I knew there were going to be some aspects of marathon training that would be foreign. Take running, for instance, I know how to run. You run and then you eventually reach your destination. But not for marathon training, with short running at intensity 7-8 or medium runs at intensity 6 or Fartlek runs or hill training. All different and all necessary, some to a larger degree than others.
One part of training I did not consider as much as I am now, Diet! Diet is important and I would severely discredit my degree (Food Science and Human Nutrition) if I didn't alter my diet to reflect my training. I did not foresee the extent that I would need to alter my diet. I am glad I am realizing this now because I can see myself going from lean and fit to emaciated quickly. Don't worry family and friends, I will make sure to eat up. Just some food for thought (I love when blogs come full circle).
January 30, 2010
January 26, 2010
Elliptathon
I made it to the gym and worked out today. That is the good news. The weather, a combination of cold, snow and ice, and the lack of adequate daylight hours drove me into my apartment complex's gym. The bad news, for me, is that the treadmills are temporarily out of order. Come on! Both treadmills! Don't they know I am training for an upcoming marathon?
Sure I coulddddd go "outside" and "run" on the "road," but what do I look like a barbarian? These are civilized time, The Age of Treadmills. Sure I am not going to run the marathon on a treadmill but for training purposes, they are awesome. The only options were the two ellipticles, a stationary bike without straps on the pedals and the weight lifting machine. The ellipticle it was. 50 minutes to be exact.
It was a good workout. There was sweat, there was heavy breathing, there was sighing longingly at the treadmill. I know this much, if the marathon will be taking place on an ellipticle, I'll be set.
Sure I coulddddd go "outside" and "run" on the "road," but what do I look like a barbarian? These are civilized time, The Age of Treadmills. Sure I am not going to run the marathon on a treadmill but for training purposes, they are awesome. The only options were the two ellipticles, a stationary bike without straps on the pedals and the weight lifting machine. The ellipticle it was. 50 minutes to be exact.
It was a good workout. There was sweat, there was heavy breathing, there was sighing longingly at the treadmill. I know this much, if the marathon will be taking place on an ellipticle, I'll be set.
January 25, 2010
Strike Two
Coming off a day when I have run farther than I think I have ever run, I decided to take it easy. A decent pace and good distance earned me a day off - well at least a day where the most running was taking the dog for a spin or two around the block. Besides my joints were stiff and Achilles tendon was as taut as a guitar string. The run was Saturday and here I am Monday and I am left feeling like a slacker. Is this what running does to you? Makes you feel miserable when you don't run. It does feel good after I run, I guess I have to just keep running.
Well, tomorrow I am going to get back too it. What "it" is shall be determined tomorrow. I was informed today that the treadmills at my complex are not working. This leaves ellipticle and stationary bike. I have to get some solid cardio in tomorrow. My heart needs to feel like I am out to get it. The last two workout prior to the long run were ellipticle. The options are somewhat limited and sometimes you take what you can get. As long as I am on a workout machine where my legs are moving for more than an hour. That's right an hour. What up nay-sayers. Who is saying "nay" now? Probably horses, but that is besides the point.
Ok, so if you can't tell by that little tangent I am a little on the tired side of life. That is part of the reason why I did not workout tonight. I figured a night of solid rest would be miles better for me. I hope I figured right because the clock is ticking and I need to get some serious training in. And I will, then I will blog about it, and then everybody wins.
Well, tomorrow I am going to get back too it. What "it" is shall be determined tomorrow. I was informed today that the treadmills at my complex are not working. This leaves ellipticle and stationary bike. I have to get some solid cardio in tomorrow. My heart needs to feel like I am out to get it. The last two workout prior to the long run were ellipticle. The options are somewhat limited and sometimes you take what you can get. As long as I am on a workout machine where my legs are moving for more than an hour. That's right an hour. What up nay-sayers. Who is saying "nay" now? Probably horses, but that is besides the point.
Ok, so if you can't tell by that little tangent I am a little on the tired side of life. That is part of the reason why I did not workout tonight. I figured a night of solid rest would be miles better for me. I hope I figured right because the clock is ticking and I need to get some serious training in. And I will, then I will blog about it, and then everybody wins.
January 17, 2010
se7en
Have you deciphered the code? No! it has nothing to do with Kevin Spacey and Brad Pitt. The title aptly describes the number of miles I ran yesterday. Nuts right. Whats more, it is only slightly more than a quarter than what I will be running come May. I suppose that is why I train.
