, but the program can be catered to any set of sports or events. If anybody ever asks about how I train, now I can just recommend the book.
After reading the book through and finding supporting spreadsheets on the internet, I now have my whole year's exercise program planned out. I have uploaded my
training program (in Open Office format), in case it helps anybody. I divided my year into two 24 week programs so as best to end up ready for the St. George Marathon next Oct. I kept the 52 week program as the last sheet in the document, in case you want to put it back.
My first segment de-emphasizes running and mainly emphasizes Martial Arts (I know, not completely an endurance sport....). Then early next year I take up hardcore running again, training for a fall marathon. I say de-emphasize, but for the first time I'm doing hardcore hill workouts and intervals. But, I'm only running about twice per week.
