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Runner Up! Challenge - Half Marathon Training Plan

1st July - my 10 week half marathon training programme has officially started!

I am training up to The Big Day on 8th September. Watching this below short video from last years half marathon in Budapest is just an absolute motivation for me and I can’t wait to participate.

                                                                                                                  Your only limit is you!

So I have watched and read many many videos and articles about running techniques, training programmes, half marathon guidelines to make sure I prepare myself the best.. 

Here are my favourites that inspired and helped my training :)

This half marathon training guide from Runnersworld is a great summary of what one needs to know and prepare herself for the race. It includes everything from sports gears to nutrition, training rules and guidelines.

Setting the goal is the very first step of running a marathon. Ask yourself what do you want to achieve. This booklet suggests that you have to set at least 3 goals and one of it has to be fairly easily achievable so that you do not leave the race disappointed. As a first half marathoner I do not have high expectations from myself :) so I just would put simply:

1.  the first goal to finish the race

2. up as second, finish the race within 2 hours 15 min

3. as third, finish within 2 hours 

Enter your goal, the race date, and your average 5k time and Smartcoach onRunnersworld pulls together a plan to train up to your race date. I found it very useful to advice on how to combine easy runs, with tempo and long runs. I have used and followed it for the last couple of months and I find that the plan really boosted my endurance.

However, now that I have the endurance for long runs – I would like to boost my speed as well. For that I have found the most useful exercises are interval trainings. About.com advices on the different types you can practise. I am so excited to shake my training up with these as it gives a bit of change and makes the training even more fun. I will definitely include stair running, speed drills and jump rope workouts. Yeaah!

I always thought that running is better alone, however, after watching this video with ToneItUp, I asked my friends to bring along their running shoes and lets work out together. What I like that they mix running with some exercises that build strength, which again gives a variety.

So I mentioned speed drills.. I wanted to know how to sprint well. I mean everybody knows how to sprint, but how to do it properly. I found that this guy’s video is very helpful in understanding the moves and how to train for speed.

When it comes to cross training, I just love the workouts that are pulled together by ToneItUp girls. I will keep work out with them on crosstraining days

Adventures and Challenges Summer 2013

I have always been a planner.. most of you would probably find that crazy.. I know.. I do.. but by the time the weekend arrives, I tend to jam it with sooo many programs, plans.. well I actually put together a to do list in mind that there is no space for any spontaneity.. and then I get angry with myself due to the pressure that I cause myself.. then I try rather not to plan... but then I feel the time is spent useless.. vicious circle.. 

I realised I actually enjoy the process of setting up goals and go for it, and I obviously like the things that I include in my weekdays and weekends.. even if I complain sometimes :) 

I believe plans are essential to enlighten the days, weeks with great moments.. especially when you have a job and you need to save time for other things and not letting the days become grey dull routine.. but it is important to keep it balanced and give time for yourself to actually enjoy those moments or relax if you feel like.. so simply to say, find the golden road.. so this is one of my goals for 2013.. walking on the balanced golden road of plans..

I already have a Bucket List for 2013 but when I saw this summertime Bucket List on LaurenConrad.com I totally got excited.. I felt the longing to create a separate one for my summer as well, incorporating of course the goals from the 2013 list.. so I don't overdo it.. obviously.. I do like the simplicity of her goals and that they are achievable.. so do check out her link..

And here goes my list.. I kept it to 10 achievable plans..

Adventures and Challenges Summer 2013.. 

1. Göttingen on Fire in Brussels
So this is one of my personal favorite and it is going to be a great adventure. I have to admit this is not something I have just come up with as it was planned for a while.. still it is happening in the summer and those are going to be awesome days.. Sooo.... I am reuniting with my Erasmus buddies in Brussels after 5 years!!!! Unbelievable!