Now I read somewhere (a phrase that I will probably be saying a lot) that you should do long runs a minute slower than marathon pace. I have a hard time doing that, seeing as how I don't know what my marathon pace will be yet. So I just ran and ran and ran. If I felt a little tired I slowed down, if the mood struck me, I sped up. I channeled the shark mentality... if I stop moving, I die!
Seeing as how I haven't run 7 miles in a good few years, I am quite sore today. I did not realize how sore. I mean, how do my thumbs get sore or my elbows! Seriously, it is odd. And the night after I hungered. They could have done a TLC special on me. The runner who is full and hungry at the same time.
I did feel good to know that I can physically move more than 2 miles at any given time. Also, that the treadmill seems to be paying off which is good because if the weather turned I will be back inside. I will be hitting the treadmill today on account of the rain. Apparently the day after a long run you need a "recovery day." What I learned was recovery means running more to combat soreness. You know what else I read combats soreness... SCOTCH! Sigh! The scotch will have to wait until after May 2nd. Talk about sacrifice.
Now I read somewhere (a phrase that I will probably be saying a lot) that you should do long runs a minute slower than marathon pace. I have a hard time doing that, seeing as how I don't know what my marathon pace will be yet. So I just ran and ran and ran. If I felt a little tired I slowed down, if the mood struck me, I sped up. I channeled the shark mentality... if I stop moving, I die!
Seeing as how I haven't run 7 miles in a good few years, I am quite sore today. I did not realize how sore. I mean, how do my thumbs get sore or my elbows! Seriously, it is odd. And the night after I hungered. They could have done a TLC special on me. The runner who is full and hungry at the same time.
I did feel good to know that I can physically move more than 2 miles at any given time. Also, that the treadmill seems to be paying off which is good because if the weather turned I will be back inside. I will be hitting the treadmill today on account of the rain. Apparently the day after a long run you need a "recovery day." What I learned was recovery means running more to combat soreness. You know what else I read combats soreness... SCOTCH! Sigh! The scotch will have to wait until after May 2nd. Talk about sacrifice.
January 12, 2010
The Blow Out
Got your attention!!! Probably not because you are one of the few people that follow this blog and would have read it had the title been "Aww shucks the fuse blew on the treadmill" followed by a sad emoticon like this: :(
Anyway, I am ok physically but about 15 minutes into my treadmill run the fuse blew and the power on both treadmills went out. This left me and the treadmiller next to me, dressed oddly similar to me, staring at each other asking "Where is the fuse box?" Apparently in it is in a locked room in the gym.
What is a runner to do? Stationary bike? Ellipticle? That was what I would say too; however, all other non-powered machines were occupied. So weights it was, some heavy lifting and whatnot. It was all I could do try and keep my heart rate up. Afterwards a jog home was in order and since it wasn't bone chillingly cold out and the wind wasn't cutting into my soul I ran around the "long" way. Well longer way. And when I reached my apartment, a good song came on my Ipod so I took another lap. The another good song which led to another lap. Three laps was it as it started to get a little chilly.
Back inside. It was overall a rather uninspired training session, but we keep a chin up, shrug, and keep moving.
Anyway, I am ok physically but about 15 minutes into my treadmill run the fuse blew and the power on both treadmills went out. This left me and the treadmiller next to me, dressed oddly similar to me, staring at each other asking "Where is the fuse box?" Apparently in it is in a locked room in the gym.
What is a runner to do? Stationary bike? Ellipticle? That was what I would say too; however, all other non-powered machines were occupied. So weights it was, some heavy lifting and whatnot. It was all I could do try and keep my heart rate up. Afterwards a jog home was in order and since it wasn't bone chillingly cold out and the wind wasn't cutting into my soul I ran around the "long" way. Well longer way. And when I reached my apartment, a good song came on my Ipod so I took another lap. The another good song which led to another lap. Three laps was it as it started to get a little chilly.
Back inside. It was overall a rather uninspired training session, but we keep a chin up, shrug, and keep moving.
January 10, 2010
If You Can See the Tears, You Aren't Sweating Enough
The weekend has come and past and it was, by all accounts, a successful training weekend. The last thing I want to do is over-train and the very the last thing I want to do is not be in shape for the marathon and the very very last thing I want to do is get hurt.
