Better than Ever!

Just a quick update. Work's been pretty busy, and I have not been very active online in terms of any writing. I did manage to eek out a mildly acceptable training regimen for my half-marathon. I was pretty nervous the couple of days before the race, but I ran it as strong as I could and finished in 2:03:32. I wanted under two hours, but long water stops and cramps at the end got the best of me. I averaged around a 9:30 pace.

I remember during training how tough the runs were. Once you start running past an hour per training run, there's nothing fun about workouts. Couple the long time with the treadmill (training was mostly in the winter and we had a rough one in NE), and it was a grind week in and week out. I remember on more than one occasion that I said I would never train for another half. But...but the fact that I ran it so close to two hours makes me think that I could do it next time.

After my race, I changed up my routines again. Now I'm doing somewhat of a split for my weights. Instead of two weight workouts and two runs a week, I'm aiming for three weight workouts and two runs a week. I was aiming for shorter workouts and just being more active during the week. I recently got in a very good week of sleep too and was rewarded with 8:30 miles during my last 4+ mile runs. I hope to get faster so that my future races would be faster.

Lesson from this post? Rest is very important.


Last weight-in:
169.0 lb

How bad do you want it?

I came across this video from HBO last week.  It's inspirational as heck, and I thought I'd share it.  It shows that if you want something, then go get it.  It's not going to be easy.  It'll be a lot of work.  It'll be hard.  But if you are determined enough.  Persevere enough.  Push enough.  You'll get it.



Same for fitness.  You don't need a special diet.  You don't need a special workout.  You don't have to get fit in 90 days.  You don't have to slim down X amount of pounds in X amount of time.  Fitness isn't something you get on and get off.  It's a life change.  Who cares if it takes you two years versus two months to get your six-pack?  Or if you have to run the marathon next year versus this year (although you can't keep delaying a goal.  That's procrastination.)?  What matters is that you keep working.  Keep striving.  Keep improving.  One rep at a time.  One foot at a time.  One second at a time.  One ounce at time.  You'll get there.

I have pictures of me from 2007 when I thought I'd go on P90X.  Work and life got in the way.  Never did get the body I wanted in 90 days.  It's 2011.  I'm doing my own consistent workouts.  Running pretty consistently.  Eating consistently.  My pictures today are pretty good.  Am I satisfied?  Nope.  I'll still aim for that extra rep each week.  That extra second off my running time.  That extra .01% off my body fat.  That extra foot in my distance runs.  You know why?  Because I want it bad.  And this video reminds me when I forget.


Last weigh-in:
168.0lb

P.S. Don't have the guts to post the pictures yet, but the progress is amazing.  I suggest you take pictures, if not for tracking progress, then for bragging rights if you are already fit.

A New Year, A New Challenge?

So it's 2011, people.  I feel like last year just came and went.  Overall, I'd say 2010 went decent.  If I have to go by the guideline that I should do something that scares me, well, I did it.  The triathlon scared me for eight weeks.  Now I'm wondering what I should do to "scare" me this year.

Since the tri, I've been lifting twice a week and running twice a week.  I've built up my mileage such that I've been running at least six miles each run for the past couple of weeks.  I wouldn't say I'm addicted to running, since I seem to have a love/hate relationship with it.  There are days where I dread going out in the cold or to the boring treadmill at the gym.  Then there's the constant grind for a few miles before I even start feeling good about running.  But man, right when I hit the one hour mark, I feel great.  I mean, what a feeling it is to know that your mind and will is strong enough to push your body!  I hit 10K distance a few weeks ago, and I felt GREAT.  I reached 8 miles one run a couple of weeks ago, and that felt AWESOME despite the fact I could barely walk at the end.  So yeah, love/hate.

I haven't ran outside for about a week since the snowstorm hit.  It's draining to watch where you're landing your foot strikes and hope you didn't hit ice.  So, I've been running at Planet Fitness on the treadmill.  Downside is that the treadmill automatically starts cooldown after one hour.  So I aim to be faster each time I go to the treadmill.  I usually aim for increasing distance when I'm running outdoors.

Recently, my cousin has been bugging me to do a half-marathon with him.  Needless to say, a 2+ hour run is not very appealing to me at all.  Thoughts of hitting the wall or succumbing to a walk has been discouraging me from committing.  Yet, I've been constantly running twice a week, always aiming for 6+ miles each run.  The half is in March,  and I have plenty of time to train for it.  Not to mention the fact I did run 8 miles helps.  I'll admit, the half scares me a bit.  Can I actually run for that long?  Lately, I've been questioning why I convince myself out of doing things that scare me.  So, I'm pretty certain that I will attempt the half in March.    I just need to bring myself to sign up for it.  Haha.

So depending on how soon I decide, 2011's first challenge will be a half-marathon.  Now to go find some new running shoes!


Last weigh-in:
169.0 lb (The running is making it difficult to keep building mass)