Runnin' Runnin' and Runnin' Runnin' - Brady

Kevin, Kelly, and I committed a few months ago to running the Indianapolis Mini Marathon at the beginning of May. Training officially started for us on March 1.

I can only speak for Kevin and myself because Kelly does her own training thing. But our plan is pretty chill. We ran the Indy Mini two years ago and 18 miles of the 2007 Chicago Marathon (they shut down the end of the race because of extreme heat). To train for both of those races, we ran twice, maybe three times, during the week (about an hour each time when we were marathon training and about 30 min to an hour each time for the mini) and then did progressively longer runs on the weekend. So, the first weekend of training we might run for 45 minutes. The next, we might run for an hour. And so on. We base all of our training on time rather than mileage, as we know more or less how fast we're completing each mile. We plan to supplement training this time with lots of yoga, which seems to pair really well with running.

Anyway, I'm really excited to be training for this. It gives me a little extra motivation to get outside in the progressively sunnier weather. I've noticed that if I can drag myself out of bed, there is really no better way to start a day than with an early morning run. In Chicago, I like to run for 15 minutes down Belmont to the lake, stand there and watch the ice melt or the sun rise for a minute or two, run back home, do some stretching, and then make coffee or tea. In Fort Wayne, Kevin and I try to run early Saturday before our 9:15 yoga class. It feels great to stretch out so well after training. And finally, in La Porte, I'm starting to use a jog as a break from the schoolwork I do while I'm alone at the house. My parents live right by a pretty little lake, so that's a perfect place to go for a run.

So that's my plan! Now you know more than you ever wanted to about a very amateur mini marathoner.