One week down...

Week 1 of training is done and Week 2 is here – it feels good to be training (logged 22 miles last week), but this is gonna be a long road for sure.  I ran 3 days last week (including 2 core workouts) with one day of cross-training (spinning class).  I think that I will probably add a 5th day into the mix, but I am holding off for another week to make that commitment because all in all that is about 6+ hours a week of training as it is.  I would really love for my 5th day to be doing something warm and toasty.

My long run was 8 miles again this week.  I am trying to get comfortable at 8 and I think that it is working; or at least I am developing the capacity to zone out for long enough that I can get through it.  This Saturday’s run was in Poughkeepsie because my sister had her baby on Friday morning and we stayed over to watch my niece.  Sleeping on a couch was not the most ideal and restful choice – it was pretty uncomfortable to have a long run planned after maybe 4 hours of crappy sleep, but that’s part of what this is all about – figuring out how to make it happen when you are tired.  The best part to my Saturday plan was my run ended on the campus of Vassar with brunch at Babycakes with Jutty. I will always be into running with a frittata incentive. 

This week we brought the smoothie back into full effect for breakfast.  I have really been into adding either almond butter or hemp seeds to them.  There are 8g of protein in two teaspoons and all essential amino acids.  Then the almond butter has another 7g of protein and factor in protein powder (and fruit) and they have been tasting pretty delicious.  I was trying to decide if I wanted to stick with organic whey or go with a brown rice, hemp or brazil nut protein instead.  Ohhh here we go - big decisions and alot of time spent at Mother Earth’s wandering around for me.  These are the things that I can get lost reading about on the internet. I am thinking about giving the brazil nut protein a try – gotta love a protein powder conundrum.  It is recommended that runners need .45 to .72 grams of protein per pound – which ends up being more then double what is supposedly recommended.  I am trying to drink half my protein in the first half of the day.  Let’s see what kind of protein powder my tummy decides on.

I feel like I have become a shit people say conversation - these are my favs so far:
Are you hungry?
Are you going to run today?
Do you want a smoothie?
Do you want cow's milk or almond milk?
When do you want to go to the gym?
What flavor protein powder?
How about a veggie burger?
Do you want roasted broccoli?
Do you want to run?
Is there hummus in the fridge?
Need a water?
Gonna go to the gym?
Want a snack?
Really more broccoli? Do we have any other veggie's?
Are you thirsty?
Should we go to the store?

Welcome to training! xoxo

here we go!

Today is my official start date for marathon training.  18 weeks of running, running and more running here I come!  I am starting my day without coffee and without a bagel – ughh – I feel like I can’t wake up.  Instead I've got a tea with a little honey and half a peanut butter sandwich.  I know that my morning coffee has too much sugar and too much cream in it so for now – out it goes.  That's the thing about training it isn't simply about running it's about fully embracing being healthy through eating clean, training consistently and getting enough rest.  If you don’t eat to fuel your body then your body will turn against you – it is pretty straightforward.  For me this is a delicate balance that I currently don’t have, but that is about to change.  Right now 18 weeks seems like a long way from here, but I know that once it gets going it's pretty much on the whole time.  My first half marathon of 2012 will be in March so that isn’t so far off. 

I have been sticking to running|cross-training 4 days a week for the last few months (in my seemingly short “off season” I have kept my base at 20 miles a week).  I have worked to add mileage to my base runs during the week as well getting comfortable with running 7-9 miles during my weekend long runs.  My strategy was that if I could bring my mileage up even a little bit then that would make the first month of long runs more enjoyable and I would feel less overwhelmed (and tired) especially with the cold temperatures.  This upcoming four weeks of long runs are 8 miles, 8 miles 10 miles and back down to 8 miles.

