According to the book, this week I should be out walking 4 days, 30 minutes per day, at the same pace as last week (17-20 min mile). I'm walking at a little bit better clip than that, which will make next week a bit easier.
It looks like I will be entering the world of marital marathoning. Jim has decided to join me in my madness. We shall see if time permits. Last time he ran into hip problems but that was probably due to skipping through portions of the preliminary training..tsk, tsk..and his skeletal system just wasn't properly readied for the task. He didn't do Week One with me this time, but when he was in Chicago last week, he did a bit of walking around town. Now we just have to find a good time to do this every day.
Lest I get cushy, there is a fresh dusting of snow on the ground to slog through, it's 38 degrees, and there is an 80% chance of freezing drizzle. Oh goody, optimum training weather! I would zip out and go now before the heavens burst forth, but I have to start school with the girls soon and there is no one here to watch Carrie anyway. I'll get out there later. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night....
If you're having trouble sticking to any kind of exercise program, you might consider getting a copy of the book listed to the right, and jump in to train. There is something about exercise with a specific, large, seemingly unattainable goal attached that kind of keeps you going. Once you flap your gums about it to someone else, then you actually have to follow through with it. This is a GOOD thing (really).
Monday, February 4, 2008
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Third Training Day of Week 1
As lame as it may seem to anyone out there who is in any kind of shape at all, today was an accomplishment for me. I actually finished this week's training. Three days, 30 minutes, 17 min/mi pace.
I actually learned something this morning, too. Never run in cold weather without Kleenex. You aren't the only thing running.
Today was good. Though I can't say I thoroughly enjoyed it, I was able to push myself and get back 4.5 minutes earlier than usual. It felt good to push ahead of my required pace.
As a side note, just so everyone knows, I don't care about pace once it gets to the marathon. My goal is to finish....running, walking, or crawling....unfortunately I think the third option is probably more likely. I was at the marathon website the other day and I started panicking a little. This is a pretty cool marathon. It crosses the border with Canada twice, you run underneath the Detroit River, take a spin on Belle Isle, etc. Unfortunately, if you don't reach the first border crossing by a certain time, they come and pick you up and your race is over. I can just see it now. "okay, let's go pick up all the marathoner-wanna-be-losers" that just wasted their registration fees. I mean, come on......I'm sure no one who starts the marathon thinks they're going to be one of the 'picked-up-ones'. Oh, well. There are certainly worse things in life.
Week One training: Complete!
I actually learned something this morning, too. Never run in cold weather without Kleenex. You aren't the only thing running.
Today was good. Though I can't say I thoroughly enjoyed it, I was able to push myself and get back 4.5 minutes earlier than usual. It felt good to push ahead of my required pace.
As a side note, just so everyone knows, I don't care about pace once it gets to the marathon. My goal is to finish....running, walking, or crawling....unfortunately I think the third option is probably more likely. I was at the marathon website the other day and I started panicking a little. This is a pretty cool marathon. It crosses the border with Canada twice, you run underneath the Detroit River, take a spin on Belle Isle, etc. Unfortunately, if you don't reach the first border crossing by a certain time, they come and pick you up and your race is over. I can just see it now. "okay, let's go pick up all the marathoner-wanna-be-losers" that just wasted their registration fees. I mean, come on......I'm sure no one who starts the marathon thinks they're going to be one of the 'picked-up-ones'. Oh, well. There are certainly worse things in life.
Week One training: Complete!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Day 2, Week One of My Foolish Dreams
It was rainy out.....but it didn't matter.
I had water swamping over the top of my shoes....but it didn't matter.
It was terribly windy out....but it didn't matter.
It was uphill A-L-L-T-H-E-W-A-Y-H-O-M-E!.....but it didn't matter.
I didn't feel like going.....but it didn't matter.
It was about as much fun as jabbing a pencil in my eye....but it didn't matter.
I did it anyway.....and that's what matters!
Day 2, 2 miles, walking, 34 minutes total. Don't laugh. At least I'm doing it.
I had water swamping over the top of my shoes....but it didn't matter.
It was terribly windy out....but it didn't matter.
It was uphill A-L-L-T-H-E-W-A-Y-H-O-M-E!.....but it didn't matter.
I didn't feel like going.....but it didn't matter.
It was about as much fun as jabbing a pencil in my eye....but it didn't matter.
I did it anyway.....and that's what matters!
Day 2, 2 miles, walking, 34 minutes total. Don't laugh. At least I'm doing it.
