Week 2

Week: 2

 Total miles run: 13 (3 miles, 3 miles, 7 miles)

Weight loss:  Somewhere between -1 lbs. and + 8 lbs.  (See below)

I hate the scale.  It's become an object of obsession in times past, particularly when I dropped all my weight 5 years ago and checked myself sometimes multiple times a day.  This practice is already unhealthy, but it becomes a mind game when the scale is unreliable and registers a different number about every third time I get on it.  It's doubtful I gained 8 lbs. in a week, but then again maybe the last few readings from weeks previous have been wrong.  Anyway,  I'm trying not to sweat the numbers (because I'm doing enough sweating already) and I'm encouraged by how I'm looking and feeling after a couple weeks of watching my food intake a bit better and consistently training.

But, enough about my vanity, as that's not really the whole point of this endeavor.  My 7 miler this week felt pretty good--that is--after the fact.  It's mildly comical the range of feelings and emotions I get on those long runs usually in this order: "Man, I'm not even half way done and I'm pretty sure I'm going to pass out...Man, I'm more than half way done and I'm feeling great like I could go forever!....Man, I have 100 yards to go and my legs might fall off before I get home...Man, that run was easy, I can do this again with no problem." The reality is that my body is well equipped to complete this thing, I just need to achieve that mind-over-matter hurdle.  I know it'll help on race day when I have 5,000 people running in the same direction helping me not feel so sorry for myself on mile 6 or so.

My last full week of school balancing training and a full work day,  and I'm thankful for that.  I've opted out of taking some online summer school courses, which was a total answer to prayer about being too busy and overloaded this summer.  I'm looking forward to a nice balance between staying busy (teaching summer school, taking professional development courses, training, vacationing) and getting some much needed rest.

It was a great long Memorial Day weekend of friends and family and also some good alone time as well. I'm ready for week 3!

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Week 1

Week: 1 Total miles run: 12 (3 miles, 3 miles, 6 miles)

Weigt loss: 2 pounds

A successful first official week of training!

The 3 mile runs were easy peasy, but the 6 was a bit of a challenge due to my first taste of to weather running Saturday morning. I better buck up and get used to it, because it's going to be a reality of training over the summer months, and who knows how high the temps could get come the morning of the race. The welcomed weigh loss is in thanks to keeping my low sugar oath (for the most part. The red velvet cupcake at small group was a necessary cheating moment). Also, diet pop didn't touch my lips until Saturday. The naturally flavored sparkling water I found at Trader Joe's was a sufficient substitute. Lastly,I must thank the MyFitnessPal app on my iPhone that is reminiscent of the weight watchers tracking tool I used back in the day to loose half a human worth of pounds. The tracker is a good, but humbling, reminder of just how quickly you use up allotted calories for the day. It has me on a 1,200 calorie per day regimen for 2 lbs./week weight loss (mission accomplished! Well, for week 1) and it also lets me track exercise to earn calories back. Self image has continued to be a huge issue for me lately--not just physical appearance, but self worth and the standards by which I tend to measure it. I am seeking to get my mind off myself as much as possible and my thoughts on serving others. On to week 2! Upping the run just a bit, and continuing my sugar/diet pop restriction resolution. Phillipians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

The [OFFICIAL] [BUT STILL METAPHORICAL] starting line

After an approximately 9 mile run yesterday, it's slightly humorous to announce that my half-marathon training is officially beginning this week.  With all the busyness and spring fever, it didn't strike me until I was driving home this week that that far off date in late May when I would actually start a regimen could actually be here.  I promptly inquired of Siri how many weeks there were until July 22nd, and she did not fail me in revealing that that today, Sunday, May 13th, is go time.

Just minutes ago, I sought out a half-marathon training schedule that I think may be appropriate.  It is for regular runners, or those running 10 or-so miles a week. (Whoa, I'm a regular runner! Weird.)  Though it is designed for 12 weeks, instead of 10, I can easily start at Week 3 since I've already been averaging a bit more than 10 miles a week.  It's a good mix of runs and cross-training and rest.  My schedule

Physically, I feel pretty confident right now.  My biggest concern is my knees and just my legs in general, that really start cramping up in the later miles.  I hate black top, but I'm going to have to get used it since that's what I'm up against (or down against, should I say) on race day.  I'm still contemplating going and getting some of those really simplistic knee braces which are just a little added support for the tendons and knee cap.  But, I'm hoping that training and some added strength conditioning will alleviate some of the pain. 

As for emotionally?  Well, I'll admit I've been pretty down on myself lately.  It's such a matter of perspective and spiritual health because there's not much to be down about.  Despite all the muscle I've built and not the best eating habits this weekend, the scale is showing a pretty favorable number all things considered.  But I'm struck tonight by how much better results I could be seeing from all this hardcore working out if I'd still be a little better to my body. 

So, to accompany my first week of official training, I have resolved to make some simple diet alterations.

1) No foods over 9 grams of sugar.  That'll limit me to flavored cheerios and granola bars in the sweets department.

2)No diet pop (wah!). This will be the toughy. I think a lot of my hang up on pop is my love for carbonation. SO, I'm going to get some carbonated water (or, should I call it gas water since I'm such a Euro-file?) as a slightly healthier alternative.

 Who knows, these couple of tweaks may shed some quick pounds this week.  Either way, it'll make me feel a little perkier for the discipline.  If even that fails to make me feel better about myself, I don't have to look far to remind myself of the Truth...

2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Let the games begin!