2. Hello Tourist! - Budapest
I was having a conversation with one of my Indian colleagues who was paying a visit in the Hungarian office. I was asking her about what she was doing in her first weekend in Hungary. Then she started to elaborate on what she was visiting, what trips she was making.. And THAT was the moment when I realised that I hardly know my city.. I pass by so many beautiful places everyday without appreciating them or even noticing them, I miss out to visit parts of the city that would be more than worthwhile to see.. So I decided this summer will be different. I will act as a real tourist in my own city! Explore new places, going on excursion.. I have many Budapest adventures planned for my tourist self!

   

3. Board away!
Last summer I fell in love with wakeboarding.. but back then I only got to watching others doing it.. and it definitely seemed real fun!! This summer will be the one when I also get on the board and slip or.. splash.. anyway I am up for the challenge to learn as good as I can during one summer.

4. Runner up!
So another sports challenge.. I have never been a running fanatic, I did as warm ups in gym but that was enough.. nothing special.. this year something has changed.. I started to enjoy it.. and I  decided to go for a half marathon in September - which will be on my Fall Bucket List.. But I challenge myself with a 10 week long training program from July to being able to put that half marathon on the list at all.. 

5. Winds of Dolce
Another love of mine.. Fashion! Yes, I love recreating looks that I see from designers and for a while now Dolce is among my big big favorites. As a kid my mum taught me to sew but back then I did not have patience for that. 2 years ago though I started to feel passionate about creating my own clothes.. whenever I visited my family I took my mums sewing machine and sew and sew and sew.. and then I got a sewing machine for Xmas.. apparently my family wasn't to happy about the fact that when I finally visited them I rather disappeared with the sewing machine in a room. Anyway, for this summer I want to recreate the Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2013 look in Sly style.. I love the vivid Sicily style, the colours, the stripes.. Adorable!

6. Dreamy Balcony
When I moved into my current flat I was so happy that it goes with a balcony.. I had so much planned for it in my head..cocktail nights with friends.. chilling and reading.. morning breakfasts.. but instead last year I only used it for hanging out the clothes to dry.. so it is time to make this little balcony's dream come alive. To do so I need to make it more livable.. it needs flowers and sunbathing bed and more flowers.. So lets get those green fingers and transform!  

7. Bookworming
In the last couple of months I am just buying and buying books but never actually got to reading them.. or ok, starting them off till couple of pages and then forgot I have them.. and not because they would be boring or anything, just seemed to have time for everything but reading.. so I make the promise now: Whenever I feel to relax, I will do it with one of the books and just chill.. my redesigned dreamy balcony will just serve for that perfectly

8. Gatsby Jazz Inspired
I watched The Great Gatsby the other day and yeah, Leo is amazing as always in his mad character.. I was stunned by the performance, cinematography aaand the soundtrack.. I keep listening to it since then along with great jazz classics. So I got totally inspired by Jazz and decided to take an adventure to one of the jazz festivals this summer. 

9. Run, Deni, Run!
This one is about my one and only, Deni baby. He is soon to be 5 year old and a very cute West Highland White Terrier. Since I have my running plans and I do run quite often these months, I thought why not do my short runs together with Deni. Ahaaa.. the trial failed after 1 k as Deni was playing lazy.. And I know he can, whenever we are in my hometown he runs marathons in the garden.. but when it comes to running with me he is just too bored. I have to find a way to motivate and teach him this summer.  

10. Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
And last but not least, the last challenge is about improving my German. I have forgotten a LOT since my scholarship in Germany but I am absolutely in love with the language. I could really use this summer to finally freshen it up and improve.. especially, taking my 2013 goals into consideration, it may come in handy later.. but those adventures will be revealed in my fall or winter Bucket List ;)

Let's be Adventurers!

This is a blog of new adventures, new challenges to conquer and new dreams to fulfill.. 

Life is a beautiful adventure.. Should you climb a cliff.. Explore places.. Take up a new job.. Make new friends.. Keep old friends.. Find love.. Go for a run.. Bake a cake.. Celebrate.. Take a walk with your dog.. Repair a gadget.. Grow a plant.. 

It is in every moment. It is in all of us.