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Battle Has Been Joined
I started pre-training about 2 hours ago. After stepping on the treadmill for the first time in months, I have to constantly fight thoughts of a marathon being a moronic idea. So, while my fitness goal for 2008 is the marathon, I have to 'eat the elephant' one bite at a time.
This is what week one of pre-training is supposed to look like: Moderate walking pace (17-20 min/mile), 3 days per week, 30 minutes per day. No big deal. Today it started with the freezing rain just before I was going to go out. David had to go into work, Jeff had to go to a friend's house to practice some music, and of course, Jim is out of town for the week. All this to say that Carrie didn't have anyone to watch her. Being determined not to delay the dreaded 'getting started' phase of this whole thing, I dragged my sorry carcass to the Y. Carrie played basketball with the kids while I worked out.
Since treadmill workouts are so much easier than the road variety, I walked a couple of 15-minute miles instead of the 17-20. I did run (using that term loosely) for 3 minutes of the 30. Bully for me.
At least I did it. Carrie is all cranked up about going again tomorrow night, too. I'm glad. That way I have to follow through. Mom can't say, 'Hey, let's go to the Y!' and then bag out on it.
Day 1, Week 1. Still feeling pathetic, but that should change. My job was to get started. I did.....and I'm glad!
This is what week one of pre-training is supposed to look like: Moderate walking pace (17-20 min/mile), 3 days per week, 30 minutes per day. No big deal. Today it started with the freezing rain just before I was going to go out. David had to go into work, Jeff had to go to a friend's house to practice some music, and of course, Jim is out of town for the week. All this to say that Carrie didn't have anyone to watch her. Being determined not to delay the dreaded 'getting started' phase of this whole thing, I dragged my sorry carcass to the Y. Carrie played basketball with the kids while I worked out.
Since treadmill workouts are so much easier than the road variety, I walked a couple of 15-minute miles instead of the 17-20. I did run (using that term loosely) for 3 minutes of the 30. Bully for me.
At least I did it. Carrie is all cranked up about going again tomorrow night, too. I'm glad. That way I have to follow through. Mom can't say, 'Hey, let's go to the Y!' and then bag out on it.
Day 1, Week 1. Still feeling pathetic, but that should change. My job was to get started. I did.....and I'm glad!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Now I'm Just Scared
I'm now realizing that it's only about 2 weeks until February 1st, at which time I will have to put my money where my mouth is and start pre-training. I look outside and see the piles of slushy snow. I imagine dragging new running shoes through that. I imagine being chilled and not being able to warm back up. Aren't I just Miss Negative 2008?
I've got to say, my biggest fear isn't being able to run the 26.2 miles. It's just getting started. Noone who's done the training program in the book (see sidebar) has been unable to finish no matter what their previous running history was. I believe that and I know it can be done. I just am dreading taking those first few steps. I'm scared of seeing how much work it really is going to be. I'm nervous that I will entertain thoughts of this being a stupid idea. I'm petrified of...............myself.
I suppose that now is the time I should be preparing mentally to get the job done. No looking back. No excuses. Like he says in the book.....arm yourself with "it doesn't matter".
It's slushy out.......but it doesn't matter.
I have a headache.........but it doesn't matter.
I don't feel like running.........but it doesn't matter.
I guess launching my running 'career' during the sloppiest months of the year ensures that it can only get better and more comfortable to run, right? RIGHT?
I'll be back....
Karen
I've got to say, my biggest fear isn't being able to run the 26.2 miles. It's just getting started. Noone who's done the training program in the book (see sidebar) has been unable to finish no matter what their previous running history was. I believe that and I know it can be done. I just am dreading taking those first few steps. I'm scared of seeing how much work it really is going to be. I'm nervous that I will entertain thoughts of this being a stupid idea. I'm petrified of...............myself.
I suppose that now is the time I should be preparing mentally to get the job done. No looking back. No excuses. Like he says in the book.....arm yourself with "it doesn't matter".
It's slushy out.......but it doesn't matter.
I have a headache.........but it doesn't matter.
I don't feel like running.........but it doesn't matter.
I guess launching my running 'career' during the sloppiest months of the year ensures that it can only get better and more comfortable to run, right? RIGHT?
I'll be back....
Karen
Friday, January 4, 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Still Here?
Yes, I'm in the land of the living. As planned, I'll be back and in pre-training by Feb. 1st. Please be sure to check in then and let me know if you'll be a newbie marathoner in 2008, and which race.
Karen
Karen
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