I am into week 3 of my marathon training already. I am taking 6 months to train which is a lot, but I could not wait to start since I decided over 4 months ago to do this thing. I also started my nutrition plan which is just more of a healthy eating diet allowing myself Saturday, after my long run as my "cheat" day. So far, I have done o.k. I have had a few bites here and there of things I am not suppose to eat during the week, but I am doing far better than I was. I think that soon I am going to need to eat A LOT more because I am hungry all the time right now.
So here's how week one went; Monday rest, Tuesday Military Madness, Wednesday run with the group including 4 400 meter repeats and about 4 miles total, Thursday 3 mile light run, Friday rest, and Saturday 8 miles. Total mileage = about 15 miles.
Week two was a little more work; Monday about 3 miles, Tuesday 30 minutes on the elliptical, Wednesday run with the group including a one miler and about 3 total miles (this was rough though 3 miles does not seem like a lot. Unfortunately my one mile at full speed was a minute longer than my best at 9:05. I think the heat affected me a lot, but will try it again soon to try to improve that dramatically). Thursday I attempted to do half hour of spin and then a 35 minute run. I finished it but think that I will have to drop the spinning on running days until I am adjusted to the extra running. Friday was a rest day and Saturday was a run of about 8 miles or so. Sometimes we still have a hard time figuring out exactly what mileage we have run on the trail but since the training guide I am relying on is done by time anyway it does not matter too much. later I will be able to look back on how many miles I have done in the amount of time given and see the improvements I have made. So the total for the week was about 17 miles!!
Although it has only been 2 complete weeks so far, I have already learned a few things!! I need to worry about myself only and not the other runners along the way. It's so easy to compare yourself to others and make yourself think that you are not doing a good job, but the focus must only be on improving what I have done and not others. Then I also have to remember that there will be days that are not so great, but that only leaves room for getting better!!
So here is the conversation that I have with myself (in my head of course): Me: "that was such a bad run!" Me: "Yeah but think of where you used to be!" Me: But I was way in the back of other runners who I don't even think have been running as long as I have." Me: "Do you remember in high school when you HATED to run even during b-ball practice. You would have never gone out and run just for fun." Me: That's true and seriously 8 miles!! I never would have imagined even a year ago that I would be running 8+ miles at one time." I guess I am doing o.k. and I have plenty of time to be ready for this thing. Next run will be better."
Sounds crazy I know, but sometimes you can be your best motivator. We'll see how this week goes. Plan on a post about once a week to update what I have done for that week. Sorry if you get bored with that but it's more for me than anything. I will hopefully be able to look back in three months and see what areas I have been able to improve on and maybe even where I need to make some changes.
The journey has begun!
