Going the Distance: Kendall Kidder-Goshhorn’s Half-Marathon Preparation

Senior Kendall Kidder-Goshhorn takes Backdrop inside her weekly routine for the upcoming Athens Half-Marathon, detailing the inspirations and sacrifices behind her specialized training schedule.

It’s about that time of year when seniors start thinking about their future, where they will be next winter and items they haven’t yet checked off their bucket lists. Ohio University senior Kendall Kidder-Goshhorn has decided to add the Athens Half-Marathon to hers. Her running experience from high school and inspiration from a fellow sorority sister’s participation in the Columbus Half Marathon pushed her to research several half-marathons. Athens’ half became her top pick because it worked perfectly with a 12-week training program that she had started winter quarter.

Hal Higdon, a writer for Runner’s World, designed the plan. Higdon’s blueprint is set-up so that novice runners have a day off, a day of strength training, two days of cross training and three days of actual running each week.

Currently six weeks through her training, Kendall takes us through her experience thus far: the good, the bad and her personalized training twist.

Monday: Stretch and Strength Training

“I have been using Jillian Michael’s workout video. He said do something that involves weights and it’s done in 20 minutes, so I like that,” Kendall said.

Tuesday: Running that increases each week. After starting at two miles she is now up to three-and-a-half.

Wednesday: Two miles or 30 minute cross training

“Usually, I take advantage of the cross training and do 30 minutes on a bike at Ping,” Kendall said.

Thursday: Strength training and running. Once again, the running increases but it is always the same amount as Tuesday.

Friday: Rest day.

Saturday: 40 minutes cross training.

Sunday: This is the longest run of the week and increases as training progresses. This week it is 6 miles.            

A training schedule this demanding provokes one major challenge for Kendall to overcome: her diabetes. The gradual progression stressed in Higdon’s program is key in watching how the training affects her health. It takes around 12 hours for a diabetic to notice his or her drop in blood sugar. Watching and noticing peaks and lows of blood sugar is important. Fortunately, the program’s structure allows Kendall to notice how her run affected her health.

“That has been kind of rough,” she says. “It is really hard to maintain perfect control and it is even harder when you are trying to factor in exercise.”

Other than that, the most difficult part has been managing her social life with her training schedule. She has had to sacrifice going out in order to be able to get up the next morning and start running.
           
While it is easy to focus on the difficult part of training overall, Kendall has enjoyed it. Her routine gives her a set schedule that pushes her to workout. Also, as a hobby, she enjoys visiting music blogs. Now, she can listen to the music she has downloaded onto her iPod and evaluate the different tunes while working out, hoping it will lead to an ultimate playlist that will prep her for the duration of the half-marathon--one that will be distracting, but motivational.