Talladega 21000 (half marathon) training plan - week 3 (7/7 - 13/2013)

Training Plan
Sun, 7/7/13 - OFF
Mon, 7/8/13 - Speed work (5 mi)
Tues, 7/9/13 - Cross-training (belly dancing class)
Wed, 6/26/13 - Interval training (5 mi)
Thurs, 6/27/13 - Tempo run (4 mi)
Fri, 6/28/13 - OFF (or strength training and HIIE)
Sat, 6/29/13 - Easy run (3 mi)
Total miles - 17

Talladega 21000 (half marathon) training in review: weeks 1and 2

Week 1 (6/23 - 29/2013)
Sun, 6/23/2013 - 6.16 mi, 1:40:16 (pace - 16:16/mi), 1299 cal
Tues, 6/25/2013 - 3.03 mi, 52:44 (pace - 17:24/mi), 308 cal
Wed, 6/26/2013 - 4.01 mi, 1:11:13 (pace - 17:45/mi), 734 cal
TOTALS - 13.2 mi (planned - 16 mi), 2:33:00 (avg pace - 17:00), 2341 cal

Week 2  (6/30 - 7/6/2013)
Sun, 6/30/2013: 1st long run - 8 mi, 2:16:14 (pace 17:01/mil), 1551 cal
Tues, 7/2/2013 - 5.5 mi, 1:24:40 (pace - 15:23/mil), 980 cal
TOTALS - 13.5 mi (planned - 18 mi), 3:40:54 (avg pace - 16:12/mi), 2531 cal

Talladega 21000 (half marathon) training - Week 2, Day 2 (7/2/13) - Military Services fitness runs/interval training

This day, I decided to try something different for my interval training.  The treadmill I used at the gym (Star Trac) has several routines for fitness training (Fireman, Air Force, Navy, Army, and Marine).  I assumed the Fireman routine probably involved inclines (something  I could use for hill training).  The remaining routines had pre-set distances (1.5 mi, 1.5 mi, 2.0 mi, and 3.0 mi) to be completed as fast the runner could go.  I picked the 1st 3 (Air Force, Navy, Army) assuming these would be somewhat easier than the latter (Marine) and because the schedule called for only 3 miles interval training (when completed these 3 routines would add up to 5 mi).

The physical tests for the military services consist of three or four areas/components - aerobic/cardiovascular fitness (usually running), muscle strength (push-ups and sit-ups), and body composition.  The respective service requires a minimum combined (averaged) score. 

I found several websites that showed the physical fitness requirements for the military services.  One site (Military.com) is a military organization (not affiliated with the military) website that provides information and resources to anyone that is military-connected (servicepeople, civilians, etc.).  One resource area is Physical Fitness provided information on the fitness requirements for all the services.  I searched the Net to find the official service websites (Air Force, Army, and Navy) with the official physical fitness requirements to compare the requirements listed on the Military.com website:

AIR FORCE - Air Force Fitness Charts
NAVY - Navy Physical Readiness Test (PRT) Guide
ARMY - Army Physical Fitness (FM 7-22/Oct 2012)

I started with the Air Force fitness test/1.5-mile run (assuming it would be the easiest of the three):
Intervals - 4.5 mph/0.5 mi, 4.0 mph, 0.25 mi
20:50 (pace - 13:53/mi), 250 cal
Score (machine) - 32
According to the Air Force Fitness Charts, I would have failed (score - 0) that portion of the test,  For females in my age group, acceptable times are between under 12:53 (max score of 60) to 19:43 (score of 45.4).
The Military.com website shows a composite score of 32 for a 1.5-mile run between 20:37 - 21:30.

I did a short recovery run between the Air Force and Navy tests:
Manual - 0.25/3.5 mph, 5:00 (21 cal)

Next I tried the Navy fitness test/1.5-mile run
Intervals - 4.5 mph (0.25 mi), 4.0 mph (0.25 mi)
21:07 (pace - 14:04.mi), 239 cal (machine); didn't reset my watch so it calculate cumulative calories)
Score (machine) - 45
According to the official Navy site, I would have failed their run test as well (runs >19.05 receive a rating of 'Failure').  To be satisfactory, runs need to be between 18:16 and 19:05 (score - 45)
The Military.com shows a composite score of 42 (probationary) for a 13:30-run.

