I have been running religiously for about 3 years now when I first started out even just running 2 miles straight was extremely hard and I hated every second of it! Last year I ran my first race, which was Ragnar (a relay with a 12 person team) I had a lot of fun but it kinda kicked my butt! This year I ran Ragnar again, but this time was determined to be trained enough to enjoy myself! And I did it! I trained well and I was able to finish Ragnar with no recovery required :)
Shortly after Ragnar I found out that half of my in laws were running a marathon, a full fledged 26.2 mile marathon! And I couldn't resist, I had to sign up! So I just wanted to document how I have been training, how I have been doing, and a few of my favorite thing that have helped me along the way!
SHIRT: This is just a Champion shirt from target that I got on sale! The bright melon color is SO cute and it's also nice and reflective which makes it nice for those night runs!
WATER!!!
Drinking water is one of the most crucial parts of running! Especially if you are prone to headaches or migraines like me! Drinking water all day long is kind of hard for me but nights before big runs I will definitely make an extra effort to drink! You will feel better head to toe if you are hydrated!
FUEL
Before a run you need to eat something solid. I used to not eat before runs because I was trying to get more lean and I would be miserable when I got home, so tired and just would not feel good! But when I was training for Ragnar I realized that if I would eat before training I would be able to exhort a lot more energy and in turn be able to burn a lot more calories, and feel SO much better when I got home!
So eat! My favorite things to eat before runs are a half of a peanut butter and jelly, or a Honey Stinger Bar in the Blueberry Buzz flavor!
PIT STOPS
If you are doing a long run (over 10 miles) you need to have pit stops. I will usually map out my run the day before and then at night I will go set out food and drinks about every 4 miles! I think the most important things to set out are liquids, definitely some water and maybe some gatorade at every stop. But food is personal preference, I will usually just set food on the pit stops on the second half of the run, things like honey stinger waffles, protein bars, clif bar bloks, jelly belly energy beans and at the end Rice Crispy Treats! :)
These are just a few things i've learned through the years! And I am sure I will learn lots more with my first marathon! Wish me luck :)
Happy Running!
-stef
(Me during Ragnar, it was a little cold up at snow basin!)
I have been training using the Hal Higdon running schedule
It is pretty intimidating to look at! Especially when you see those long Saturday runs! But if you stick to the schedule you will surprise yourself at how well you can do!
Next what to wear!
This is my all time favorite running outfit and I definitely wear it ALOT
SHOES: Nike Free's have been my go to running shoe for the last 3 years! They are a great show for a "neutral" runner and although most people don't like them for distance running I actually do because they are so light and flexible.
SHORTS: These Nike Dri Fit shorts, are the best because they are tight, and don't ride. Also if you are comfortable with how short they are, they are nice because they don't rub on your thighs at all. (if you are uncomfortable with the length then they are always nice to wear under a longer short that doesn't have any netting.
BRA: This bra is the Oakley Movement bra, and i absolutely love it because the fabric is extremely breathable and soft! Also it doesn't leave any lines or chafe one bit!
SOCKS: I know it sounds funny to talk about what socks you wear but for me it is huge in running! My favorite socks are just these H&M basic socks. Socks that are too thick are uncomfortable, they can make your shoes too tight. And if the fabric is too high of quality it can make your feet slide around, So for me these are perfect!
TIPS
WATER!!!
Drinking water is one of the most crucial parts of running! Especially if you are prone to headaches or migraines like me! Drinking water all day long is kind of hard for me but nights before big runs I will definitely make an extra effort to drink! You will feel better head to toe if you are hydrated!
FUEL
Before a run you need to eat something solid. I used to not eat before runs because I was trying to get more lean and I would be miserable when I got home, so tired and just would not feel good! But when I was training for Ragnar I realized that if I would eat before training I would be able to exhort a lot more energy and in turn be able to burn a lot more calories, and feel SO much better when I got home!
So eat! My favorite things to eat before runs are a half of a peanut butter and jelly, or a Honey Stinger Bar in the Blueberry Buzz flavor!
PIT STOPS
If you are doing a long run (over 10 miles) you need to have pit stops. I will usually map out my run the day before and then at night I will go set out food and drinks about every 4 miles! I think the most important things to set out are liquids, definitely some water and maybe some gatorade at every stop. But food is personal preference, I will usually just set food on the pit stops on the second half of the run, things like honey stinger waffles, protein bars, clif bar bloks, jelly belly energy beans and at the end Rice Crispy Treats! :)
These are just a few things i've learned through the years! And I am sure I will learn lots more with my first marathon! Wish me luck :)
Happy Running!
-stef
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