Just because Rock n’ Roll San Diego is behind me doesn’t mean that I’m done half marathon training. Up next on the schedule is the inaugural San Diego Craft Classic Half Marathon on July 17th. I’m really looking forward to this one as I’ve been an ambassador for the event for over six months (use discount code Fitnessfatale for $10 off – prices increase on July 1st!) and I’ve organized a Oiselle Team meet up for this race. Asia is running the race, I also have another good friend running and I know several San Diego bloggers will be out at the event. Hopefully it’ll be a 13.1 mile party that continues at the finish line with plentiful craft beer. I’ve never been one to partake in the post-race free beer partially because it’s not usually craft beer and also because I’m usually hungry and want to go eat a meal ASAP! At the Craft Classic there will not only be craft beer but also delicious gourmet food trucks to solve my hunger problem.
Training for Craft Classic hasn’t been quite as regimented as it was for RnR – Asia and I plan to get in a tempo run a week and at least four runs per week including a long run, but I am not putting a lot of pressuring on training. Race day will be exactly 16 weeks out from the New York Marathon and I want to be sure that I’m excited and motivated to start serious training after giving myself a week to recover after the race. I don’t want to burn out on running by forcing myself to stick to a training plan before then.
I also went on a registration tear lately signing up for races in my home city – Encinitas! First up is the Encinitas Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. Mike and I walked the 5k last year with Siena and decided to make the race an annual family tradition. This year we are going to run the 10k and push Siena in the stroller. Next is the Cardiff Kook race on Super Bowl Sunday. Although I didn’t have the best experience with the 4 mile “kook” distance this year year (no timing for that distance and I wasn’t aware of that), the race directors were incredibly nice when I reached out and refunded my money. Their customer service (plus the 40% off deal they were having) motivated me to sign up again for next years race, this time choosing the 10k (they eliminated the Kook distance). Mike also signed up!
And a new race that I’m possibly MOST excited about – the inaugural Encinitas Half Marathon!!! The course is basically a combination of all my coastal training routes but it’ll be really fun to run my town in a race setting. The course hits all the sights – Moonlight Beach, Swami’s Beach, the Encinitas Sign, and the Cardiff Kook. I think it may be the easiest I’ve ever signed up for a race since it takes place on March 26, 2017, but I couldn’t help myself – it just looks too fun. If you want to join me, sign up using discount code FITNESSFATALE for 10% off. Sign up now because prices are really low – only $79!
I’m a big planner and training plans are exciting to me! I am still deciding on my New York Marathon training plan and I think I might do Hal Higdon’s Advanced 1 Plan. I plan to drop one run so that I’m only running five days a week. Has anyone else done a Hal Higdon training plan for a full marathon? I used his beginner half marathon plan for my first half. One of the things that drew me to his full plan is that once the mileage gets high, the plan alternates between 20 mile runs and 12 mile long runs on the weekends. I like the idea of having every other Saturday to recover and spend less time away from my family! Plus as of now I don’t have a running buddy for long runs so this means fewer really long runs alone, which I know in the past has caused me to burn out a bit.
Which races do you have on your calendar that you are most excited about?
The Craft Classic looks like a fun race and after-party! In August I’m doing a half here in Durango that is part of a Brew Fest weekend. The nice thing is that your race entry gets you free entry to the Brew Fest but it’s later in the day so you can eat brunch & clean up THEN go back for the party!
That sounds awesome! I like it!!
Hi Nicole,
I am using a training plan actually off the NYC marathon site, that also alternates long runs with 10 mile weeks. http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/sites/default/files/Marathon%20Training%20Plans%20-%20Conservative.pdf
I am training for my first marathon (Twin Cities in October) and I am only in week 3, but I am an injury prone runner so I picked this plan because it has the word “conservative” in it 🙂 and I like the varying workout types already planned for me as well. I have two kids ages 4 and 3 and its hard for me to run 5 days a week, so I am aiming for the 4 days of scheduled runs and 1 day of cross training. If I can get in that 5th day of running for 3 miles, I may try to do it, but my main goal is to get to the start line uninjured. Good luck with your training!
I think it’s awesome there is going to be a half marathon in your hometown and running along the coast sounds wonderful. I bet the sights will make the miles go by so fast!
This fall I’m looking forward to Rock n Roll Denver but other than that I still need to add some races. I’d like to work toward a 10k or half but am not sure I’ll be able to get one to work with my schedule. It may end up just being a year of training and then cashing it in for 2017 races 🙂
I need to add some more races too – I wish I could fit more Rock n’ Roll races in. Denver would be awesome! I’ve never been to Colorado but it’s high on my list of places to visit. I can’t wait to hear about it!
Maybe I should fly down and join you for the inaugural Encinitas Half Marathon! The idea of running next to a beach is really tempting. Is it a pretty flat course or are there hills?
I can’t believe you are only a week away from your next half marathon. Then, the real fun begins as you start training for NYC!! Have you made your travel plans yet? I wouldn’t even know where to start.
YESSS!!! Please do! That’d be awesome! Well – about the hills. There aren’t a ton of hills BUT there are a few super short, yet super steep ones which is kind of a buzz kill. But very much worth it for the scenery! And Encinitas is the best part of San Diego, in my humble opinion. Let me know if you decide to do it!
We did make travel plans just a few weeks ago! I got an amazing deal on flights (under $300 direct roundtrip each) and we booked a hotel that a friend in NY recommended which helped a lot. It also happens to be walking distance from the buses to the start so that worked out well. I can’t wait! I haven’t been to NY in nearly 10 years and never with Mike (We plan to leave Siena behind with the grandparents).