Tuesday, December 26, 2006

This Week

Here is this weeks schedule:

Looks as though weather will still be favorable. Nothing below 50 in the forecast.

Monday Report

3.1 miles / 28 min/ Treadmill/ Wed

5.5 miles(approx)/ 48:56/ Hills/ Thurs

6.2 miles (approx)/ 1 hr./ Hills/ Sat

10.4 miles/ 1:47/ Hills/ Sun


A decent week of training last week. Missed one short weekday run but I have learned that it's actually ok to miss one now and again. It's the middle run that is most important and the weekend runs. Since I am a bit behind in the schedule in terms of actual mileage, I just ran 10.4 on Sunday instead of the scheduled 12. I could have run 12, but I also realize I need to listen to my body and be smart. This week is what they call a "step-back" week, where the mileage decreases. It's like you take 2 steps forward and one step back. But, this is a good thing. I feel I should be able to catch up this week and be totally on schedule by next Monday.

The body is holding up just fine. The weather has been perfect…not very cold at all. Of course, this may change at any moment. I also bought some new kicks today. On sale and then I used a coupon with a gift card. Free and then some. Who can beat that??

Cheers!

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

This is what I am to do this week. I will keep you posted on the progress.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

from the beginning

This is a blog about the chronicles of my marathon training for the upcoming ING Georgia Marathon. As I have learned from past trainings I have done, the training in itself is much more difficult than getting out on the road on a particular day to run 26.2 miles. The training takes weeks and weeks of nothing but dedication, sacrifice, preparation, guts and courage. Someone who trains for a marathon is crazy. I admit that. There are few and fleeting moments of pleasure. Most of it is painful. Sometimes dreadful. And yet, here I am again, going for number 5. Why? Because I can. Because just because I have done it before doesn't mean I can do it again. I saw this happen in the summer when I quit the training for the Lake Tahoe Marathon. Mentally, I was tired. Physically, I was exhausted. And now, I am back. In better spirits and with a better mental mindset of why I take on the challenge. I am already 4 weeks into the training and a tad bit behind schedule. I cannot worry. I have to trust by body. Trust that it will get me where I need to go. Sometimes, I question my physical abilities, but I rarely question my determination. I am ready to go. Ready to see. Why do I do it? Well, to sum up the late George Sheehan, "for the chance, the opportunity, to be my own hero."
I hope you will find the chronicles interesting and possibly even motivating. As I delve into the first 3rd of the training program I follow, I recall what it felt like to finish my 1st, my 2nd, 3rd and 4th marathons. That moment of pure joy, ecstasy, exhilaration, exhaustion and accomplishment is all the motivation I need. Cheers!