I’ve been running a lot this summer! Over the last four months, I have been training for the WFPS Half Marathon and want to chat a little bit about how it’s been going. But, before I do, I also want to share a new structure I am working on to keep me consistently blogging in this space.

As you can see, I have titled this post What I’m doing: Half Marathon Training. It’s the “what I’m doing” part that I’m flagging.

You see, part of creating content is coming up with ideas to write about, which can feel difficult when life just keeps rolling along seemingly uneventful. To help me narrow in on ideas and stay consistent, I’m categorizing my posts under four different headings.

1. What I’m Doing…
2. What I’m Reading…
3. What I’m Eating…
4. What I’m Feeling…
5. And maybe even sometimes a bonus number 5: What I’m Wearing… (this is TBD because even though I love following fashion bloggers I always feel silly taking this angle myself).

I think having these set categories will allow me to write about a multitude of thoughts and ideas while also creating a framework to generate meaningful and relatable content.

So, back to the post at hand. What I’m doing: Half Marathon Training…

As I mentioned, I am running the WFPS Half Marathon in a couple of weeks and for the first time ever, I enlisted the help of a running coach to try to gain a little speed and keep me disciplined during this training season. I’ve been pretty dedicated with my running over the last couple of years, but I also let myself off the hook when the timing wasn’t working out, when I was busy, or sometimes when I was just plain tired!

Having a coach has kept me on track and accountable. I do sometimes feel like I am running all the time! But I guess that’s what sticking to a training plan does to you. In reality it’s only four times a week and there are many people who run a lot more. (But for me, it’s a lot.)

I’ve definitely gotten stronger and faster over the last few months, thanks to following a plan. Essentially, I’m a middle-of-the-road runner who’s not looking to win any races. My goal for the upcoming run on October 20 (and the primary reason I enlisted a coach) is to break 2:00 hours. In runners lingo, that’s called a sub-2:00. 😉

Tonight I had what may be the most monumental training run of this whole season! Not because I was faster than usual or went further than normal – but because my kids came with me!

I had an interval track workout scheduled and couldn’t figure out how I was going to squeeze it in between #momlife, working, and appointments. Then I had the most brilliant idea! The kids CAN COME.

There’s a little track around a ball diamond just a couple of blocks away and if they were to bring some books, toys and bikes, I’d be able to see them the whole time and we could just GO. So we did!

I was a little worried that this sneaky little plan of mine would fail big time with lots of whining and complaining about being bored and cold. Well, I am happy to report that none of those things happened! The kids did great, and I got my workout in. Win/win. So we celebrated with pizza!

Sometimes all that’s needed is a little creative thinking when it comes to solutions instead of excuses. Actually, isn’t this always true in life? (There’s an idea for a What I’m feeling post…)

This is my last heavy week of training and then we start to slow down and taper for the big day. I am hopeful I’ll hit my goal but also I’ll be okay if I don’t. Whether I’m a minute over or under, I know how hard I’ve worked this summer and isn’t that actually the point? I kind of think it is.

P.S. Juliette took the above pictures of me at the track tonight. My phone died and I couldn’t take any photos of them. They were angels though!

P.P.S. I’m wearing my favourite lululemon running tights. And thank you cooler weather so I can wear this adorable lululemon vest that was gifted to me at a run fit session last October. Oh and of course my trusty New Balance 860s.