can't wait for the regular season

Wow still in my preseason already at my pre wedding weight, kids never seen me this size, running 50 mins straight, signed up for a marathon and really cleaning up my diet. the pre season has made me think the 45th year can be so much more than I originally imagined. My fittest year ever, yes, still the main goal but also to inspire others, my kids and really set me up for an awesome 45-90 second part of my life. Stay tuned! The 45th year begins June 21st!

Mandatory Drug testing?

So last post I mentioned I signed up not for the 1/2 marathon as planned for in October but the full marathon. Now some background. I'm fairly new back to running and most who I've talked to about this think it is nuts and wonder if I might have been consuming some non performance enhancing non prescription, non legal medication during the sign up process.  I'm still not convinced either way. I need some input from anyone who might have experience.  Here is my rational for the full not the half and a bit of background on me beyond what the rest of this blog explains. I have always thought of the marathon as a great fitness goal, a challenging achievement (the half most certainly is as well but isn't in my mind as out there or as motivating).  I have no time goal just to finish and I plan to continue training and doing the event using a run walk method, kind of a Jeff Galloway thing, google it if you aren't familiar.  I'm able to comfortably run over an hour and over 6 miles at this point and have been walking and then running since September though running is really since Jan in any consistent way. Finally if I get up in mileage later in the summer during the long runs and find it too taxing on the joints etc then I'm happy to shift into the half and run a full at some other point. Right now I have momentum and motivation and summer gives me the time to put in the miles. Happy to hear your thoughts! 

Going great and and October challenge is decided.

In last few weeks things have really come together. I've been exercising with intensity and duration (at least an hour for the past 18 days. Eating is becoming pretty focused and I'm making good choices not feeling deprived. No back pain except when swimming so I've backed off that for the time being and increased the focus on tennis, running, biking, core work and the hundred push up program. Onto week 4 of the 100 push up program this week, just finished my first "long run" about 10k, I know not a long run for those who "run" but we are building up slowly, and had a couple of longer rides this weekend. Still filling out some of the 12 monthly challenges I'll set for the 45th year but October is now decided. 146 days from this post I'll be in the midst of my first marathon. http://www.hly royalvictoriamarathon.com/ On 10/10/10 the world will not end but I will hopefully be able to tick a box on my really want to do life list. I went to early register for the half Marathon but this is a year of pushing, a year of the highest level of fitness possible so 42.195 km or 26.2 miles it is. I'm pretty excited and have no time goals it is to finish and be able to enjoy celebrating after the event. We shall see.

What the ? I think I like to run?

Ok I've run before to train when I was in shape decades ago and hated almost every minute of it, but the last few runs have been dare I say fun???? Today I ran an extra 8 minutes and really didn't want to stop. I know for real runners out there an extra 8 mins is nothing but for me this is significant!! Preseason is rocking need to find some cool ways to ramp it up for the the 45th year when the season starts in 5 weeks or so.

less thinking = more doing

Challenge 2 is off to a great start 10 for 10 in May exercising for at least an hour and I'm 3 weeks into  http://hundredpushups.com/ getting tough but sticking it out. As most of you know some days doing the things that are good for us or that we need to do can be easy, but other days getting up to run, riding in the rain or getting off the couch can be harder! This past few weeks I've really focused on my own conversations with myself about working out. Two specific actions seem to have the most impact. The first is the timing of when the conversations start. There is absolutely no point in guessing how you feel, how the weather will be, how you should be doing something else, etc. when a workout is hours or even days away. Preparing is important, having your stuff ready etc but worrying about making a workout just gives you a longer time to argue yourself out of it, or rationalize why rest or rescheduling is a better idea.
The second thing that works for me is awareness of my self talk just prior to and during the workout. The lazy me will say take it easy on an interval or wait til later to workout or just walk not run but being completely aware of these conversation seems to quiet them and if they do surface, they seem to be much less effective, kind of like knowing the salesman tricks before negotiating. These two steps have helped me keep going on at least 2 runs and added intensity to most of my other workouts this month. Workouts and eating well are things I want to do and they will happen, so no point in having this negative internal dialogue.

April Numbers

Had a slow start so really two weeks of progress here (the last two weeks, one week of stabilizing and a week of no so good. Eating and exercise are now on track but May will require some very hard work, looking for 12lbs and a couple inches this month. 225 by June 1 gives me a shot at getting to the goal weight.

End of April Numbers

weight 237.8 DOWN 5.2 lbs
no change on measurements, weird but clothes fit better??
chest 45 inches
waist 44 inches
hips 46 inches

The starting numbers were:
weight 243 lbs
chest 45 inches
waist 44 inches
hips 46 inches

By June 20 I plan to have the following numbers.
weight  219
chest 44
waist 39
hips 43