I've been in Afghanistan for about 6 months now and I return in December. I've been upping my running over the last month or so, just, honestly, out of athletic boredom. I forgot to grab the Guide Books I bought authored by Matt Fitzgerald, and so I've just been making up my training program in my head. I had been doing a 3 - 5 - 7 cycle, meaning 3 miles at higher tempo, 5 at medium, and 7 at just under a 10 min/mile pace. I'm also hedging a very very slight nagging Plantar Fasc on my right foot, which has a lower arch than my left.
Anyway, I got a brainstorm (not) idea to just up my miles every day. I started doing 5.5 up to 9 miles, two days on, one day off. The outside of my left knee started complaining so I backed off to a 3-5 cycle (2 on 1 off).
Which now leads to today. I've been frustrated that my iPhone app hasn't been working since I jail broke the phone (for use in Afghanistan), and ordered the miCoach Pacer Bundle. I really liked the way their website was set up, and the fact their system would work with any MP3 player, as well be compatible with Garmin watches running ANT+. I selected "Plan for a Race," and then 1/2 marathon. It plotted out a plan that started today, and culminates in November.
I plan to run the 70.3 on Mar 13 in San Diego. Which means for the average 1/2 IM a plan starts towards the end of Nov (right after this miCoach plan ends). Am I wasting time building up for a half marathon that won't exist? There are 5K and 10K races occasionally at camps around here, but given the fact a 10K means you're doing a 1K loop 10 times... I can't see anyone putting on a race where you loop 20+ times.
Again, I'm in the middle of Afghanistan with not much to do (outside of work..during work I have plenty to do)... However, I also don't want to waste hours on the treadmill that I could be spending watching paint dry, flossing my teeth, convincing myself French chicks might actually look attractive. :)~
Anyway, I got a brainstorm (not) idea to just up my miles every day. I started doing 5.5 up to 9 miles, two days on, one day off. The outside of my left knee started complaining so I backed off to a 3-5 cycle (2 on 1 off).
Which now leads to today. I've been frustrated that my iPhone app hasn't been working since I jail broke the phone (for use in Afghanistan), and ordered the miCoach Pacer Bundle. I really liked the way their website was set up, and the fact their system would work with any MP3 player, as well be compatible with Garmin watches running ANT+. I selected "Plan for a Race," and then 1/2 marathon. It plotted out a plan that started today, and culminates in November.
I plan to run the 70.3 on Mar 13 in San Diego. Which means for the average 1/2 IM a plan starts towards the end of Nov (right after this miCoach plan ends). Am I wasting time building up for a half marathon that won't exist? There are 5K and 10K races occasionally at camps around here, but given the fact a 10K means you're doing a 1K loop 10 times... I can't see anyone putting on a race where you loop 20+ times.
Again, I'm in the middle of Afghanistan with not much to do (outside of work..during work I have plenty to do)... However, I also don't want to waste hours on the treadmill that I could be spending watching paint dry, flossing my teeth, convincing myself French chicks might actually look attractive. :)~