Last week I mentioned that I was starting a training plan for a fall marathon. As of Sunday I have completed week 2 of said training and so far so good. Granted, so far my long runs have not been more than 6 miles, with this weeks being 7. I have been doing my best to maintain a controlled pace during my runs and this Sunday's was great.
My goal for the marathon is to break 4 hours. I have ran one previously but was over that mark. Now I am trying to better my training a control how fast my runs are (even the shorter ones). On Sunday I ran 6 miles with the following splits... 8:47, 8:43, 8:36, 8:36, 8:33, and 8:26. I was extremely happy with those splits and felt great doing the run. I hope I can maintain similar times on all long runs.
This week is another low mileage week when you look at the overall plan. My plan has me running 4 days a week. Run, Off, Run, Run, Off Long Run, Off. and the cycle starts over. This week is 3, 4, 3, 7 for the distances. Nothing to write home about, but still a nice chunk compared to what I have been doing over the past years since my first marathon. 8 years ago today was when I completed that race with my brother and father.
When it comes to training...DIET is my weakness. I need to eat a more balanced and healthy "runners" diet, but find it hard to stay disciplined. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.
Until next week....Find a Reason to Run!
Showing posts with label Reasons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reasons. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Friday, August 13, 2010
Reason for Running #11 --- Weight Control
This reason could be considered a branch off of my first reason for running: Health. I recently got on the scale and was not happy with what the numbers looking up at me. At that point I knew I had to do something about my weight and what better method of getting the weight off than getting back to running. I have taken quite a bit of time off lately, hence the jump in weight, but getting motivated in this heat is like trying to sleep on a bed of thorns... not going to happen.
After tipping the scales at the beginning of the month, I felt it was time to work on my diet and start a decent exercise routine. As always I wanted to get out the door and start running 6 or more miles a day, but that is unrealistic in this weather and at my current fitness level. Out of the thirteen days so far this month I have only exercised about half of them. All on the treadmill or stationary bike in the house, but that has been enough to notice a difference in my energy levels and on the scale. Its not like I have lost a person or anything, but a few pounds a week is enough to keep me motivated.
With the weight starting to come off, the energy levels going up, I am hoping to move from the indoor running/biking to outdoor running/biking. I need to begin reflecting back on some of my previous posts and work toward some specific goals. Would be happy to hear input from everyone out there who may read these posts. Thank you for following in my really sporadic postings. I believe that I may start posting more about running and goals, not always reasons, but what is currently taking place in the running world around me.
After tipping the scales at the beginning of the month, I felt it was time to work on my diet and start a decent exercise routine. As always I wanted to get out the door and start running 6 or more miles a day, but that is unrealistic in this weather and at my current fitness level. Out of the thirteen days so far this month I have only exercised about half of them. All on the treadmill or stationary bike in the house, but that has been enough to notice a difference in my energy levels and on the scale. Its not like I have lost a person or anything, but a few pounds a week is enough to keep me motivated.
With the weight starting to come off, the energy levels going up, I am hoping to move from the indoor running/biking to outdoor running/biking. I need to begin reflecting back on some of my previous posts and work toward some specific goals. Would be happy to hear input from everyone out there who may read these posts. Thank you for following in my really sporadic postings. I believe that I may start posting more about running and goals, not always reasons, but what is currently taking place in the running world around me.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Reason for Running #9 --- Friendships
Running is a sport that can be approached from many different avenues. Many people run for the solidarity and time to reflect on the day, while others run to be a part of something that is continuing to grow among the world. I have mentioned before my reasons for starting running were centered around getting in shape for soccer, but I really started running after high school. That is when I started to understand the sport better and I had an amazing support and motivational group all around me that I never knew were there. First and foremost is my family, my father especially, he and I were able to become the best of friends through running. We could talk about anything during our runs together, usually things that were bothering me or football, but we still became closer in those first few years that I got him into running.
Then there was Jeff, one of my best friends and running partner, quite possibly one of the most driven and crazy runners that I have met. We had our friendly competitions and we were very encouraging to one another. He ran a marathon long before I did. Through him I met the group that my parents refer to as "The Running Bee" (like the Quilting Bee for runners). We called them this because during there runs, I don't think they ever ran out of stuff to talk about, encouraging us younger runners and challenging us in races (its bad when a 19 year old gets beat by 50+ year olds, but it happened...alot), this group was very tight knit group and they welcomed us with open arms, teaching us what they knew and telling us stories. Doran and I still remain friends and anytime I ask him, I am sure he would be willing to go for an easy 8 to 16...(no Birtha Hills authorized). Jeff and I then met Adrian who was not quite into running the way that we were, but he quickly picked up on the running fever that we had and became all about the competitions and races...and I know he loved beating me in his hometown race in Jasper and then the several races following. At one point he had become a part of the goal my father and I set to run a race in every state, but circumstances came between our friendship and unfortunately cut out a wonderful running buddy from my list of buddies. Who knows maybe he will get back into the racing scene and finish the states... My running buddy list died out as we all started getting older and going our separate ways, however, others have come into the picture.
