Ok, so how do you start?

Running a race is awesome, but some of you have asked ...How did you start to run one mile, let alone a 5k, a half or full marathon?!  You ask, and you shall receive!  Here is the actual training plan that we followed.  It starts out slow because it is a plan for a 5k, followed by the half and then into the full.  (Note: just ignore the fact that we started off with the St. Patty's Day 5k.  We all thought for a second that we were young again and ran it without really training for it).  For those of you who are working on your first mile, I suggest a run/walk strategy.  Set yourself a time goal like 30 minutes.  Run for 2 minutes, walk for 2 minutes.  You will eventually run for 3 minutes, walk for 1 minute.  Then run for 3.5 minutes, walk for 30 seconds.  Soon you will be running straight through.  Just remember that distance running is NOT a sprint.  Pick a pace that you can sustain for a longer period of time.  You will be training your heart (cardio- to not get winded) and your body (joints- to deal with the soreness of impact).  Happy running!

Race Training Plan

5k, Half & Full Combined

	Monday	Tuesday	Wed.	Thurs	Fri	Sat.	Sun
Week  1	3/7	3/8	3/9	3/10	3/11	3/12 5k St. Patty’s day	3/13
Week 2	3/14	1		1			1.5
Week 3	3/21	1		1			1.5
Week 4	3/28	1.5		1.5			2
Week 5	4/4	1.5		1.5			2
Week 6	4/11	2		2			4/10 Lima 5k
Week 7	4/18	2		2			2.5
Week 8	4/25	2.5		2			3
Week 9	5/2	2.5		2			3
Week 10	5/9	3		3			3
Week 11	5/16	3		3			3
Week 12	5/23	2		2			4
Week 13	5/30	2		2			4
Week 14	6/6	2		2			5
Week 15	6/13	3		2			5
Week 16	6/20	2		3			6
Week 17	6/27	2		3			3
Week 18	7/4	2		4			7
Week 19	7/11	2		4			8
Week 20	7/18	2		4			6
Week 21	7/25	2		4			9
Week 22	8/1	2		4			10
Week 23	8/8	2		3			8/14 Half marathon for Kel’s bady!
Week 24	8/15	3		4			15
Week 25	8/22	3		4			16
Week 26	8/29	4		4			12 or the Emerald City Half
Week 27	9/5	4		4			18
Week 28	9/12	4		5		20 miles at the Endurance Race
Week 29	9/19	5		5			Oxford State to State Half Marathon
Week 30	9/26	4		4			12
Week 31	10/3	4		3			8
Week 32	10/10	3		3			Columbus Marathon!!!