Training Log: Rock’n’Roll USA Half Marathon (Week 1)

According to my plan and the workouts marked on my calendar, this was my first week of training for the Rock’n’Roll USA Half Marathon (Washington, D.C., March 17, 2012).

But my attention was focused on training my new family member–and babying my ITB.

Still, I managed a full week of workouts:

Monday
Elliptical: 25 min
Weights: 40 min full-body routine, focusing on single-leg moves to target my hamstring and glutes

Tuesday (First run with Tiger Lilly)
Neighborhood run: 3.8 miles
She did great! We averaged a 9:45 min/mile pace and she trotted nicely by my side.

Wednesday
Elliptical: 15 min
Weights: 40 min full-body routine

Thursday (Second run with Tiger Lilly)
Neighborhood run: 4.0 miles
She bonked at 1.5 miles. Well, I think she was spooked by the dark shadows, shiny puddles, and traffic. We made it the rest of the way with a few walk breaks. Monday I will take her out for a daylight run and see if she is more comfortable.

Friday
Elliptical: 15 min
Weights: 50 min full-body routine
I think I took longer today because I kept stopping to fast-forward through The Biggest Loser.

Saturday (Long run on the bike path)
I got a late start, opting to let the sun wake me up and taking Tiger Lilly out for a walk before I got ready to go. By then, I decided that I need a cup of coffee and a piece of toast (with PB and honey) to fuel what felt like a mid-morning run. (I hit “start” on my Garmin just before 9:00 am.) 
I had 9 miles on the calendar, and decided to go for 9-10 because my ITB was feeling better and I had plenty of time. Apparently, my ITB was just teasing me. It felt tight almost right away, although it was more of an annoyance at first. By mile 5-6 it was really bothering me. I stopped at mile 7 to stretch and then tried to keep an easy pace. It felt better than before I had stopped, but it still was nagging. I decided to stop at 9.25 miles (back at my starting point) instead of plodding on to hit 10 miles. I stretched at the park, and then headed home for my foam roller.
Now that I see my Garmin data, I wonder if I started off too quickly. I honestly didn’t feel like I was running that fast.

Garmin data:
Total distance: 9.25 miles
Total time: 1:23:30
Avg. pace: 9:01 min/mile
Split times: 9:15, 8:53, 8:54, 8:47, 8:59, 8:52, 9:17, 9:06, 9:09, 9:03

I also am walking Tiger Lilly at least once a day, in a 1 mile loop around our “block.” She keeps a fast pace and we live in a hilly neighborhood, so my calves and glutes are getting extra action.