17 Weeks to Half Marathon

My goal is to run the Valley Harvest Half Marathon, on Sunday, October 11th, 2020 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. 21.1km.

This Week – Total Kilometers: 51.20km

Usual 7km. Aimed for 10km. Achieved 12km

This run was a battle over my mind to push to 12km – goal achieved!!

Longest Run Yet: 18km

Running 18km indicates I have what it takes to complete a half marathon – 21.1km! The laying on the ground picture is a joke! I didn’t collapse – I was posing, trying to be funny, inspired by fellow Mountain View Runner’s member Stan Sarty’s profile picture. Quite possibly one of the funniest pictures I’ve seen!

The Importance of Stretching

I started running January, 2020. At that time, stretching was not a priority. Consequently, I lost two months of running (March – April) to plantar fasciitis. I’m back on track now, and stretch my hips, back, calves, hamstrings and feet after every run; followed with ten minutes of rolling a lacrosse ball under each foot, to promote blood circulation and healing.

I’ve included a link below to the free, online stretching/yoga video for hips, hamstrings and back, if you’d like to try it!

https://www.doyogawithme.com/content/yoga-hips-hamstrings-and-back

Stretching prevents plantar fasciitis from returning, stops my body from stiffening up, and just feels so good after a long run.

Massage

With massage therapists back in action, I had my first one this week! This new to me massage therapist was a particular little guy, who dotted every “i” and crossed every “T” as we proceeded through the 20 MINUTE long COVID-19 preamble, cutting into my massage time!

I was not happy with this.

As he professionally articulated how he would be laying his hands on my body, and I had to initial “here” on a document that I was okay at that…I blurted out, rather irritably, how I had naked massages in Thailand, his hands on my body were an expected part of the process.

He was nervous for the rest of the session, and didn’t stop talking! Maybe he expected me to jump off the table and rip my underwear off?

This timid massage therapist specializes in sports massage and was impressed with how quickly my foot recovered from plantar fasciitis. He gave me a few tips that were welcomed, like pushing off with my foot/heel plated on the ground – as if I’m pushing the ground away with my heel – rather than springing up and off of the ball area of my foot.

I’ve three more appointments booked with him! Should be fun! 😉

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Running is super intense for me as I push myself to achieve a daily goal. That said, another important part of the running package is not taking myself too seriously and having fun with it! I get some of my best ideas running, and always find something to laugh at along the way!

For me, running is a nice mixture of:

• Intensity with my head down – pushing through a tough moment – eyes locked on the path ahead – lost in the beat of the music
• Clarity of thought, arising from a focused mind
• Seeing the humor in a moment as it passes me
• An appreciation of nature’s beauty as I catch my breath while pushing on

Well, that’s all for this week!! It was a good week!

Remember, we are Stronger with Every Step!

Happy running!

S, 🏃🏼‍♀️

Half Marathon Training – 2020

Half Marathon Training – Week 1 – In Total, 30km Goal Achieved

Half Marathon Training – Week 2 – Goal – 6km Achieved

Half Marathon Training – Week 3 – Goal – Each Run Holding at 6km Achieved – Goal of Speed Increase Not Achieved

Half Marathon Training – Week 4 – Goal – Long Run – 7km, Holding at 6km & Speed Increase – Achieved!

Half Marathon Training – Week 5 – Goal – Long Run – 8km, Finding My Pace – Achieved!

Half Marathon Training – Week 6 – Goals – 9km & Yoga Achieved – Week of Mishaps – Yup!

Half Marathon Training – Week 7 – Plantar Fasciitis Halts Running – So I Bought a Bike!

Half Marathon Training – Week 8 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running, The COVID-19 Pandemic & My First Time Spinning!

Half Marathon Training – Week 9 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running, Adapting Exercise Habits During These COVID-19 Days With Indoor, Low Impact, High Cardio Exercise & We Bought a Bike!

Half Marathon Training – Week 10 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running & Finding My Exercise Groove During These COVID-19 Days

Half Marathon Training – Week 11 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running: Indoor Cardio & Outdoor Fun

Half Marathon Training – Week 12 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running; Stress & Anxiety & The Body

Half Marathon Training – Week 13 – No Running. Week 14 – RUNNING!!

Half Marathon Training – Week 15 & 16 – Getting My Groove Back

Half Marathon Training – Week 17 – My First 10Km!

Half Marathon Training – Week 18 – My First Race!

Half Marathon Training – Week 19 – ‘Till I Collapse Kinda Week!

Half Marathon Training – Week 20 – The Significance of Music

Half Marathon Training – Week 21 – The Importance of Stretching and Laughter

Half Marathon Training – Weeks 22-24 – Badass and Heart Centered

Half Marathon Training – Weeks 25-27 – New Sneakers, Warrior Walk & Gluteus Medius

Half Marathon Goal – Postponed to 2021