It is tough training in the arctic tundra that is currently Cincinnati. My training is currently bound to the "gym" at my apartment complex. Small though it is, I think it has everything I need. Two treadmills, two ellipticles, two stationary bikes and a Nautilus machine. Sure the treadmills will stick as you are running and one of the bikes doesnt have foot straps and the wires on the treadmill are torn and frayed... actually I think the boys at Guantanamo Bay have better facilities. But you make do with what you have.
I will spare the details, but I successful worked out three days in a row. Two workouts on the treadmill and one on the ellipticle with some light weights tossed in here and there. Just trying to get my cardio in a more runner friendly state-of-mind. Speaking of which it is about that time. And speaking of time blog fan(s), the last blog was not written at 6:36 am, more like 10:40 am just for clarification. I am supposed to be waking up early for running not blogging.
Also, I was informed that the first person to run a marathon died at the end. Makes you think. Makes me think he didn't keep to his training schedule.
It is tough training in the arctic tundra that is currently Cincinnati. My training is currently bound to the "gym" at my apartment complex. Small though it is, I think it has everything I need. Two treadmills, two ellipticles, two stationary bikes and a Nautilus machine. Sure the treadmills will stick as you are running and one of the bikes doesnt have foot straps and the wires on the treadmill are torn and frayed... actually I think the boys at Guantanamo Bay have better facilities. But you make do with what you have.
I will spare the details, but I successful worked out three days in a row. Two workouts on the treadmill and one on the ellipticle with some light weights tossed in here and there. Just trying to get my cardio in a more runner friendly state-of-mind. Speaking of which it is about that time. And speaking of time blog fan(s), the last blog was not written at 6:36 am, more like 10:40 am just for clarification. I am supposed to be waking up early for running not blogging.
Also, I was informed that the first person to run a marathon died at the end. Makes you think. Makes me think he didn't keep to his training schedule.
January 9, 2010
Getting Back to It
Despite my name, I am not flying anywhere. Especially nowhere fast. But I will and soon. I have never been in amazing shape. I was good enough to run circles around my family during Thanksgiving football games and can hold my own in most sports. But a marathon, that is a different story.
A little history, my friend (and I use that term loosely) Dan convinced me to run a marathon in May. I know Dan is my friend, but sometimes I wonder. He does things like ask me to hike high mountains at an inhuman pace. As we climb, he hikes on ahead, waits for me and catches his breath. As soon as I reach him he asks if I am still good. Full of air and moxie he is ready to go as I huff and puff and forge on. In the end we reach the summit and it feels pretty good. So I can't fault him because in the end, he pushes me to do what I might not have done on my own.
Well I did it. Sober I might add. I signed up for a marathon in may of this year. May 2nd, but whose counting. With less than five months to train I got back to it. Sort of. I had dreams of waking up at 5 am, jogging to the gym, and putting in a good 45 minutes. I figured 45 minutes of running, biking, lifting weights (mostly the first two) would be a good start. Unfortunately it was just that a dream. I am not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination. I can wake up and can form coherent sentences but putting in more work than basic resting metabolism is asking a lot.
Waking up last week was not a problem, laying in bed for 30 minutes was. But this week, this week will be different. I will wake up and start going to the gym in the morning EARLY even.
More than that, I set my goals high... to high. For instance, not running more than 2 miles for months and I set a goal yesterday of 5 miles. I managed three. And I will run another three today. Better get back to it.
A little history, my friend (and I use that term loosely) Dan convinced me to run a marathon in May. I know Dan is my friend, but sometimes I wonder. He does things like ask me to hike high mountains at an inhuman pace. As we climb, he hikes on ahead, waits for me and catches his breath. As soon as I reach him he asks if I am still good. Full of air and moxie he is ready to go as I huff and puff and forge on. In the end we reach the summit and it feels pretty good. So I can't fault him because in the end, he pushes me to do what I might not have done on my own.
Well I did it. Sober I might add. I signed up for a marathon in may of this year. May 2nd, but whose counting. With less than five months to train I got back to it. Sort of. I had dreams of waking up at 5 am, jogging to the gym, and putting in a good 45 minutes. I figured 45 minutes of running, biking, lifting weights (mostly the first two) would be a good start. Unfortunately it was just that a dream. I am not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination. I can wake up and can form coherent sentences but putting in more work than basic resting metabolism is asking a lot.
Waking up last week was not a problem, laying in bed for 30 minutes was. But this week, this week will be different. I will wake up and start going to the gym in the morning EARLY even.
More than that, I set my goals high... to high. For instance, not running more than 2 miles for months and I set a goal yesterday of 5 miles. I managed three. And I will run another three today. Better get back to it.
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