Half Marathon Schedule from Kay Porter, Eugene author, trainer, sports psychologist

Spirited Walkers Schedule for Eugene Half Marathon

Intermediates - May 4, 2008
	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
	E	H	E	E	E		L
1/14	0	3	0	2	2	0	5.6	12.6
1/21	0	4	0	1	2	0	5.6	12.6
1/28	0	4	0	1	3	0	5.6	13.6
2/4	0	4	0	2	3	0	4 or *	13
2/11	0	5	0	2	3	0	6	16
2/18	0	6	0	1	3	0	6	16
2/25	0	6	0	2	4	0	6	18
3/3	0	6	0	2	4	0	7	19
3/10	0	6	0	2	4	0	7	19
3/17	0	6	0	2	4	0	8	20
3/24	0	7	0	5	3	0	7	22
3/31	0	7	0	5	3	0	8	23
4/7	0	7	0	4	4	0	10	25
4/14	0	7	0	4	3	0	9	23
4/21	0	7	0	4	4	0	11	26
4/28	0	4	0	4	4	0	13.1	25.1

E=EASY=SLOW, SHORT, FLAT
H=HARD=LONGER, SOME HILLS, FASTER
L=LONGEST=LONGEST,SLOWEST; THE SLOWEST/MILE OF
THE WEEKLY WALKS; MOSTLY FLAT, MAYBE ONE HILL
(The numbers are in miles/day)

Means to an End

People run for a lot of reasons: vanity, health, endorphins, camaraderie, thrill, status, energy. Or perhaps they're being chased.

Not literally chased.

Maybe, like me, they're chased by an aching desire to GO.

Do you remember as a kid, standing at the top of a hill and not being able to resist running full tilt down the slope, not thinking about the fact you could trip or slip or about how you'll feel on the way down. You just go. Weeeee!!! And its so much fun!

I'm eternally trying to recapture that feeling, that joyful reckless abandon. And frankly in my 30-something body, the careening trip down the steep hill doesn't feel all that breezy or youthful anymore. (Unless I'm on skies.) But it does feel good to move. To just go.

Last year I trained for and completed my first triathlon. A sprint (1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 5k run,) which honestly seems way easier than running 13 or 26 miles. I'd never been a runner, or a swimmer, and my biking was limited to family jaunts along the Willamette. But I LOVED it. All three sports challenged and thrilled me.

So, no, this isn't the part of the post where I say I want a greater challenge so I'm going to do my first marathon.

I'm going to do another triathlon. As part of my training I'm going to run the 5K in the Eugene Marathon. Because frankly to me running is hard. And I bow down in awe to all you serious runners who put in hours pounding the pavement (or treadmill) to build up to a half or full marathon.

Do you hear that Laura Rillos. I bow down to you!

I think people run, and participate in the Eugene Marathon for a lot of different reasons. I plan to use it to help train for my triathlon. I also hope to squeeze some health, endorphins, camaraderie, thrill, and energy out of the deal.

Frankly, I'm nervous about doing another triathlon. Embarking on training for my "second" triathlon just isn't as inspiring as tackling the first.

That's why I need to make a commitment. So here I am at the top of the hill, looking down.

I'm going to do another triathlon. Issaquah, Washington. May 31st. Weeeee!!!!!!!!

Swim, Bike, Run. Go.

Just Getting Started

Hello Everyone,
This is Shelley....and this is my first blog entry EVER!!!!
OK...I've put this off long enough, this is the weekend to get started. For those of you who don't know, or don't really remember, I did the Portland Marathon several years ago, after training for...well....practically 2 years. I injured myself before the "first year" so, I geared up for year 2....which worked out better, anyway. So, since then, I've been off-and-on walking...with the kids, with the dogs, but mostly on the treadmill at home, watching sports or Oprah. So, it's fairly easy for me to click off an hour of walking....or 4 miles. But, I haven't been "training" . There's a lot going on this weekend at my house, so it's going to be tough to get it in, but I've set a goal of 8 miles to get things started. Although I dread it, I'm so glad when I'm done and love the way I feel the next day! So, here's to the 2008 Walking Season....maybe I'll see you on the trails!

Log your miles online!

Running coaches always recommend you keep a log to keep track of your miles, identify areas of weakness and reflect on your runs (or walks).

It can be as simple as writing down mileage in a plain notebook or you can buy a fancier one with a lot of features. There are several websites that will do it for you. I'm not too good at keeping a log (I always start out with good intentions and abandon it after a few runs) but I've found http://www.ontri.com/ pretty easy to use. You can track your workouts and get a free training plan.

Running 13.1 Miles

I have a love/hate relationship with running.

I love how my lungs burn. I love being outside, the sun on my face. I love how I feel when I'm done.

But I hate the way my lungs burn. I hate getting off the couch. I hate braving the elements (and there are a lot here in Eugene).

So like I said, I have a love/hate relationship with running.

But I just plain love training.

Let me explain. When I run normally, it's usually with a tinge of guilt (and that's usually because I had too much chips and salsa). It's because I feel like I need to work out. On a normal three mile jog, it's easy to slow to a walk for a quarter mile (which usually ends up being longer). It's easy to turn around early, to run just two miles.

But when I'm training, I'm running with a purpose. I can stay motivated. I don't shortchange myself because I know I need to complete the full three miles to build up my endurance.

I ran my first marathon last year. The months I spent training in my Arizona hometown...running up and down canals, along lettuce fields, around the track...were the first time I felt that real purpose. It even changed the way I felt about my body. I started seeing my legs as these powerful things that would carry me 26.2 miles, my lungs as these powerful machines bringing me sweet air and my blisters as battle scars.

I love those feelings. And I want to feel them again. That's why I'm training to run the Eugene Half Marathon.

So if you have a love/hate relationship with running, or you just don't like it very much, try signing up for a race. It doesn't have to be a marathon or a half-marathon. Try a 5K. You just might find yourself loving running.

I hope you'll watch our Training in Track Town segments each Thursday at 6 AM and 5 PM. Eugene is mecca for many running enthusiasts and luckily they're very friendly and eager to help people interested in the sport. We'll bring you a ton of helpful advice and fun tips from these local experts.