Helping others is also a great way to build lasting friendships, sharing your knowledge, experience and drive with others helps to keep them motivated and staying with the support. And running with people of various levels and abilities help both you and them stay on the path of a healthier lifestyle. Starsha has been a supportive running partner who will call me up for a run when I am least wanting to do it, but she manages to convince me that we can do a couple miles, which in turn ends up being 4 to 6 and I feel great at the end of the run. She also likes to push competitions quite a bit, like running a race every month and such. I think she is just hoping to beat me and more races means more chances. She even made me run a race hurt to increase her chances...Okay so I did that on my own, but still...
Each of the people I have run with in the past and those that I will run with in the future hold a special place in my running career and have impacted me in one way or another. There was the group that helped me get back into running and lose my weight that I gained over the years I took off, the group that encourages me to race and push myself, those that encourage me to get out the door on that dreaded lazy day, and those that need me to help them get started or stay motivated. There is almost no end to the possibilities of friendships that can be started through a simple activity such as running.
Run On! Bring a friend along...
Then there was Jeff, one of my best friends and running partner, quite possibly one of the most driven and crazy runners that I have met. We had our friendly competitions and we were very encouraging to one another. He ran a marathon long before I did. Through him I met the group that my parents refer to as "The Running Bee" (like the Quilting Bee for runners). We called them this because during there runs, I don't think they ever ran out of stuff to talk about, encouraging us younger runners and challenging us in races (its bad when a 19 year old gets beat by 50+ year olds, but it happened...alot), this group was very tight knit group and they welcomed us with open arms, teaching us what they knew and telling us stories. Doran and I still remain friends and anytime I ask him, I am sure he would be willing to go for an easy 8 to 16...(no Birtha Hills authorized). Jeff and I then met Adrian who was not quite into running the way that we were, but he quickly picked up on the running fever that we had and became all about the competitions and races...and I know he loved beating me in his hometown race in Jasper and then the several races following. At one point he had become a part of the goal my father and I set to run a race in every state, but circumstances came between our friendship and unfortunately cut out a wonderful running buddy from my list of buddies. Who knows maybe he will get back into the racing scene and finish the states... My running buddy list died out as we all started getting older and going our separate ways, however, others have come into the picture.
Helping others is also a great way to build lasting friendships, sharing your knowledge, experience and drive with others helps to keep them motivated and staying with the support. And running with people of various levels and abilities help both you and them stay on the path of a healthier lifestyle. Starsha has been a supportive running partner who will call me up for a run when I am least wanting to do it, but she manages to convince me that we can do a couple miles, which in turn ends up being 4 to 6 and I feel great at the end of the run. She also likes to push competitions quite a bit, like running a race every month and such. I think she is just hoping to beat me and more races means more chances. She even made me run a race hurt to increase her chances...Okay so I did that on my own, but still...
Each of the people I have run with in the past and those that I will run with in the future hold a special place in my running career and have impacted me in one way or another. There was the group that helped me get back into running and lose my weight that I gained over the years I took off, the group that encourages me to race and push myself, those that encourage me to get out the door on that dreaded lazy day, and those that need me to help them get started or stay motivated. There is almost no end to the possibilities of friendships that can be started through a simple activity such as running.
Run On! Bring a friend along...
Friday, August 28, 2009
Reason for Running #8 --- A Cause
When someone comes up to me and asks me "why I run," I really do not have any specific answer to it...The obvious health reasons and helping to clear my mind are usually my common answers, but what really drives some people to running is astonishing and can be very inspirational. Running for a "CAUSE" is one of the best reasons to start running. Runners World magazine always has amazing articles that highlight various reasons why people run. Reasons such as raising money for Cancer Research because a family member is suffering, raising money for Scholarship Funds, Support the Troops Causes, and the list can go on and on... I have not yet brought myself to running for one specific cause, but each and every race that I do usually supports some well deserving charity and the race entry fees (though they have become higher over the years) really go to help the community in which I live.
Running for a cause is something that can get people started into running or to change running goals. People who start out to help others truly amaze me. I began running because of what it could do for me (get me in shape for soccer); not even considering what my running could do for others less fortunate around me. Even big races have gotten involved in various causes and supports for those who are in need or in service to others. For example, The Peachtree Road Race on July 4th in Atlanta branched out in 2008 (and maybe other years) to give those who were not able to make the race a chance to run it. I personally have never run the Peachtree Road race, but my brother has... PEACHTREE IRAQ 2008. The fact that the race sponsors were aware of our military personnel not being able to attend and taking the race to them absolutely amazed me. I thank the sponsors of that race for giving my brother an opportunity of a lifetime while serving his country in Iraq.
