February and core is done, time to March into next phase of training #running

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today's Run

With today's run I effectively finished my 2 month of focusing on core training, and not pushing myself. I was sticking to a 3 day a week program, and was careful not to push the distance. This wasn't always easy, and I did cheat a little bit at the end with my Saturday runs with Jimmy. But it feels like it was well worth it. Sunday I hit 5 miles for the second week in a row, with the first 4+ miles of that being comfortable, and the only thing that really slowed me down at the end was the need to get to the bathroom, not leg pain. Which, considering where I was at in October and November, was big progress.

Now that that is done I had to ask myself the question: what do I want to do next? Do I want to go for the Full marathon, just a half, of just keep it easy? Well I set up training programs that covered all 3 scenarios. And then after sleeping on it I decided to opt for the Half Marathon option. The first reason is that when I looked at the training for the full I was forced to realize that I was talking about planning runs well upwards of 3-4 hours, probably pushing 5 hours! And while I do love running, to be honest there is basically nothing I enjoy so much that I want to do it for 4-5 hours straight. And that effectively eliminated the Marathon for now. That's a challenge I do want to accomplish, but not this year. Then I looked at the just take it easy program, and decided that wasn't enough of a challenge. So that is my challenge and next program: run another half marathon (at least 1, might do another depending on training progress.) 

Now that is based on my continuing to enjoy the process. If I feel like I am hurting myself, or the training becomes too tough, then I will allow myself to ease back. As I was telling 1 friend the other day, I enjoy running for running sake, it's not all about the races, or the calorie burn. So if the training becomes a chore then it could be time to just ease off and settle into an enjoyable pace and distance. 

Gotta keep plugging away, even when the legs doth protest #fitwinning

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today's Run

Not a good running day today, barely had enough energy to manage 3 miles. There were good reasons for this of course. I had a more active weekend than normal. 

Sunday's Run

That was a big one, following Saturday where I did my normal workout, then ran nearly 3 miles with James. Then to top that off I spent a good chunk of Sunday and Monday on my feet painting. So my body was pretty wiped. And I felt it right away today. Which was a little disappointing, I was hoping for a better run.

But let's be honest, I mean since when do I get upset and/or disappointed by only making it to 3 miles? I mean come on! Gotta focus on the now and celebrate the fact that I can do that much on a 'bad day'.

Return to the now, remember where I was, but remain focused on what I am doing, and what I am capable of, do not let the hopes & stresses of the future affect what I am doing now. That's the plan, just have to keep reminding myself.

Crossed a major milestone today, exercise provides the island of calm #running

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today's Run

This has been a rough week at home as far as my appetite, just haven't had the will power. But I kept up my work outs. And as of today I can say that I have run about 1000 miles in the past year and a half! I marked the time officially on the MiCoach web site, but that included some walking miles, but if I count in the running miles I logged using other tools I feel confident that number is about right. So, wow, 1000 miles, that's a lot. If you had told me even 3 years ago that I would have been celebrating that achievement I would have scoffed, and probably made some snide remark. But I have done it! And here's to the next thousand!

I decided to change up my non running workouts a little. I was doing planks, but I never felt that those were doing much for me. So I decided to return to the 100 Push ups app. That gives me a goal and a more measurable workout where I can see the improvement. 

So, despite the fails of will power I have held to my activity schedule, and that's really the biggest part. It's a lot easier to say 'yeah, I need to drop a couple of pounds but at least I can run a 5K in less than 30 minutes' than it is to say, 'oh I only ate 1000 calories yesterday, but I am still gasping for air when I try to run a mile or wrestle with my kids'. Or at least that's where I stand. And the overall fitness makes a big difference when the household is fighting colds and various illnesses. I still caught a cold, but it ran it's standard 7 day course and went away, instead of lingering. And while I would still like to develop a sedentary hobby, I know that I at least have that time every day where I can focus on myself and exercise, which does help combat the day to day stress of life with an active family.

Celebrating my 1K post with a great Tempo Run

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today's Run

Wow, didn't realize I had hit 1 thousand posts, that's an awful lot, toss in the posts from the other blogs and I guess I have really been pretty damn productive at this blogging thing. Not that it has attracted a large audience, but you know that is not why I do it. It is my journal, my way of tracking all that I do and think about, and a record of my achievements, and a place to talk through ideas.

Anyway, it was not easy to get through today's run. Last night the entire household decided to make it hard to sleep. The cat was her usual annoying self. Both dogs were restless, ending up in our bed, and making it impossible to sleep comfortably. And then Emily had an accident and woke up, I was able to get her back into her bed for a while, but she ended up with us eventually. And then Danny woke up about the time my alarm went off. All of this on a night when Kim really needed her rest as she is fighting a lingering cold.

But I got up and got my act together and put my feet on the pavement. I get nervous about these tempo runs some times, will I really be able to keep the pace that I should. But I did pretty well. Despite being tired, and despite my left calf having a knot that just doesn't want to break loose for some reason. But I kept going, and stuck as close as possible to the pacing. 

It's really days like this that make me glad for the running, because it helps me get up & get moving. And while I have battled 2 colds so fat this winter, they have just run their basic course and not lingered like they have in the past when I was not in as good of shape.

Plateaus suck, but remember the mantra: 1 day at a time

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today's Workout

Stuck in a bit of a plateau right now. But I am focusing on the present, focused on today's run for example, not on what I did (or did not do) last week, or what I need to do differently in the coming week. That's one of the harder things to do with regard to fitness and weight loss. Once you know what works for you, for lack of a better phrase: 'Just Do It'. I know what I have to eat, how much of it etc. I know what exercises I need to do and what I will do. So it just remains to do those things, and I know from past experience that the rest will come along. 

Today I added back in a hill on my run, and it felt good, and not overly strenuous, my legs feel good with no pain from the added strain. This is what I mean about how things will come along. If I remain focused on doing what I have been doing, the base will be built. And therefore I will be ready when it is time to progress to a more difficult challenge. 

No Cold, or bad weather could stop me from running

Dear James, Daniel and Emily,

Today's Workout

Last week I caught a cold, no doubt from those little germ bearing creatures I lovingly refer to as my children. Anyway, I held to my running schedule, save for Thursday when the cold was at it's worst. But I refused to let it slow me down otherwise. And I didn't let the weather stop me either, no matter how cold it got. I can't say the same for my other exercises, but I did run.

But I did 2 things over the weekend that reminded me why I exercise, try to lose weight, and stay fit. First, on Saturday I took James with me on a run, did almost 2 miles. He had mentioned wanting to run in a race with me, so I figured that the St. Patrick's day 5K would be a good one. And so we started our Saturday training runs, with the goal of working up to a 5K before the actual race. He did quite well, and it was fun to have him out there doing something together.

Second, Sunday morning, after breakfast and my run I was getting ready to get in the shower, Kim & Emily were just getting done. And Danny comes running up and attacks me. So I start wrestling with him and then James leap into the fray. I think we wrestled for a good 15 minutes all told. It was so much fun, I had been looking forward to wrestling with the kids for a while, when they got old enough. And the ability to get down and do so is another great reason to get & stay fit.