Hi, friends! I hope your Monday was full of warmth and sunshine – unlike mine. To make matters worse, our office was colder than usual today. Brrrrrr… Currently, my hands are ice cold because I refuse to turn on the heat. What can I say!? I’m stubborn!
So I want to take y’all on my half marathon journey with me. I plan on doing weekly recaps to talk about what I did and more importantly the lessons I learned along the way. It’ll be fun…I PROMISE!
Week 1 looked a little something like this…
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|
Strength workout with Jillian Michaels |
3 mile run (3.45 total) |
REST | 3 mile run (3.7 total) |
Strength workout with Jillian Michaels | REST | 5 mile run (5.75 total) |
If you remember from my original training plan, I only allocated myself one rest day. But because of my work event on Wednesday and not being at home on Saturday, I ended up with two rest days. At first I was kind of upset, but I realized that it was probably a good thing, especially with this being my first week. And let me tell you, my body definitely feels it. Even before I started training, I worked out regularly – power walks, runs, elliptical, DVDs, strength training, etc. But now I am really pushing myself to train hard and stay consistent, which means I am getting out of my comfort zone.
The other key lesson learned from this first week is that training is truly mind over matter. I can’t tell you how much my body didn’t want to run, especially at 5 AM. It would tell me to press the snooze button and let it have just 5 more minutes of sleep. But I didn’t listen to that annoying voice in my head. Instead, I threw off the covers and got my butt to the gym. It took a mile or so for me to really get past the “my legs feel like lead” phase, but after I got into my groove, I pounded out and conquered my runs. Woot! AND my knee didn’t bother me at all – not even once. That deserves a BIG WOOT!
Running vs. Jogging
Do y’all differentiate between a jog and a run? Do you call yourself a jogger versus a runner? Vishnu and I got into a somewhat heated discussion last night about how I am technically a jogger but call myself a runner (his view). His point was that it’s all in how you do it – your method. Runners take longer strides and obviously go faster. Joggers on the hand are slower and don’t extend their legs out completely. If that’s the case, then yes, I am a jogger, but I’m still going to call myself a runner (sorry, babe!).
Our little debate got me curious, so I did my own research on the matter. According to a Fit Sugar article I found, if it takes you 9 minutes to complete a mile, you are running, otherwise you are jogging. Again, in that case, I am a jogger (or a really slow runner 
). But really, keeping a 10 minute/mile pace is no easy feat. Whatever! Running vs. jogging…it really makes no difference to me. I do what I can, and I’m pretty darn proud of myself!
Do you distinguish between running and jogging? Does it matter to you how you are technically classified?
All this running talk brought back memories from my first half marathon. It was so fun. I ran the entire thing with my friend Purvi (the one who just got engaged)!!
We’re diagonally behind (to the left) the lady in red on the right (if that makes any sense).
Yay! We’re done!!!
Me chowing down on a fantastic Turkey Day feast my mom made 
I’m so proud of you! And waking up at FIVE AM?!? You’re insane…can’t wait to join you! 🙂
Congrats on beginning your training! I didn’t know you rant that Atlanta Half – I did too. 🙂
No disrespect to Vishnu but I totally disagree with his view! Speed is such a subjective matter! In my opinion, ‘jogger’ is just a derogatory term for a ‘runner’. Whether u run at a 7-minute mile or a 12 minute mile, as long as you’re doing the motion, you most defo are a runner. And Fit Sugar Article can kiss my a$$- I’m sure Paula Radcliffe would hardly call a 9-minute mile running speed. It ALL comes down to the individual!
I’m a proud ‘wogger’! (walking and jogging) I’ve had people say I should declare myself a runner, but I don’t feel as though I am, so I wear the wogger title with pride 🙂
Wogger…I love it!!!
If we look at numbers and time, then I’m a jogger too – but I call myself a runner! I think that maybe it doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks, but how you feel?
Either way, I think that you’re a runner. Definitely. Can’t wait to read your training recaps!
Yay congrats on your first week of training! A lot of it definitely is mind over matter; listening to what your body can and can’t do is so much more important than anything your head is telling you. I don’t classify runs vs jogs, I guess I’m a runner though
I’ve done that before where I say I’m going to jog and I pretty much walk lol Oh wellll You’re a runner to me girl!! 😀
Awesome job on your first week! 🙂 Especially getting up at 5am for your runs! I used to get up early but now I’m an early morning wimp! 😛
I personally think people need to get over themselves (sorry Vishnu) in worrying about whether others call themselves runners, joggers, or walkers. You should call yourself whatever you want, girl! 🙂 You’ve earned it! 🙂
Best wishes for the rest of your training, I know you’re going to do amazingly! 🙂