May 30 - TT and 3 mile run

I really needed to do a one mile time trial and I wanted to calibrate my foot pod with a track. It took a couple tries, but I finally found a track that wasn't locked up. First, I calibrated my foot pod and the calibration factor it gave me was much lower than the number it had before. Hopefully this will give me more accurate data when I'm on the treadmill. Then, I did a timed one mile - at about the fastest I could run. My first lap was great - about 2 minutes, but of course I ended up slowing down. I probably needed to go a little slower on the first lap, and make my last one my fastest. I ended up with a 9:27 mile (I know, I'm VERY slow). I know I was working hard because my heart rate was in zone 4 (above my anaerobic threshold) the entire time. Then I cooled down and did an interval workout (which was basically my 3 min run/ 1 minute walk) but I wanted to try one of the workouts that you can program in the watch. Because I started doing a workout, it started my timer over and there are two files. The map is pretty boring because it was just a track.


May 30 warm up, TT, and cool down

May 30 interval workout

May 27 Treadmill Run

I've been using a Polar Heart Rate Monitor for the past couple years to monitor my heart rate and calories burned. Since I got the Garmin watch for Mother's day, I've been using that one. One thing I really liked about the polar watch was that it based your calories burned off of your heart rate. It won't give you an exact number, but it's a lot more accurate because it is based off of your heart rate. When I started using the Garmin watch, I noticed it was only using a formula based on distance (kind of what a treadmill would use, so not very accurate). I did a little research, and I found out that my Garmin watch could upload a new leaf profile and use that data to calculate calories and fat calories. That test is done with a mask and a metabolic cart - it can determine how many calories you burn based on your specific heart rate zones. I had that test done at a life time fitness about a year and a half ago. I was able to get my file, upload it into my watch, and now my watch tells me calories burned based on my specific metabolic profile. I'm excited because it will give me a more accurate number. This was the first time I used it while running. This run was kind of short, because right after I went to a conditioning class at the gym. My foot pod was still giving me strange numbers (especially while walking) but it was pretty close.

May 27 treadmill run on Garmin Connect

Heart Rate Chart

May 25 Treadmill Run

Now that I have a foot pod, I can keep track of my speed and distance on a treadmill. The first time I used it on a treadmill, the calibration factor was a little off and it said I was going a lot faster than I really was. I do think my treadmill is off a little anyway, and I plan on calibrating the foot pod at a track to get a better number. I ran 3.29 miles this day. I am definitely faster on the treadmill. One reason I like to run on a treadmill is that it pushes me to go a little faster - I have to keep up with the belt. I physically have to turn down the speed or jump off if I want to slow down. When I'm running outside, my body just slows down when I get tired and it's a little harder to push my self.

May 25 run on Garmin Connect.

Since there is no map with a treadmill run, here is my heart rate data.

Long Run May 23

I was able to get a foot pod for my watch (so that treadmill runs would also be stored in my watch and on Garmin Connect). The first part of this run I was calibrating my foot pod, so it doesn't show up on the map or the total distance. It was about .65 miles, so the total for this run was actually over 8 miles. It started pouring during the middle of this run, and I got a little lost, but it ended up being okay. I felt really good and didn't get too tired.

May 23 run on Garmin Connect

Long Run May 16

This week was my long run of about 7 miles. I really wanted to go to a track (maybe to help me transition from a treadmill?) and I found a middle school that had an open track. My times were faster on a track - probably because it was a level, flat surface. After a few miles, I went home for a bathroom break and then continued my run from home. I felt good on this run (maybe it was the long break in between?) and felt like I could have run even longer. My run/walk ratio is about 3 minutes running, 1 minute walking. When I'm running, I aim for about 6 mph. It's not as easy to keep a steady pace when the treadmill isn't creating that pace for you.


May 16 Long Run on Garmin Connect

Long Run May 9

This was my first official long outside run. I usually run on a treadmill but I knew I better start training outside. It's a lot harder for a lot of different reasons. Of course there is the weather, the terrain, and the hills. But that's not the only reason it is harder. When you are on a treadmill, you are stationary - you don't have to propel your body forward, and that takes more energy. For this run, I ran down to a local highschool so that I could run on the track - but it was all locked up. So, I had to improvise. I felt pretty good on this run, but got a bad headache afterward. This was also my first run with my Garmin 405 watch that I got for Mother's Day. It gives you the kind of data (and a whole lot more) that a treadmill would give you - distance, pace, speed, etc. It's really fun to know all of that information when you are running outside - it's a great motivation.

May 9th run on Garmin Connect.

My Training Program

The training program that I am following comes from Jeff Galloway. This is the only way possible that I believe I will be able to complete a half marathon. You use a run-walk-run method. The walk breaks are very helpful for me. I'm able to run faster on the running portions. I'll probably be able to finish faster doing it this way rather than running (very slowly) for the whole thing. My basic program is this: 2 runs during the week about 30 minutes each (I usually do these on the treadmill) and then a long run on Saturday - increasing the mileage every week but also alternating with a shorter run some weeks. I also do some classes at the gym for strength training and cardio.

Am I Crazy?

I don't know why, but for some reason I want to do a half marathon. I have never really been the runner type, but have always tried to do some sort of running to stay in shape. I thought having a race to prepare for would be some good motivation to stick with a program. So, here I go! I googled races in Colorado Springs and there is a half marathon here on Labor day, which also happens to be my birthday. This blog will be my training journal and will help me prepare for and train for the big day.