How It's Going Week 3 ~ Half Marathon Training

I've been lazy about updating you on the progress of my training but it has been going really well. Last night I completed a 7 mile run and at the end of it I probably could have gone for another 2-3 miles. I hold back with jumping out of the training plan though because I'm paranoid and feel if I go over the 10% increase rule then I'll immediately become injured.  I've found that the hardest part of the training plan is not at all the increased distances each week on my long runs but simply getting out there for a 4th run consistently. 3 runs a week is easy but by 4, it's harder to make the time and harder to feel motivated, especially if I'm feeling a little achy. I find though that the 4th run really makes the following weeks demands that much easier. The other hard part is that my shorter runs are getting longer. My first two weeks in this training plan had short 2 mile runs but now my 'short' runs are 3, 4 and 5 miles. I've noticed this past week that I'm also recovering from my runs much faster and feeling much less achy. I'm not sure if it's because I'm adapting or because I've started taking extra protein in. I've been making some yummy smoothies with half scoop protein powder, unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk, Blueberries and Matcha green Tea powder and my vitamin D drops or if I'm short on time I've been having some Chocolate milk (1%, reduced sugar). I'm still mostly doing 10 minute 1 minute intervals, especially if I'm feeling sore, but I've done a few runs without 1 minute walk breaks and I think the farthest I've gone has been 5 miles.

Here are links to the supplies I've been using that are probably not necessary but I've found helpful. The protein powder I got was from the brand Progressives Therapies which my chiropractor sells and loves so that's why I chose it. I like that the whey comes from  a good and reliable source in New Zealand. The natural vanilla flavour is really nice and it doesn't taste weird or chalky in my smoothies. 24 g of protein, 110 calories, sweetened with Stevia and no unpronounceable items in the label...sounds all good to me. The Trigger Point Foam Roller was given to me by my sister in law who swears by it. I must say that I have a love hate relationship with it because it works, but it's excruciatingly painful to use in tight areas.  I have tight ITB band so that's what I use after my runs and so far so good. Also, I have back issues so when I need a good back cracking this does the trick.  Matcha green tea powder became addictive for me in my pregnancy. I was hooked on smoothies made of Matcha and blueberries for some strange reason and recently I've been craving them again (nope, I am not) but this time instead of having milk or frozen yogurt I'm using unsweetened almond milk and there is not much difference. Matcha has a sort of sweet nutty flavour and it goes so well with blueberries. I highly recommend it.