Reasons for Running #13 --- Training for Goals

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!

Reasons for Running #12 --- The Joy of the Run

It has been some time since I have made a post to my Reasons for Running blog and I believe that part of the reason for this is because I found running to become very stale... Not that I was not running, it was just hard to find the motivation to write about it and inspire others, if that is what I am doing. The other reason is life has gotten busy.

Recently my wife and I have tried a couple of the obstacle run events and I must say that has jump started a new found interest in running. Also about 2 years ago I got inspiration from an old friend to start racing again (though nowhere near as fast as I once was), thank you Adrian. I hope that we will be able to run several more races together.

Now that the mushy stuff is behind me, I would like to say that I am training for my second marathon. I plan to run this Marathon on November 9th, 2013, and I am stuck between a choice of two. The first choice being the Soldier Marathon in Columbus Georgia and the second being the Rock and Roll Marathon in Savannah Georgia. Please feel free to make you suggestions. I have been building some base mileage the past few weeks and will be jumping into some series training over the summer months. I hope that it does not burn me out, LITERALLY!!! Running in Georgia in the summer is HOT!.

I am so thankful that I have a support group in my wife, daughter and parents as I begin this bold step toward training for a very difficult running distance. I hope to track my progress through this blog and possibly on Facebook.

We all need reasons to run and I am working on finding mine all over again!!!

Reason for Running #10 --- For Future Runners

First I would like to apologize for the length of time between now and my last post. Quite a bit has happened in the last few months. One of the highlights of things that has occurred is my reason for running #10. Future runners.

I want to be able to pass on my love for running, not just to other adults, but also to my children. I am happy to say that I have a baby girl on the way (Rebecca Grace) and I am really hoping that she will love to run with her Daddy and Mommy. Running as a family and passing on the passion for running onto our children is an amazing way to spend time outdoors as a family and to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Many people have a habit of taking their children to McDonalds because of the playground and relaxation time that it allows for the parents. I am sure I will take my daughter there as well from time to time, but the problem with going to McDonalds is that it becomes so easy to eat all that unhealthy food and then go home without any physical exercise. This is worse for the parents than it is the children, because at least the children are getting exercise on the playground.

Encouraging our children to have a passion for running will help with the obesity problem that we are constantly hearing about in our college and high school health classes and also keep the parents and children close. Along with family movie nights, game nights, etc., why not include a family trail day or fitness day. I hope everyone will encourage their children to run. Family running clubs may even become popular.

Run On! Encourage the future...

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...

Reason for Running #7 --- Competition

One problem that many people face when they decide to begin running is the idea of racing...or any competition. Most believe that they are not capable of completing a 5k road race, much less placing well in one. Unfortunately with professional sports hypes like Bolt and Goucher, we more novice runners feel intimidated. I for one would never come close to beating either one of them in a race (No I am not afraid to admit that Kara Goucher, a female, can completely demolish my butt in a marathon and probable every other distance). But we need not be afraid of a little competition here and there when it comes to running. Believe it or not (See Goals or Motivation Blog) competition can really boost our self esteem (though sometimes hurt it) and keep us on a running to stay healthy plan.

Competition comes in a variety of forms and I would never be able to talk about all of them in just one blog. Who knows, maybe I will get more in depth into some of these in later blogs. First and foremost the competition should be internal. The only person that you have influence during a race is YOU! Tripping a fellow competitor aside of course... You can sign up for a local 5k easily within 30 days of starting to run. That 5k is a starting point for you and your competitive running career. You may not finish 1st overall, but you will be pleasantly surprised at the outcome. You are racing a clock, not the person next to you. Keep in mind, though that with each race you do and improve, you will not always have better times. The U.S. 10k is not my P.R. race for that distance, but in 2002 (I think, maybe 03), it was the absolute best race that I have ever completed. Competition with the clock, how you feel during a run, how well you recover...All are what should be looked at when it comes to competing.

Now with the clock and yourself aside, it is always fun to compete with others in running. It gives you a chance to prove to yourself that you can do something. My brother and I have had some pretty friendly running competitions with eachother over the years. When he started out running, I was at my best, and he was just not quite in the shape he use to be (though he could out sprint me any day of the week, as well as kick my butt at basketball, if we ever actually completed a game without a brotherly fight). So for quite some time he was several minutes behind me in races that we did together. However, over the years that margin got smaller and smaller until he finally beat me. He even had me beat at our Alaska marathon, which I felt I was more prepared for then he was, but I just could not let that happen, so I busted my butt to catch up to him (we ultimately finished that one together, though he is credited on the results page as being in front). Once he beat me, the chase was on in the other direction with me trying to run him back down (yes I was able to, but the margin of difference between the two of us really is not that large anymore). The competition has kept us going at it when I know for a fact I have wanted to quit lots of times, and I could only guess that he has. Plus we have the friendly trash talk and bragging rights till the next race of course, but all in fun.

Competition, though it can be stressful, is a very rewarding aspect of being a runner and I would recommend to anyone who wants to run, to get out there and compete, don't just "run."

Run On! Competition will drive you....

Reason for Running #2 --- Accomplishment

For anyone who has ever looked at someone running and said, "there is no way I could do that..." That is not a true statement! Most everyone can run! And the feeling you get when you do is amazing. You feel like you have accomplished something. Improved you health (see Reason for Running #1) or just had time to think. The first step is to get over the mental block of the "I can't" and get out there and start. You don't have to be able to go a full marathon on day one, but you could accomplish a 100 meters while and walking the rest. The first step toward accomplishing a running goal is to get out and start.

There have been many runners that have felt the urge to quit (I was one of them, even did for a while), but then they have a chance to reflect on everything that running has done or can do for them and it is the motivation that they need in order to get out there and do it. Don't get me wrong, there are many days where I feel like not running at all, but if I can tell myself to just go for 10 minutes, its amazing how quickly I can accomplish a run of 6 or more miles. Get out there and run, feel the sense of accomplishment you get from being a runner. It is a wonderful feeling to be the one running rather than the person saying, "I could never do that."

Run on! You really can...