Aramco Houston Half Marathon Training Week 9

This was another week where yoga and the yoga challenge progress took precedence over running. Oops. jk, I won't apologize, it's way more fun lately.

Monday I went to a gentle vinyasa class.

Tuesday I doubled up and went to a power vinyasa class at 5:30am, worked, and then went to a hot yoga class at night.

I hydrated like a champ all day so I didn't faint in hot yoga. Win.

On Friday, I got up at 4:45am on my birthday to go to yoga sculpt (my least favorite class, aka the one that's probably the best for me). The instructor wished me a happy birthday and then announced to everyone during class that they could thank me for the birthday burpees. Update: I'm still sore from this class 48+ hours later. Woof. I also hit my 15th class of the yoga challenge. Wahoo!

I didn't sleep well the night of my birthday, and was still SO SORE on Saturday that I didn't go to my favorite power vinyasa class. :(Sunday I met Emily for hot yoga in the morning. After two classes, I feel like I can say that hot yoga is not my cup of tea. Luckily I only had to attend two to complete the yoga challenge. Check and check.

I went to my final yoga sculpt class for the challenge later in the afternoon. Even though it corresponded with the Packers game. They must've flexed the game time, because my calendar said noon. Grumble grumble. I watched it on delay and it saved me from going to a 5:30am Monday morning class, so it was totally worth it. And it finally loosened up some of my extreme soreness from Friday's yoga sculpt class. Woof. 

Aramco Houston Half Marathon Training

For the Houston Half Marathon, I've decided to do a 12 week training plan. I wanted to give myself enough time to recover from the Bemidji Marathon, but not soooooo much time that I no longer had a desire to run. I turn from motivated running beast to couch potato sloth in no time at all.

I decided to take two full weeks off from running to recover, running only when I needed some endorphins that only running can give you. And only for a few miles at a time. Instead during this period I wanted to add in yoga and strength training.

For the training cycle I plan to focus on more quality miles over quantity. I'd like to keep the strength training and yoga mixed in to the bunch as well as speed work, tempos and long runs. Since running 10-15 miles each weekend is super boring, I've swapped out some of the long runs for a tempo run, giving me two speed sessions in one week, but far enough apart during the week that my body shouldn't hate me, too badly.

This flexibility will also help me through start of winter. In the event of a blizzard/ice storm/major cold front, I can hack a 6-8 mile run with mileage at tempo pace, but I cannot hack a 12-15 mile long run.

What are you favorite workouts to do while training for a half? I'm looking for some pep to add to my routine!