10-Week Training Plan: Pounced On

So I have this goal: to run the San Antonio Rock'n'Roll Half-Marathon in under 2 hours.

And Runner's World is totally enabling my efforts. I'm using the 10-week training plan published with this article in the August 2010 issue.

Yesterday was the first running day on the plan. The same day Hurricane Hermine hit Texas and became tropical storm Hermine. Record rainfall in San Antonio, closing roads and filling the Olmos Basin. Gusts of wind upward of 60 mph. Trees down. Livestock swept away.

Did I let these things stop me? Or the bit of soreness in my right foot? Or the possible bladder infection* that drove me to the bathroom every 15 minutes? WHATEVER! I had a training plan to start and girly Garmin bling to test. So I waited for a break in the deluge, chugged more cranberry juice, shoed up, and took off.

And it was pretty good. I haven't run in about 6 weeks, so I was slower than the plan suggested (I maintained pace for 2 miles, then slacked a bit for the remainder). I got several side stitches, a minor foot cramp, and some tightness around one knee, but nothing debilitating so I powered through for 3.75 miles, then let myself walk to cool down. I have a bit of thigh and hip flexor soreness today from lack of use. The plantar fasciitis seems fine (did the run help?). Hamstrings are crazy tight, but that's left over from weeding on Monday (o, the laments of the elderly).

So...success, so far. Also awesome so far: the Garmin. I uploaded my run to GarminConnect and, dude. One word: GRAPHS. Pretty, pretty graphs. I swear I'm gonna keep running just to make more graphs.

Next run: tomorrow, a 5-mile tempo run with 3 miles at 8:54.

How are you guys doing with your fitness goals?


*Powered through this, too. And it only took 4 quarts of cranberry juice, 2 quarts of Gatorade, and about 45 pee breaks. BAM.