I did another recovery run between the Navy and Army tests:
Manual - 0.25/3.5 mph, 4:59 (21 cal)

The final test was the Army fitness test/2-mile run (I was a little fatigued at this point, so I changed my interval patterns between the 1st and 2nd miles):
Intervals
0 - 1.0 mil/0.25 mi, 4.0 mph; 0.25 mi, 4.5 mph
1.0 - 2.0 mi/0.5 mi, 4.0 mph; 0.25 mi, 4.5 mph; 0.25 mi, 3.5 mph
25:00 (pace - 12:30/mil), 305 cal (machine); didn't reset watch
I shut down the machine before I can record the 'score' for this test.
According to the Army's FM 7-22, my score would be 54 for women in my age group.  The Military.com website showed scores for only up to age 41 (age 37 - 41, score 52).

TOTALS (combined military tests + 2 recovery runs)
5.5 mi, 1:24:40 (pace - 15:23/mi), 980 cal (watch; machine - 818 cal)

Talladega 21000 (half marathon) training - Week 2, Day 1 - 6/30/2113 (1st long run)

Sunday was my 1st long training run (8 mi) and it wasn't easy.  Hot, Hot, HOT!  At least I did start a little earlier (7:00 am).  Not easy at all.

My app (Endomondo Pro) for what ever reason (probably operator error - LOL) didn't start when I first started running and I didn't notice for about the 1st 15:00.  Unfortunately I had run this part of the route before and estimated to have run about a mile.  So I just added that additional time and distance to my watch time.

TOTAL STATS
8.0 mi, 2:16:14 (pace 17:01/mil), 1551cal

I need to shave about a minute or so off my pace if I plan to finish this half in under 3:30.

Talladega 21000 (half marathon) training - Week 2, Day 2

Today was an easy run after work with co-worker Shelia H (3.03 mi, 52:44/pace 17:44/mi, 308 cal - according to Shelia's Garmin). 

Quite a hot one - 85 that felt like 89.  Don't know how much longer we can run outside after work.  Will be just too hot as summer progresses until late evening/dusk.  Will probably have to take it to the gym. 

I was still stiff from Sunday's long run.  Definitely will need to take a long hot soak before going to bed tonight.

Talladega 21000 (half marathon) training - Week 1, Day 1

Today (6/23/13) was my 1st training run for my half marathon training for the Talladega 21000 (9/22/13).

I got off to a later start than I had planned (8:00 am), but I decided I couldn't wait until this evening (family was visiting so I know if I waited until later, later would become never).

The smartphone app (MapMyRun) I was using started off working good.  I looked periodically at the app on my smartphone so I knew how far I had jogged.  About half way through the run (around 2.93 m), I noticed the app had zero'd out.  I apparently touched the screen by accident which caused the app to stop recording - which really frustrated me.  Fortunately I was always wearing my heart monitor watch so I could keep up with my time. 

I was thinking about cutting my run short (hot, cloudy, legs were mushy, breathing wheezy, hot, very muggy), but with each mile I decided to keep going.  When I got to the end of my run (2nd go-round on my app - 3.23 mi), the same time happened the 1st time - the app zero'd out.  I don't think it was the app - it was the operator (LOL).

It certainly wasn't my best run (6.16 mi, 1:40:16, pace - 16:16/mi).  I hadn't worked out since Wednesday; had been eating bad over the weekend (fried chicken, tacos, etc.); slacked up on my water intake about mid-week.

After the jog, I went to the gym and did about 25 min of stretching and slow walking.

Talladega 21000 (half marathon) training plan - week 1(6/23 - 29/13)

Training Plan
Sun, 6/23/13 - Long run (6 mi)
Mon, 6/24/13 - OFF (or strength training and HIIE)
Tues, 6/25/13 - Tempo run (2 mi) + strength training
Wed, 6/26/13 - Easy run (3 mi)
Thurs, 6/27/13 - Tempo run (3 mi) + strength training
Fri, 6/28/13 - OFF (or strength training and HIIE)
Sat, 6/29/13 - Easy run (2 mi)
Total miles - 16