Training and Tunes.

While I'm certainly not complaining, life has been pretty quiet around these parts lately.  I've returned to work after a fantastic two-week vacation, my husband's business is continuing to grow, and I've resumed half-marathon training.  As such, my three-day weekend has been filled with running, dinners with friends and movies on the couch with my love.


When I am training for a race, it tends to consume most of my free time.  However, I don't mind - I feel empowered and motivated and quite frankly, all of the sweating helps me sleep better at night.  Since I am excited about my start to the training cycle, I thought I'd share my progress thus far and some incredible new tunes!


Thanks to my friend Christy, I finally feel like I have a plan!  Typically, when training for a race, I just run the allocated amount.  But now, I am incorporating tempo runs and speed work into my training, thanks to Christy and Hal Higdon's intermediate training program.


Monday: Easy 3 mile run (8:55 pace) - DEFINITELY should have taken this slower


Tuesday: Strength training (Bar Method class)


Wednesday: 3 miles with light speed work (9:17 pace) and strength training (BarreBee Fit) - I wouldn't normally do two strength training classes in a row, but I was already signed up.  Plus, it was Madonna night!


Thursday:  REST!


Friday: Hot Power Fusion Yoga at CorePower Yoga


Saturday:  Easy 3 mile run (9:20 pace)


Sunday: 5 mile long run (9:24 pace)


Overall, I am pretty pleased with Week 1, and after looking at my times, I truly believe I need to be running a MUCH slower pace to start out.  My hope is to run the half at an average 9:00/mile pace, so I'd like to gradually build to that in order to avoid injury.


So yeah.  The tunes.  One could argue that my taste in music is slightly eclectic.  Please don't be deterred by my inner old man!  My favorite running tunes, as of late, have included:


Helena Beat (Foster the People)





Till the World Ends (Britney Spears)







1901 (Phoenix)





St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) - (John Parr)





Something Happened on the Way to Heaven (Phil Collins)





Feelin' Stronger Everyday (Chicago)





Adele Mash-Up of "Rumour Has It/Someone Like You" (Glee)



Finishing a run to the Adele mash-up = totally amazing.  You should give it a shot!

What are YOUR go-to workout songs? I could definitely use some new ideas!