Column: How training is going for the half-marathon

In my previous column, I wrote that I was going to write frequent columns about training for a half-marathon, and I have failed to do that. 

But I’m going to try and make up for that now. I started training for the half-marathon and realized something – I hate running. I hate it so much. And that’s not a good thing for someone who is training for a half-marathon. After coming to this realization, I decided to switch from doing the half-marathon to the 5K because as much as I would love to do a half-marathon, I just know I would be miserable. No matter how much I train, I just hate running. I’m more of a walker/jogger. 

Even though I did change races, I’m still going to train to try and beat my best time for a 5k. The most recent 5k races I’ve done have been a bit slower than my best time, so I’ve got some work to do. But I also wasn’t trying too hard in those races. I mainly just wanted to have fun. That will probably be the same for this race, I enjoy getting out and walking/jogging, but I am going to try and jog a little more so I have a faster pace. But as long as I finish the race, I’ll be happy.

Since the race is in October, I do need to step up my training, but with how hot it’s been outside, it’s hard for me to get motivated. I have done some walking on my walking pad, but that’s more of a leisurely stroll than serious walking. When I walk indoors on a machine, it’s hard for me to find a pace that matches my pace when I’m outside walking. But I do try to match it.

Hopefully the weather will turn slightly cooler soon so I can get back to outdoors walking because that’s also just more enjoyable for me. When I walk inside on a treadmill or the walking pad, the time just seems to take forever even though I’m listening to music or watching TV. But when I’m walking outside it seems to go by a lot faster. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because the scenery is always changing, so it seems to make the time go by faster.

When I do start walking again outside, I just need to find a good place to train. There’s a lot of walking trails in the county, so I’ve got plenty of options. Once I start exploring them, hopefully I find some I like. I know I need to get on it because there’s a little more than two months until the race. 

So, wish me luck as I work toward beating my best time at the race, and I’ll try to remember to write another column before than with how everything is going.

Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.