Princess Half Marathon Weekend Support Group - 2018

So - I'm Kristen and two weeks ago I though I was going to do the 5K, but after a trpi to the doctor and some serious soul searching I've decided that it's all or nothing for me - I'm going for the Princess 1/2 Marathon!

A little about me. Over the past 3 years my health has not been good, and I knew things were going down hill when I had to cancel my plans for the 2014 race. While I am fairly open about my Fibromyalgia, it doesn't usually keep me in bed. But throughout 2014 my energy just keep draining out of me and it got to the point where I wasn't safe to leave the house alone. When I was awake, I was having black outs, and I was very weak. We discovered that I was dealing with a form of anemia, and in Feb 2015 I began vitamin therapy to rebuild the iron in my blood. It took me an entire year to get to the point where I started to feel normal again. In February 2016 I was talking about getting back to a runDisney and training, I was a week out from the paycheck I was going to use to join the gym and - I broke my leg in 3 places in April 2016. I was put on bedrest for three months, my body forgot how to walk. I had two surgeries, and six months of physical therapy, all to try and get back to a semi-normal gait.

It's now March 2017, and I'm determined to get back to the goal that I had set for myself years ago. I feel like my leg is strong, and physically I feel better than I have in years. I went to the doctor on Monday, we went over my lab results with a fine tooth comb. She cleared me to start training for the Princess Half Marathon.

I made a training plan following a 1/2 marathon walking plan by Hal Higdon. I have more than enough time to ease the way up. I've got a YMCA Membership, and a supportive family and friends. What I need is someplace to be held accountable, complain about stuff when training sucks, get tips from athletes better than myself, and plan a meet-up. That's where y'all come in, join the chat, share your stories, moan and groan if need be. Let's do this.

I'm not registered yet either (April 27th for me) but I have to think like I am. No doubts, one goal, I'm doin' it.

Pain sucks, really sucks, but the fear can be even worse. I know that I can't understand your specific pain, but I do understand being afraid and not doing things to keep pain from coming back. As someone with fibromyalgia I live with chronic pain and some days just getting out of bed makes me want to cry. However! I also know that some things are worth the pain and fear.

If you miss running, and you want to get out there again then you should do it. You can bitch and moan about it here as much as you want and I will totally be your cheerleader! Hal Higdon has training plans for walkers, as well as runners. You walk every day, now you just have to do it with purpose. Start slow, it's not a race, it's about getting back to doing something you love.

Maybe power walk the Castaway Cay 5K? Add in a little easy jogging here and there?

Whoo hoo!! Putting you down for the 5K, you let us know if you register for the 10K.

Honestly, I have no idea if I'm going to be able to finish the half. Right now I can't do the pace OR the distance. I'm in the mindset that I have a year to train, and a plan to get there. If I can't do it, I will at the very least leave it all on the course. I know that I won't be fast enough to get character pictures, but that's not a big deal to me.

I've been trying to figure out where the sweeper points are. I think if I can work those points into my training goals (like just get past mile 4 and I'll make the castle, next push past the hotels for mile 8, and then I *think* there's another point at mile 11 but I'm not sure.) My thought is that if I work in faster pushes right before those points, I can get my body used to having to speed up even into the distance.

Moral support is fantastic! I'm going to need as much as I can get to keep a positive attitude about training.

I signed up for the virtual race last year just before I broke my leg. I have the medal sitting in a box in my drawer. As soon as I complete my first training race that sucker is coming out and going on display.

Maybe I'll sign up for another to keep me moving over the summer. I like that idea! I'm going to need as many carrots dangled in front of my face as possible.

I did two 15 minute walks this week at about 25 min pace. I know that it's crazy slow - but I'm just starting - I'll get better. Today is my first "long walk" for the training plan. 30-60 minutes without worrying about my pace.

I was an competitive athlete as a young person, so that mentality is something I have in me. I thought really hard about this race; I know I have a 5K in me, with training I'm 90% sure I have a 10K in me, the Half is an unknown. Becks and I were discussing the races and she said she thought she was considering the Half. That made me really take a good hard look at myself and how I would feel if my best friend completed this goal that I've had at least 8 years, and I didn't even try. I decided that what I have to do is try.

I think for me in this instance the "all or nothing" goal represents that I'm going for the Half and not the 5K or 10K. I'm completely unsure if I will make it, and I know that there's a high chance I will be swept, but I'm going to give it my all to cross the finish line no matter what.

I'm really happy with the training plan that I created, those million little steps are going to be really important to keep me moving on this. I think that as long as I keep seeing improvement every week I will be happy. The big hurdles for me will be weeks that I plateau, or have to deal with a fibro flare, or minor injury. I created an list of ways that I can quantify a work out as successful that gives me small personal triumphs to keep me going.

Faster - increasing my pace
Farther - covering a greater distance
Longer - more time walking even if my pace is slower
Better - feeling physically better when I'm walking, and recovering faster with little or no pain

Yesterday I did the first "long" walk in my training plan. The goal was to walk 30-60 minutes. I was going for 60, I did NOT make it. I hit 30 and started getting really tired, so I decreased my pace and really pushed through to 40 minutes before a 5 minute cool down. I was disappointed at first because I didn't make it 60 minutes but then I took a closer look. I hadn't reached the goal that I wanted to, but I did go father and longer than I have in maybe 4 years! That's HUGE!!! Plus, I learned that I could complete a walk that in my training plan I thought I was three weeks away from. Another huge thing for me to be proud of.

It's going to be all about those million little steps - thank goodness I have a year to take them.

This made me bawl like a baby. I think it's because she used the Wishes music.

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I know that it's only been a week and a half but I'm really proud of how I am doing so far! I did interval training yesterday to work on increasing my pace. I'm *so* slow and it's just making me nuts. I know I haven't worked out for 3 or 4 years but damn I'm turtle slow! Anyhow, with each walk I'm gaining speed and I've dropped 3 minutes a mile since I started early last week. I think there will be more intervals in my future, I still have to shave off another 8 minutes a mile before I reach my Half Marathon goal pace. I'm quite sure it will be harder to shave off those minutes the closer I get to my goal, but I have to start someplace1

In case anyone had any question, training on a treadmill does NOT = being on the road. Good thing I figured this out early.

I had such a bad workout yesterday, I was just in so much pain, none of which I have been having on the treadmill. Hey! You look great in a tutu! I've seen the picture.

Yay! I'm so happy that you did the 5K. It's always hard to get back to an exercise routine after illness and injury.
Alrighty - I'm gonna put your name up there for the 10K, you're totally in now

I will totally "hang." I've decided however that I will not be dancing before the race this year though. OMG when we did the 5K I was exhausted from the 5am dance party before I even got to the starting line. Lesson learned. It's bad enough that you have to walk a mile to even get to the starting line.

I'm actually loving the treadmill right now because I'm doing so much better on it. I'm a little afraid to walk outside again, but I know I have to get over that and fast. I doubled up on my rest days today and yesterday, I just couldn't face the interval training on my plan for today. I have to get to it tomorrow though, and then if the weather stays decent I'll hit the outdoor path again. We'll see how it goes.