Those of you who know me know that I'm a person who loves structure and thrives on routine. When something happens that throws a wrench into my daily schedule, I'm taken for a loop. And that's exactly what happened about two weeks ago.
I was going along pretty well with the marathon training when a winter cold took hold of me, and knocked me down. I tried to continue the training schedule for the first couple of days, then the cold started affecting my breathing, and it became difficult to breathe while completing normal tasks and nearly impossible to breathe while running. So I took a break from training to get over the cold and breathing problems.
Well, the week turned into nearly two, and then I was out of the "training routine" and it became easier to do other things than to take time out of my daily to tasks to devote time to running. Added to that, winter weather came, making it easier still to stay inside the warm, cozy house. But the good news is: today I've gotten back on the treadmill and have started again!
There are a lot of excuses I can make to put off getting back to the training schedule (the holidays and all that accompanies the chaos of it for one), but I'm again determined to finish what I started! Proudly I announce that I just finished a two-mile run(walk) at the gym...if at first you don't succeed...try, try, again!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Compete or Complete
Yesterday while I was watching The Biggest Loser - Where Are They Now episode, Bob said something that really hit home. He was talking about running a 5k, and he said it's not about "competing" it's about "completing." What a thought?! So many times we consider participating in something, and think if we can't compete with others, is it really worth it? Sure it is! It's not about competing with others, it's about competing with SELF.
I think back to just a mere two and one half weeks ago, and the fact that completing a two mile run was more than I could imagine. Now, even with the onset of my annual winter cold, I successfully finished my three mile run. Sure, I didn't run the entire distance, but I was able to finish one of the three miles in 12 minutes - a HUGE accomplishment to date! Not only that, I finished the entire three miles - not willingly, but with great determination - knowing that it's just a part of the journey. I can't get to the end without completing these increments - one-by-one - and moving on to the next.
Today I'm determined to finish the 20 minute Farltek Session - and do it the right way (unlike last week, when I ran 1 minute and jogged/walked 4 minutes). My goal for the day is to remember that it's about COMPLETION...nothing more, nothing less!
I think back to just a mere two and one half weeks ago, and the fact that completing a two mile run was more than I could imagine. Now, even with the onset of my annual winter cold, I successfully finished my three mile run. Sure, I didn't run the entire distance, but I was able to finish one of the three miles in 12 minutes - a HUGE accomplishment to date! Not only that, I finished the entire three miles - not willingly, but with great determination - knowing that it's just a part of the journey. I can't get to the end without completing these increments - one-by-one - and moving on to the next.
Today I'm determined to finish the 20 minute Farltek Session - and do it the right way (unlike last week, when I ran 1 minute and jogged/walked 4 minutes). My goal for the day is to remember that it's about COMPLETION...nothing more, nothing less!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Like it or not...
No motivation. Today was one where I've felt the worst yet since this journey began. The weather is colder, snow is flittering around, and the wind is blowing through you like stabbing icicles! Add to all of it, the fact that I'm coming down with my annual winter cold. Achy and feeling feverish, I decided to take an afternoon nap, hoping that it would rejuvenate me - it didn't. I only woke up warm and groggy, not feeling like doing anything the rest of the afternoon.
Wrestling with lacking motivation, I could feel myself waivering between running and all the reasons that were good enough not to. With plenty of time to spare (since my non-motivated self was winning the battle at this point), I decided to check out the Biggest Loser makeover episode from last week. Somehow I wound up tuning in to the episode where they look back on all prior season winners - and where they are now. Watching the show, I couldn't help but notice that EVERY ONE of the prior winners had put on weight since winning - some more than others. Encouraging? Not in the least! Realistic and motivating? Absolutely!
I have battled with maintaining my weight my entire life. At just the point where I feel like I've got it "under control" it seems that LIFE HAPPENS and interrupts my otherwise steady routine. (The most recent "life happening" was my ankle injury this past winter.) All things considered, of this I'm sure - weight loss (maintenance) is a LIFETIME journey - not an event where I'll reach my goal and all of a sudden be "home free." I will NEVER be able to relax in this regard, but must realize that if I do the right things - eat healthy food, continue an exercise routine - then maybe, just MAYBE, I'll be able to maintain some semblance of 'normalcy' where my weight is concerned.
Oh, and, by the way, I did go to the gym tonight, and I DID finish the 3 mile run...like it or not!