I ran 8 miles yesterday morning (for fun – yes you read that right).  It was really cold. I woke up early and looked at the temperature.  It was 10 degrees, so I stayed in bed a little longer.  I waited until it got up to 20 degrees to go out.  It was a rough first few miles.  I wore my trail sneakers because the ground and sidewalks were still covered with snow.  One section of my run blew because the sidewalk wasn’t cleared and there wasn’t a shoulder so I had to run on the shitty snowy sidewalk.  I kept telling myself that it was like running on the beach (except colder and with more layers on); I am feeling that extra workout today.  During the run I felt a little slow, but I think that I am still getting acclimated to the temperature because miles 6-8 were much easier and more enjoyable then the beginning ones.  When I left my house I told myself I would be happy with a run anywhere from 6-8 miles long, but once I was out I decided that I really wanted to get 8 in.  It is funny how when you are out you readjust your goals to align with what you actually want, not with what you think you can do.  Maybe that’s a sign of a good run? - this is one that I am still figuring out.  I am excited to see where the next 18 weeks takes me.

“Though we longed not to be lonely, we also feared the pain it would take us to be brought out of our lonely states. And after that fear, could we be guaranteed that we would never be returned to a state of loneliness again? We could not.” ― Edward Carey

what 2012 holds

I got into the shower last night after a 5 mile treadmill run and this blog started to write itself.  The main idea behind writing a blog is last year I wanted to documented the final 33 days of my marathon training and this year I want to document my entire 18 week training cycle...which starts next week. I almost didn’t want to write this because I am admitting to myself very early on that this is what I am actually going to do and that this is my goal for the first part of the year.  The tough part is I know what I am in for (and I still want to do it)!

Here is my intention (which keeps me honest): I want to write one blog a week for the duration of my training. Maybe someone reads it, maybe not - but it is out there.   I think that figuring out why running a second 26.2 is important to me will help.  Here are my big 4 reasons:

1. I want to be a healthier and fitter person. Running and eating go hand in hand.  Much of my focus during training is on eating healthy and clean so that I feel good and I can run with energy and clarity.  Less sugar here I come!

2. The sense of accomplishment that I felt crossing the finish line was the most amazing feeling that I have ever experienced. I want to feel that proud again.  What I felt wasn’t just the race day but the fact that I made the training journey to the starting line and that I did it day after day after day…

3. I want to see myself as a strong, beautiful and creative person who strives for my best each day. This isn’t just about running but about being myself – about making time for my artwork; for my family and friends all while living my life to the fullest. 

4. Believing that anything is possible is great way to live your life.  I want this to be always be part of my thinking - pretty simple.

Over the last few months I have worked hard when I have been tired (and it is totally dark out) to keep myself at 4 workouts a week (3 runs | 1 spinning class and two strength training days). I kept thinking “either I can make this hard for myself or I can make it easier” so I try to make it easier.  Right now I weigh about 10 lbs more then my normal weight - that I’m not super happy about, but I can’t really focus on that because it won’t get me anywhere I need to go.  I think that just being more conscious about what I am doing will help me (along with some longer runs coming up). 

I ran a 15K this past Saturday in Staatsburg at part of the Recover from the Holidays 50K.  You could just show up and run whatever you wanted.  I haven’t run more then 6.5 miles in probably two months so I was really psyched that the run went so well and I had more left when we hit our 15K goal.  I wanted to do the 15K just to see where I was at.  This weekend I will do a shorter long run somewhere between 5-7 miles and then next weekend I will shoot for 8 miles.  I have found that only looking at four weeks of training at a time is helpful so I never get overwhelmed with what is to come.  This helps me keep focused on where I am now. 

Here is my plan: March 11^th Celebrate Life Half Marathon, March 24^th Wurtsboro Mountain 30K, May 27^th KeyBank Vermont City Marathon. I need something for April but I am sure something will come up. 

“Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest. If you're going to while away the years, it's far better to live them with clear goals and fully alive then in a fog, and I believe running helps you to do that. Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that's the essence of running, and a metaphor for life…”
― Haruki Murakami