A Mom’s “real deal” guide to half marathon training

Yahoo!! Whoot Whoot! Let’s do this mama! Time to throw out the excuses, make time for you and train for 13.1.
 
First off if this is your first half, or your first in awhile, find a team and/or an experienced coach. You are going to need support, emotional and physical. They will also teach you about fueling and race day expectations. All important stuff.
 
There are a few extra “real deal” items that aren’t in the typical training plan. But someone has to tell you, mom to mom. You can always count on me to give it to ya straight.
 
Yes, it will hurt
I’m not going to lie, it’s not easy. Some training runs are smooth as butter and some are not. Pushing your limits means your body may “talk back” with a pain here and there…or for the whole 8 mile run.
But you have kids, you know pain, you’ll power through. Especially after you take a bath with 2 cups of Epsom salts.
 
Keep moving tip: A pain that goes away after you stop to stretch, ice, get new shoes or take a day off is no biggie. Otherwise get it checked out. You may also find that seeing a physician who is also a runner yields more active recovery options if you do have an injury or concern.
 
Last night
What you do the night before your training and your event day does matter. As your runs get longer, eat good food, hydrate and go to bed early the night before. Having wine, beer or that big ole slice of pizza doesn’t always sit well at mile 5.
 
Never miss an opportunity to go
Get up early, especially for long runs or on race day. You want to go #2 before. I’m not big on potty talk so we’ll leave it at that. Go before you go. And planning training runs around parks with bathrooms and coffee shops is a common practice.
 
Keep moving tip: Long lines at the porta potties miraculously clear out 2 minutes before race time. If you forgot, sneak over then and you’ll avoid a line. Most races are chip timed now, meaning your time starts when you cross the start line not when the gun goes off. Gun time only counts if you are trying to place or win the race.

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Gu and Gatorade are optional
You don’t need fancy, processed, expensive sports drinks, chews or gu’s. You can (and should in my opinion) train with ordinary food you probably have in your cabinet right now. Raisins, Peanut butter sandwiches, etc. Read Fueling with whole foods for more specifics.
 
Disgusting has a new definition
There are a few things I used to be appalled by when I saw runners do them. Disgusting! Pushing my limits in running has required an adjustment to those. Girl, you just need to re-define.
 
   Disgusting re-defined:

• Wiping your runny nose on your shirt sleeve = you were going to wash it anyway
• Under boob sweat = mark of a fantastic workout
• Spitting =  of course you checked for other runners and spit to the side
• Stink = part of the gig sister, own it

 
Keep moving tip: Many a mama runner has pulled out baby wipes for a quick baby wipe “shower” before stopping at the store on the way home after a workout. If you must know, my kids are 11 & 13 and I still have wipes in the car. They smell better than wet ones too.

You will feel guilty
Mom guilt magically appears the millisecond we discover we are pregnant, hug an adopted child the first time or lay eyes on the kid. It’s built in, face it head on. When you take time to reach a personal goal, you come home a better mom, are a strong role model and let’s face it you’ll be happier. Do this for you, it’s ok.

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Feeling like a kid
At some point during your runs, you’ll feel excited, thrilled, like you can do it all…just like a kid. Give it time, pretty soon after a long run your legs will feel like cement and you’ll move like your 100. Totally normal.
 
It’s the “feeling like a kid” part you remember for weeks or years later when you look back and when you decide to do it again. Hold onto the post run high, the feeling of accomplishment and relish the joy of it all. You got this.
 
Please share if all of these just happen to me or if you can relate to a few. Share, post and comment away. Thank you for stopping by.

Keep moving mama.

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