Wrestling with lacking motivation, I could feel myself waivering between running and all the reasons that were good enough not to. With plenty of time to spare (since my non-motivated self was winning the battle at this point), I decided to check out the Biggest Loser makeover episode from last week. Somehow I wound up tuning in to the episode where they look back on all prior season winners - and where they are now. Watching the show, I couldn't help but notice that EVERY ONE of the prior winners had put on weight since winning - some more than others. Encouraging? Not in the least! Realistic and motivating? Absolutely!
I have battled with maintaining my weight my entire life. At just the point where I feel like I've got it "under control" it seems that LIFE HAPPENS and interrupts my otherwise steady routine. (The most recent "life happening" was my ankle injury this past winter.) All things considered, of this I'm sure - weight loss (maintenance) is a LIFETIME journey - not an event where I'll reach my goal and all of a sudden be "home free." I will NEVER be able to relax in this regard, but must realize that if I do the right things - eat healthy food, continue an exercise routine - then maybe, just MAYBE, I'll be able to maintain some semblance of 'normalcy' where my weight is concerned.
Oh, and, by the way, I did go to the gym tonight, and I DID finish the 3 mile run...like it or not!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
First Long Run
I did NOT want to run today! Thanksgiving threw me for a loop, and got my determination and schedule out of whack. I didn't get my training in on Friday, and when I thought I'd do it yesterday, it just didn't happen. Knowing that I'd missed a day of training made it that much more important that I finish today's run.
Like it or not, ready or not, I knew how vital today's run would be. I refused to let my mind take over, though. As soon as I got home from church, I changed clothes, and headed to the Baxter Fitness Center. I'd like to say that was the most difficult part of today's run, but it wasn't.
I'm learning that training is mind over matter. If I can keep my mind distracted, not focus on the distance, remain confident that I can finish the race, it makes things much easier. So it was today...determined to finish the first 1.5 miles without walking, I didn't count steps, and tried not to focus on the gauges as much as I have in the past. (Self-talk didn't hurt, either!)
At the end of today's training session, I was pleased to see that I'd finished the 3 mile run in just under 40 minutes!
Like it or not, ready or not, I knew how vital today's run would be. I refused to let my mind take over, though. As soon as I got home from church, I changed clothes, and headed to the Baxter Fitness Center. I'd like to say that was the most difficult part of today's run, but it wasn't.
I'm learning that training is mind over matter. If I can keep my mind distracted, not focus on the distance, remain confident that I can finish the race, it makes things much easier. So it was today...determined to finish the first 1.5 miles without walking, I didn't count steps, and tried not to focus on the gauges as much as I have in the past. (Self-talk didn't hurt, either!)
At the end of today's training session, I was pleased to see that I'd finished the 3 mile run in just under 40 minutes!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Farltek Session
Some have asked - what's the Farltek Training Session in your marathon training schedule? Below you will find information from the training site I'm using:
Farltek Training Sessions
These are shorter sessions made up of jogging, walking and some fast running. They offer a nice change of pace to continuous running and they can help improve aspects of endurance such as VO2max and anaerobic threshold. You don't need to know what those terms mean, I've just added links if you're interested.
Here is the format for our Farltek sessions...
Seems easy enough, but we shall soon see!
Farltek Training Sessions
These are shorter sessions made up of jogging, walking and some fast running. They offer a nice change of pace to continuous running and they can help improve aspects of endurance such as VO2max and anaerobic threshold. You don't need to know what those terms mean, I've just added links if you're interested.
Here is the format for our Farltek sessions...
- Warm Up with 5-10 minutes of light jogging
- Run for 4 minutes, jog slowly for 1 minute. This one cycle
- Repeat for the prescribed amount of time (see chart at bottom). A 20 minute session would consist of 4 cycles
- On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 is a very fast run, 1 is a leisurely stroll) aim for a level 7 to 8 on the runs
- Cool down for 5-10 minutes of light jogging
Seems easy enough, but we shall soon see!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
One, Two, Three . . .
Ever wondered how many steps are in a tenth of a mile? Me either! But, I can tell you that during my run yesterday, I sure counted them, and continued to count every single step as I neared the end of the third and final mile of the day. Winded and worn, I wished that the treadmill would move faster than the mere five miles per hour I'd set it on. Yet, I was certain that if it moved just a fraction of a mile faster, I'd be sure to die!
