I survived Week 2 of half-marathon training! (I’ve actually been unofficially training longer than two weeks, and this is the second week of me trying to follow a 10-week training program.) I’m sharing my progress to inspire others to find ways to stay active and to hold myself accountable. While ideally I would run four days a week, it’s not entirely realistic for me as a mom of two who has other obligations to juggle as well. We all have countless responsibilities in our daily lives, and the best we can is try to make self-care a priority. I plan to share each week of the remaining six weeks of training for the Chicago Half in September. I hope these motivate you to start training for a race or keep up with your own fitness goals. Since becoming a mom of two consistency in my workouts has been difficult for me, so if you’re also a mom or a busy person I hope you know you’re not alone in struggling with finding time to work out. I am satisfied if I run at least three days a week during training and I was able to accomplish that this week.
Week 2 recap:
Monday: Rest.
Tuesday: Ran 4 miles on the treadmill. I felt really good during this workout. (As a reminder, I run after my daughters’ bedtime on weekdays, so that’s why my runs are on the treadmill.)
Wednesday: I had scheduled a core workout but I skipped it after a long, stressful day.
Thursday: 4 miles on the treadmill. This workout was difficult because I was physically and mentally exhausted, but I did it. It was a slow treadmill run.
Friday: Rest.
Saturday: Leisurely swim. I took my daughter to a pool party. I meant to do a strength workout afterward but I was wiped after being in the sun for hours.
Sunday: 5 miles on the trail. I was aiming for at least 5 miles and I did it. I had been worried it would be too warm because I could only run after 11 a.m., but the trail had plenty of shade to keep me cool. I even spotted some deer.
Week 2 mileage: 13 miles.
Reflections:
While I am happy to have gradually increased my mileage this week, I need to find the time for strength workouts. I know I have to show myself grace when I can’t, though. It’s difficult to balance mom life with running, so I can’t be too hard on yourself when you have to skip a training run.
I was reminded on my Sunday run how peaceful and replenishing it can be to spend time outdoors. This was exactly the type of workout I needed to feel reenergized and relaxed before the new week. Do you find time to be outdoors?
What are your fitness goals? Do you find training recaps helpful? What would you like to see here?