Half Marathon Training Coming to an End

For the last two weeks, my best friend Michelle has been visiting us. She came down to meet Olivia and spend some time with my family! For that reason, I have not had a lot of time to write blog posts! I'm sorry for just disappearing like I did! Honestly, I did not think life was going to be that busy while she was here, but I was wrong.

Olivia, Michelle, Jon, and me

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In other news, I am so excited that my Heels and Hills Half Marathon is in just 5 days!!

 

  

It's hard to believe that I have almost made it through my 8 week half marathon training program! I have worked so hard over these last 8 weeks and I know that it will be worth it in the end!

For me, I'm not focused on how fast I can run this race. My goal is to run/jog my half marathon without stopping to walk. If that means I have to run slower to accomplish that goal then I will do whatever it takes to keep going. Trust me, it hurts more to stop and walk then it does to just keep going.

This coming Saturday is going to be very busy with my Weight Watchers meeting, graduation, and traveling 2 1/2 hours to get to our motel, the night before the race. Please keep me and my family in your prayers as we travel to the race. Pray that Olivia will be a good traveler and not get too cranky with the lack of naps she is going to get this coming weekend! Pray that I will have the endurance needed to complete this race. Pray that I won't compare myself to anyone else and just go at my own pace!

Next week, I look forward to having lots of pictures to share with with you from my very first half marathon!!

Running is Hard Work

I am training hard for the Heels and Hills half marathon. I have about 3 weeks until Race Day and I cannot wait!!

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Most days I get up early in the morning and go for a run before Jon leaves for work. This is the best time for me, because I can run while Jon is home with Olivia. It's nice to be able to get out and spend some time by myself, before the rest of my day begins. It is ideal, but please understand that there are some mornings when I'm tired, sore, and just do not feel like getting out of bed to go for a run!

This morning, was one of those mornings, when I didn't feel like going for a run...so I didn't.

I'm training for a half marathon, so I cannot skip my runs. Each run is important to get my body ready for Race Day. So, just because I did not get up early to run doesn't mean that I was going to forget my run all together. Instead it meant that I had to rearrange my schedule so that I could get my run in before the end of the day. On top of that, Jon's going to be home really late tonight, so I knew I would need to take Olivia running with me.

After Olivia ate breakfast, we left the house to go for a run.

Honestly, it is so hard for me to run with Olivia! I'm not a strong runner and I use my arms a lot when I run, so trying to run and push Olivia in the stroller at the same time is extremely difficult!

Training for my half marathon has been hard work, but it is worth it! I have more energy. I sleep better at night. I feel better about myself, because I am getting in shape. I am also giving my body the extra boost it needs to lose those last few pounds of baby weight that I gained with Olivia.

Don't be afraid of some hard work! Maybe you don't exercise at all, so start small. Just remember that any kind of movement is better for you than none at all!

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How are you going to be active today!?

If you want to see the running schedule that I am following, please click here.

My Half Marathon Playlist

 

I have just 4 short weeks until I participate in my first half marathon!! Training for this Half Marathon has been hard work!! Honestly, there have been many days where I just didn't feel like running, so I made excuses and hit the snooze button. However, overall I've been able to make running and exercise a priority in my life again. It feels so good!!

I love this playlist, because Jon helped me put it together!! My playlist is full of fast and upbeat songs. It has been so important for me to have an awesome playlist to listen to while I am running, because it helps keep me motivated. When I want to quit, God always provides the perfect song to help keep me going!

As you will see, most of these people are Christian artists, because that's the kind of music I listen to on a daily basis. God has convicted me about my music on more than one occasion. The Lord has asked that the majority of the music I listen to, be music that glorifies Him. These songs get stuck in my head all the time, because I listen to them so often, and I want to make sure that what's going into my mind is not going to get in between me and my Lord!

13.1 Running Mix

1. Alligator Sky by, Owl City

2. Awake My Soul (with Lecrae) by, Chris Tomlin

3. Barlow Girls by, Superchick

4. Beautiful by, Group 1 Crew

5. Beautifully Broken by, This Beautiful Republic

6. Born Again by, Newsboys

7. Born Again by, Third Day

8. The Comeback Kid by, B. Reith

9. The Devil Is Bad by, The W's

10. Ever Ever After by, Giulia Ottonello

11. Eye On It by, TobyMac

12. The Flame In All of Us by, Thousand Foot Krutch

13. Funky Jesus Music by, TobyMac

14. God's Great Dance Floor by, Chris Tomlin

15. God's Not Dead (Like a Lion) by, Newsboys

16. He Said by, Chris August

17. Hello, My Name Is by, Matthew West

18. His Kind of Love by, Group 1 Crew

19. Hold Me by, Jamie Grace

20. How You Live (Turn Up the Music) by, Point of Grace

21. I Need a Miracle by, Third Day

22. I Will Not Be Moved by, Natalie Grant

23. I'm For You by, TobyMac

24. Ignite by, Fireflight

25. Keep Me Breathing by, Ashes Remain

26. Lay Me Down by, Chris Tomlin

27. Let's Go by, Group 1 Crew

28. Me Without You by, TobyMac

29. Mighty Fortress by, Jesus Culture

30. My Brain Says Stop, But My Heart Says Go by, FM Static

31. My Stereo by, FM Static

32. No One Like You by, David Crowder Band

33. One Girl Revolution by, Superchick

34. Ooh Ahh by, Grits

35. Perfect People by, Natalie Grant

36. Procrasinating by, Stellar Kart

37. Ready or Not by, Brit Nicole

38. The Real World by, Owl City

39. Reckless by, Jeremy Camp

40. Run To You by, Third Day

41. She Walked Away by, Barlow Girl

42. Shooting Star by, Owl City

43. Showstopper by, TobyMac

44. Sometimes You Can Forget Who You Are by, FM Static

45. Speed Of Love by, Owl City

46. Stronger by, Mandisa

47. Stuck Like Glue by, Sugarland

48. Suitcases by, Dara Maclean

49. Touch The Sky by, Julie Fowlis

50. True Love's Kiss by, Giulia Ottonello

51. Twenty Seven Million by, Matt Redman & LZ7

52. U Don't Know Me Like That by, FM Static

53. Waiting for Tomorrow by, Mandisa

54. We Are The Free by, Matt Redman

55. A Whole New World by, Stellar Kart

56. Noise by, Colton Dixon 

8 Week Half Marathon Schedule

Today I completed my very first day of half marathon training!! If you missed my blog post yesterday, I am currently training for my very first half marathon the Heels & Hills Half Marathon on May 5, 2013!!

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Last night, Jon stayed up late with me looking for fast and upbeat music that I could put on my "13.1 play list". Thankfully, Jon likes a wider variety of music than I do, which was so helpful as we put music together for my new play list. Before going to bed, I set out my running shoes, yoga pants, Denver Broncos tee, running socks, fleece jacket, and my knee brace.

Getting everything ready the night before helps me to have less excuses in the morning when I get up to run!!

This morning I woke up early, I'm talking before daylight, to go for a 3 mile run. I got ready and headed out the door. It was so quiet and peaceful to be out and running around the neighborhood before anyone else got up. As I ran, I spent time in prayer talking to the Lord and just simply enjoying time with Him before my day began.

I am so glad that I signed up for this Half Marathon! Already it is providing that motivation that I've been looking for since Olivia was born.

For those of you who might be wondering, I used the Smart Coach at Runner's World to create my very own 8 Week Half Marathon Schedule.
 

8 Week Half Marathon Schedule

Have you been looking for a way to motivate yourself!? Maybe it's time for you to sign up for your first 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, or Full Marathon!!