Saturday, September 27, 2014
Thursday, September 25, 2014
And now for something completely different
Miles Completed: 9
Miles Remaining: 452
Ahoy there. So, the first three days of training are done. How do I feel? Let's take an inventory:
Physical: Not too bad. Not really sore, no warning signs like a pain in my knee, or foot, or anything like that. Fairly tired, but work has been a killer lately and I got up early on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to go running so I guess that is to be expected. Overall, I'll say I feel pretty good.
Mental: It has been great to get up in the morning and go for runs. I feel energized after I'm done (duh). Of course, actually rolling out of bed is difficult but once I'm up it isn't a problem. I've definitely noticed my mood has been better at work as well, which is a nice bonus.
So - why the hell am I doing this, anyways? Well, I've realized over the last year or so that I really need to have a big goal out there to motivate me to get in shape and lead a healthier lifestyle. Generally, for me, "losing weight" or "getting in shape" isn't going to cut it. Even when I started gaining a bunch of weight and all my clothes stopped fitting it wasn't enough of a motivation.
So, that's part of it. However, I'm also well aware that running a marathon simply to get in shape isn't going to provide me enough willpower to get through those long runs. There needs to be more.
And now for something completely different.
In the past, I have said I would never run a marathon. I mean, 5+ hours of running? Are you on crack? That sounds HORRIBLE.
I'm going to take this on BECAUSE I said that in the past. What the hell do I know, anyways? I'm sure at one point I said the same thing about a 5K. You know what? I ran three of those, three days in a row this week. AND I DIDN'T DIE. I think, one day soon, I'll look back on this marathon and say the same thing. Well, maybe not about doing three of them in three days. Because that's just crazy talk.
Miles Remaining: 452
Ahoy there. So, the first three days of training are done. How do I feel? Let's take an inventory:
Physical: Not too bad. Not really sore, no warning signs like a pain in my knee, or foot, or anything like that. Fairly tired, but work has been a killer lately and I got up early on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to go running so I guess that is to be expected. Overall, I'll say I feel pretty good.
Mental: It has been great to get up in the morning and go for runs. I feel energized after I'm done (duh). Of course, actually rolling out of bed is difficult but once I'm up it isn't a problem. I've definitely noticed my mood has been better at work as well, which is a nice bonus.
So - why the hell am I doing this, anyways? Well, I've realized over the last year or so that I really need to have a big goal out there to motivate me to get in shape and lead a healthier lifestyle. Generally, for me, "losing weight" or "getting in shape" isn't going to cut it. Even when I started gaining a bunch of weight and all my clothes stopped fitting it wasn't enough of a motivation.
So, that's part of it. However, I'm also well aware that running a marathon simply to get in shape isn't going to provide me enough willpower to get through those long runs. There needs to be more.
And now for something completely different.
In the past, I have said I would never run a marathon. I mean, 5+ hours of running? Are you on crack? That sounds HORRIBLE.
I'm going to take this on BECAUSE I said that in the past. What the hell do I know, anyways? I'm sure at one point I said the same thing about a 5K. You know what? I ran three of those, three days in a row this week. AND I DIDN'T DIE. I think, one day soon, I'll look back on this marathon and say the same thing. Well, maybe not about doing three of them in three days. Because that's just crazy talk.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Why, hello there.
So yesterday I did a thing: I signed up for the New Orleans marathon on 1/25/15. Check it out: http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/new-orleans
My 18-week training starts tomorrow. Well, technically tomorrow is my off day so really the training starts Tuesday. I'll be following Hal Higdon's Marathon Novice 1 training program (http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51137/marathon-novice-1-training-program).
At this point, the only thing I can figure out is that I must have a hormone imbalance or something. I mean, I've run a bunch of 5k's, 10k's, and two half marathons... but my last half marathon was in November of 2012. I've gained a ton of weight since then and I'm not exactly in the best shape of my life.
So... I created this blog so you can all share in my pain. Or joy. I'm expecting mostly pain though. Oh, the title of the blog is in reference to the fact that I just added up the miles I'll be running in the next 18 weeks (including the marathon). 461. Ugh.
I'll put some more up later this week about why I'm really doing this (it isn't as dire as I make it out to be above), but for now, I'll leave you with this:
My 18-week training starts tomorrow. Well, technically tomorrow is my off day so really the training starts Tuesday. I'll be following Hal Higdon's Marathon Novice 1 training program (http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51137/marathon-novice-1-training-program).
At this point, the only thing I can figure out is that I must have a hormone imbalance or something. I mean, I've run a bunch of 5k's, 10k's, and two half marathons... but my last half marathon was in November of 2012. I've gained a ton of weight since then and I'm not exactly in the best shape of my life.
So... I created this blog so you can all share in my pain. Or joy. I'm expecting mostly pain though. Oh, the title of the blog is in reference to the fact that I just added up the miles I'll be running in the next 18 weeks (including the marathon). 461. Ugh.
I'll put some more up later this week about why I'm really doing this (it isn't as dire as I make it out to be above), but for now, I'll leave you with this:
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