Back at it!

I am very pleased with my training efforts this weekend. On Saturday I ran my 3 miles feeling strong and well! My biggest issue is that the days are hot, hot, Hot! Even late at night it is still quite warm. July is finally here! I will need to start getting up early to run...I hate that! On a brighter note, the cross training is beginning to show. I feel stronger and my stomach is beginning to firm up (all the ab work is paying off!). I haven't written about it, but I have an additional motivation in that I have an anniversary trip to Hawaii coming up! Rippling abs in a new bikini was my goal...I may have to settle on less jiggle in a one piece. It's all good! See you on the road!

Last week was not my best week of training. I picked up a virus and I felt pretty ragged most of the week. I missed 4 days of training. I was supposed to run 3 miles on Saturday. Instead, I ran a pathetic 1.8 and felt lucky to have accomplished that much! Last night I ran 2 miles and felt a little stronger, but still on the wimpy side. Throughout the weekend I could feel my anxiety build...I am getting behind...I am losing ground...etc. I am trying to remember that this is life. You have to be flexible! When things go wrong or you have a bad day (or week!) it is important to remind yourself that good days usually follow the bad. I am going to stay focused, stay motivated, and hang in there. Tonight is cross-training. I am going to do an aerobic program geared toward core strength. Oh boy, I can't wait!

I think things are going pretty well. Saturday the 14 th I did 6 miles with the Waco running group that I joined, and boy, I am so happy I am in with a group. I know I would never, NEVER, have got up at 0530 to run if it were just me doing it. We did 4 miles on Wednesday, and afternoon running is harder, esp. when it is hot. I overslept today and missed my morning jog, and I feel really guilty about it. The dogs were pretty ticked off at me, too. So tomorrow I have to do it, no matter what. OK-- this week the goals are: EVERY morning get up and run with the dogs, even if it just 20 minutes, Wednesday do 4 miles with the group, and Saturday do 7. That sounds like a plan.

Listen to your Body

I have been running a few weeks now and up until recently I really haven't seen much weight loss, although my wife says I seem to look leaner. Recently I have noticed that my body has been telling me things but I wasn't quite listening, for the last few days my legs have been sore alittle bit. I chalked this up to the fact I am running farther and keeping my time the same, I figured this is par but my body was telling me that the banana on the counter looked extremely delicious, what is it about the banana that looked so good? After eating one my legs seem to say thank you. The soreness eased and I don't notice as much that I ache (POTASSIUM a wonderful chemical). I have been craving apple juice also but haven't quite figured out what this aids in. Well back to the weight loss I have actually lost five pounds and feel so much better! I was wondering if I ever would see a drop. Now that I have I am encouraged to keep up the regimen and I will add a little swimming to the workout as the kids want me to join them in their new pool that we recently purchased for them. To all you beginners like me learn to listen to your body and you won't suffer as much, it's a wonderful thing when your body is happy!

Sore legs

I had a little blip in my training this week. I did several minutes of jumping jacks while doing aeorbics on Tuesday. They seemed quite doable at the time...but, apparantly, I was using some calf muscle that doesn't get used enough. Ouch! Sore legs. Over the past couple of days I have managed to do some yoga stretches, but no running. This morning my legs are still sore, but it is time to get back to it. A short, easy run today followed by a slightly longer run tommorrow should get me back into it. Wish me luck!

Oops, I did it again

I actually ran another 4 miles! And this time wasn't so bad! I joined a running group in Waco and ran w/ them the first time on Saturday. I got up at 0530 (remember, this is on a SATURDAY) and somehow made myself go out the door. The group in Waco ran 3 miles last week and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to hang in there, I'd be dragging behind them, I'd faint, I'd be made fun of, etc, etc. But I did it and the 4 miles wasn't so bad. Running w/ other people is definitely funner. So, I am planning on doing this every Saturday (so much for my rowdy parties on Friday nights, oh well). We are supposed to do 5 miles this week, so I have to do some running before then. I got up this morning and ran for 40 minutes, and you know, it's really hot at 6 AM. I've found running in the evening after work just never seems to happen, something else comes up; I'm too tired, I'm busy, I'm quitting, I'm too fat, I'm a loser, you know, something always stops me. So morning running is very, very important.

Things I've learned while training for Marathons - When and where to put the vaseline...running in the rain makes blisters...never ever go on a long run in new shoes...where you can get water while on a country road...move over for cars - they are bigger than you...don't forget your sweatband because sweat in the eyes burns...watching your neighborhood wake up is pretty cool...training with a friend is far better than training alone...the .2 part of the 26.2 marathon distance is the hardest...you can make wonderful friends and solve lots of problems while running...crossing the finish line is awesome!

Those are just a few of the things I've learned while training for the 10 marathons that I have run. I haven't actually started my training for the Miracle Match Marathon yet but I do run an average of 4 mile a day and have been for the past 25 years. I will begin my training in earnest around September 1.

Good Luck to you all with your training. If I can do it, anyone can.