Okay, I think I’m finally turning the corner on this mucous plague. ACK. It was brutal. I’ve felt like garbage for 2 weeks, and had sinus headaches before that. Yeesh. Anyway, the problem now is that I’ve only felt well enough to run once in the last few weeks, and I have a half marathon in just 2 weeks. Yikes! How on earth am I going to get back to running now?
So my title is a little bit of a joke. I don’t suggest that someone actually try to train for a half marathon in 2 weeks. Up until my cold hit, I was running 5-8 miles for my longer runs, and working out several times a week. A half marathon, though it feels like an impossible feat right now, isn’t that far out of reach.
Still, it can be really daunting even as an experienced runner to get back to running after a period of down time, even if it’s just because I had a cold for a few weeks. Here is my plan for how I’m going to train for a half marathon in two weeks.
How To Train for a Half Marathon in Two Weeks
Clean Out
Good gravy, we are down to next to nothing to eat in this house. We’ve got food for our babe, and my husband has bought himself plenty of sandwich-making supplies, but I have basically lived on canned soup and takeout for two weeks because I’ve been too tired to do anything else. Plus, since nothing really had much flavor, I went for the strongest foods I could find—like spicy nachos and salty fries. I feel like I gained about ten pounds in two weeks because I’m basically pickled. I need to clean out the refrigerator, clean up in the kitchen, drink some water to clean out myself, and then get ready for step two.
Re-Stock
I need everything. I have a recipe for toddler-friendly muffins that I want to try, a crock pot meal I’ve got planned, and I need to completely refill my crisper drawers. MOAR PLANTS, PLEASE!
Plan for Success
I’m a big fan of planning. I think I like planning better than doing. But I need to plan out a week of work lunches and snacks, dinners for us and the little one, and I need to organize my calendar and have a plan for what I’m going to do each day. This includes running!
Suit Up!
All of my gear needs to be centrally located. I have a backpack and rack that holds all of my running stuff, which naturally gets scattered about the house because Wally yanks it out and plays with it, so it ends up behind the couch or on the roof or something. Once I get everything washed, put where it should be, and organized, I’ll be ready to go!
Jump Right In
I know that I advocate a lot for rest and taking time to relax, but I seriously have to get my butt in gear. Instead of taking a day to regroup, I’m going to consider the last two weeks of brain fog to be all the resting I needed, and now I’m going to jump right in and get moving.
Start with a Run
I’ll be up and moving first thing Saturday. I don’t want to push too hard, but I need to see where my body is right now. I did run 5 miles one day when I felt like my cold was clearing up, and that felt great. Maybe I can jump in and do 8 miles, but maybe not. I’ll just have to see.
Get in 2 Long Runs
I will have to get a long run this weekend and then aim for at least 10 miles next weekend. I haven’t run a ten-miler in a bit, so accomplishing that will make me feel good about doing a half the following weekend.
Don’t Sweat It
I run for fun and fitness. It’s not like I have to have an amazing run for every race. Some races are just about going on a mini road trip with my friends, getting in a long run, and drinking beer afterward. If I can only run 8 or 10 miles, and then do a run/walk, that’s okay. I’m still going, and I’ll still make it 13 miles either way.
And this is why I sign up for races—they keep me on track! I have to be ready to pace for Gazelle Girl in less than 2 months, and that means a lot to me. Gazelle Girl is near and dear to my heart, and I don’t want to let my ladies down. We’re going to turn it up to 11!