Over the past few months, my focus has been on training for the first of three, and maybe four, half marathons for this year.
As most of you know over the last four years, I have had some major problems that have caused me to be sidelined either right before or right after a half marathon. So this year, I decided to take my training to a whole new level. I have assembled what I call “Betsy’s Half Marathon Team.”
Some of my team members have been with me for the last four years, others are recent additions. But all are there to insure I am able to achieve my running goals this year.
First are the ladies who I met four years ago when we started with Running Evolution. Most of us were training for the Seattle Inaugural Rock n Roll Half Marathon, our first half marathon. We are still running with Running Evolution though we now seem to run different halfs that spark our individual interests. Some have even started to train for their first full marathon.
Second is my Sunday morning running partner, Cindy Bingham. We have been doing our Sunday morning runs for the last three years. Our Sunday runs are normally our recovery run after Saturdays’ long runs.
Third, I now have a strength trainer, Tara Peterson. My relationship with Tara is one of love and hate. I love that she is my trainer as she is so postive and full of encouragement even though I feel I can’t do half of what she wants me to do. And I hate her as she makes me do different and more difficult exercises each week.
Fourth, I have my acupuncturist, Elisha Weinberg. She has been keeping my issues with shin splints and IT Band at bay while the various parts of my body get stronger.
And fifth, I have hired a running coach, Laura Houston. Laura is a Chi Running Instructor. She has taught me how important my running posture and foot placement is along with how to relax more. I know, relaxing while running are not exactly two things you would normally do at the same time. But it does work. I am finding that running is much easier for me and my recovery time after is much faster than in the past.
I must admit I feel like one of those super athletes who has their own entourage of trainers trailing behind them. I do know it’s been great to be able to talk to different professionals about the different aspects of training as each are experts in their specific areas. And the support of all the ladies I run with has kept me motivated and inspired.
On May 20th, I kick off my first half marathon in Portland at their Inaugural Rock n Roll Half Marathon. I will be doing this with Cindy and several of the ladies from Running Evolution.