I went into yesterday's training session with great expectations and enthusiasm, sure that I'd be able to run the first two miles, and only walk a small portion of the third one. Although I'm pleased with my performance, I was definitely surprised when at the end of mile one I was bargaining with myself about the first stopping point.
Have you ever done that - negotiated with yourself? I found myself making deals I knew I wouldn't be able to keep: "if only you finish the second mile without walking;" "maybe just one and a half miles, that'll be half way." Then I started doing math in my head - figuring out how far I could walk, and maintain a decent run/walk ratio.
Needless to say, with all the mindless chatter, I am proud to say that I completed a three mile run! I didn't fall off the end of the treadmill. Neither did I pass out mid-run. No, I finished the run, head held high, breathing hard, but still breathing. Now I look forward to this day of rest as much as I did yesterday's three mile run.
I went into yesterday's training session with great expectations and enthusiasm, sure that I'd be able to run the first two miles, and only walk a small portion of the third one. Although I'm pleased with my performance, I was definitely surprised when at the end of mile one I was bargaining with myself about the first stopping point.
Have you ever done that - negotiated with yourself? I found myself making deals I knew I wouldn't be able to keep: "if only you finish the second mile without walking;" "maybe just one and a half miles, that'll be half way." Then I started doing math in my head - figuring out how far I could walk, and maintain a decent run/walk ratio.
Needless to say, with all the mindless chatter, I am proud to say that I completed a three mile run! I didn't fall off the end of the treadmill. Neither did I pass out mid-run. No, I finished the run, head held high, breathing hard, but still breathing. Now I look forward to this day of rest as much as I did yesterday's three mile run.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Welcome Week 2!
Who would've thought I'd look forward to a 3 mile run? Yet, I do! Early this morning, at my regular workout, I cringed at the thought of doing a 3 minute plank, but I'm excited about a 3 mile run - go figure?!?
Part of what excites me about today's run is the thought of wearing my new running shoes (courtesy of the love of my life). I've never put much thought into buying a pair of , other than what they looked like. Who knew there were fashion athletic shoes, cross trainers, and running shoes - just to name a few? I'd never heard the terms pronation or supination before, either. What the heck? Is there really something besides appearance that I should look for in a running shoe? Apparently so!
In my reading I've learned that I over-pronate while running - meaning my foot rolls inward at the ankle. In fact, according to epodiatry.com, this is the most common cause of running injuries. I wonder if over-pronation attributed to my ankle injury last February? (I slipped on the ice, inverted my left ankle, and completely tore the ligament - which was surgically repaired last May.) One thing of which I'm sure is that I want to protect my ankle as much as possible during the training (and marathon) process. I want to avoid re-injury, and the need to relive the painful and lengthy recovery process that I'm thankful to say is finally nearing the end!
A friend who read my blog for the first time this weekend suggested one way I could track my training was to post pictures of my running shoes at different points in the training process. Without further ado, I now introduce my new running shoes! I won't be using the shoes for anything other than marathon training - so whatever wear you see in monthly pictures will be from that alone. I hope this will be yet another way to document my journey to Marathon (IA)!
Part of what excites me about today's run is the thought of wearing my new running shoes (courtesy of the love of my life). I've never put much thought into buying a pair of , other than what they looked like. Who knew there were fashion athletic shoes, cross trainers, and running shoes - just to name a few? I'd never heard the terms pronation or supination before, either. What the heck? Is there really something besides appearance that I should look for in a running shoe? Apparently so!
In my reading I've learned that I over-pronate while running - meaning my foot rolls inward at the ankle. In fact, according to epodiatry.com, this is the most common cause of running injuries. I wonder if over-pronation attributed to my ankle injury last February? (I slipped on the ice, inverted my left ankle, and completely tore the ligament - which was surgically repaired last May.) One thing of which I'm sure is that I want to protect my ankle as much as possible during the training (and marathon) process. I want to avoid re-injury, and the need to relive the painful and lengthy recovery process that I'm thankful to say is finally nearing the end!
A friend who read my blog for the first time this weekend suggested one way I could track my training was to post pictures of my running shoes at different points in the training process. Without further ado, I now introduce my new running shoes! I won't be using the shoes for anything other than marathon training - so whatever wear you see in monthly pictures will be from that alone. I hope this will be yet another way to document my journey to Marathon (IA)!
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