If you don't get out the door to run for your benefit, get out the door to run for someone elses. Run for the children who are sufferring from various ailments who would give anything to run just 100 meters, run for the soldiers who come home wounded both physically and emotionally, run for your kids schools, or for the charity of your choice. Some of us do not have a lot of money to donate to causes, but we have time and dedication that would make up for any amount of money in the world. Just think if you wanted to run a marathon to support cancer research because someone close to you is sufferring from the disease, you could sign up for a cancer research funding race and get sponsors from friends and family members. I think my running for a cause will be for cardiomyopathy research (my father is sufferring from this ailment).
Whatever the cause, get out there and run and show the world you care, show them how one person can make a difference in the lives of hundreds. Who would think that doing something so unselfish could benefit oneself so much (health and otherwise).
Run On! Run for a cause...
Running for a cause is something that can get people started into running or to change running goals. People who start out to help others truly amaze me. I began running because of what it could do for me (get me in shape for soccer); not even considering what my running could do for others less fortunate around me. Even big races have gotten involved in various causes and supports for those who are in need or in service to others. For example, The Peachtree Road Race on July 4th in Atlanta branched out in 2008 (and maybe other years) to give those who were not able to make the race a chance to run it. I personally have never run the Peachtree Road race, but my brother has... PEACHTREE IRAQ 2008. The fact that the race sponsors were aware of our military personnel not being able to attend and taking the race to them absolutely amazed me. I thank the sponsors of that race for giving my brother an opportunity of a lifetime while serving his country in Iraq.
If you don't get out the door to run for your benefit, get out the door to run for someone elses. Run for the children who are sufferring from various ailments who would give anything to run just 100 meters, run for the soldiers who come home wounded both physically and emotionally, run for your kids schools, or for the charity of your choice. Some of us do not have a lot of money to donate to causes, but we have time and dedication that would make up for any amount of money in the world. Just think if you wanted to run a marathon to support cancer research because someone close to you is sufferring from the disease, you could sign up for a cancer research funding race and get sponsors from friends and family members. I think my running for a cause will be for cardiomyopathy research (my father is sufferring from this ailment).
Whatever the cause, get out there and run and show the world you care, show them how one person can make a difference in the lives of hundreds. Who would think that doing something so unselfish could benefit oneself so much (health and otherwise).
Run On! Run for a cause...
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Reason for Running #1 --- HEALTH
I felt that this would be a great way to start out the reasons for running blog. About two years ago, June 2007, my father was suffering from pneumonia which apparently triggered a minor heart attack! Fortunately for him, he was a runner and had a pretty strong ticker, yet this attack has left him with a series of ailments for the past two years. He is not able to run like he use to and may never get down to the 5k times that he once was doing, but as long as he keeps at it, his doctors have told him that it will help push through the course of heart disease that he is suffering from, Cardiomyopathy.
Prior to that summer I was pretty competitive into running myself, at least in the road racing scene, and I was always worried about getting better and faster. That is good motivation, until you hit a plateau of sorts. I stopped running about a year before my dad had his heart attack and put on quite a bit of weight, from 165 to about 240, in a year and a half. After the heart attack I realized that I was not as healthy as I once was and being the ripe old age of 25 and a half, I thought I should do something about it! I am now running for health rather than time improvements (though they are still nice to achieve). I have hopes that one day, hopefully not, should I have trouble with my heart, the doctors will tell me that running quite possibly saved my life, like it possibly did for my father. I am proud to say that I am now down to 185 pounds and trying to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle, centered around running.
The first reason to run is for Health! No it does not guarantee that you will not suffer health related problems, but it definitely can't hurt!
Run on! Enjoy the start of a warm running season!
Prior to that summer I was pretty competitive into running myself, at least in the road racing scene, and I was always worried about getting better and faster. That is good motivation, until you hit a plateau of sorts. I stopped running about a year before my dad had his heart attack and put on quite a bit of weight, from 165 to about 240, in a year and a half. After the heart attack I realized that I was not as healthy as I once was and being the ripe old age of 25 and a half, I thought I should do something about it! I am now running for health rather than time improvements (though they are still nice to achieve). I have hopes that one day, hopefully not, should I have trouble with my heart, the doctors will tell me that running quite possibly saved my life, like it possibly did for my father. I am proud to say that I am now down to 185 pounds and trying to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle, centered around running.
The first reason to run is for Health! No it does not guarantee that you will not suffer health related problems, but it definitely can't hurt!
Run on! Enjoy the start of a warm running season!
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