Sunday, January 9, 2011

Training Has Officially Begun!

16 weeks until the OKC Memorial Half-Marathon!!

Yesterday I joined to friends from church on a 5 mile run as part of Runners' World's training.  In my workout class on Friday morning, a casual friend mentioned that she was training for the half.  So I met up with her (Becky) and another woman (Jennifer) at our local high school and rode to Veterans' Park in Tulsa.  It was a frigid run.  It was below freezing and I was definitely freezing too.  Becky runs a slightly slower pace than I do, but it was a nice, easy way to get back into running after not doing any since Thanksgiving.  The course itself was pretty hilly, which is good because I never do hills on my own.  It was a fun route, some on main streets and some through a few ritzy neighborhoods.

I have never run with a group before, so I was curious as to how it would be.  I was impressed with the amount of people that showed up (probably around 200? but I am never so good with estimating amounts of people.  Or ages.  Or if people are pregnant or not.  Whoops.)  Each pace group leader had a large sign designating where the group was meeting, and they had also printed off directions for the course specific to the race goal (beginner half, advanced half, beginner full, advanced full.)  They had aid stations set up along the way, as well as volunteers every now and then to make sure you were on course.  That being said, my little group of three still got off a little.  But not enough to count.

All in all it was a great experience.  Next week my friend Stephanie and I are going to try and go.  Stephanie runs much faster than I do, but I look forward to the extra push.  I really want to beat my time from last year.  I really, really, really want to beat my time from last year.

2 comments:

  1. That is so great, Katherine! A friend of mine and I are going to do a half marathon this year too (first timers)!

    As for my resolutions....still working on those, though I have a few in mind!

    Any tips on how to train? I've been trying to figure out a schedule so I know how much time I'll need to prepare!

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh congrats! Running with a group can be so motivating! What a fun journey. 16 weeks and counting.
    LC

    ReplyDelete