Here We Go!

It's official! Training has started!  I'm more than a little excited, but at the same time no matter how many times I train for the marathon or a larger triathlon, the task seems daunting!  Now I know that I can complete them, I done that through sheer determination and will power... but it's not enough! Atleast not this year!  My #1 goal is to remain injury free, but my second goal is to hit my 4hr time goal.  Now that seems even more daunting than staying free from injury.  Especially since injuries are often related to the speed at which one is traveling.  But I am no longer satisfied with just finishing! I was robbed of my 4 hr time during my first marathon and I refuse to let that happen again!  Now will I be disappointed if I don't get the four hours.. yeah probably but deep down I know that I will be happy with myself for dominating another marathon!

Yesterday's training: I decided that yesterday would be my speed and core workout.  So I went over to the local park that has a HUGE retention pond, that is always dry, and ran hills.  After doing about 30 hill runs, I went for a mile run with intervals of sprinting and walking.  Once I finished the mile, actually it was a little over a mile, I went and did 5 more hill runs!  When my legs started to feel like jello, I figured it was time to stop! So then I drove home and did my core workout!
   Since I hurt my ITB in my first marathon, I am very diligent about making sure that I use my foam roll.  I also did 40 crunches, 10 leg throws, 20 crunches with a medicine ball, planks 3-1min planks. 

Today's Training: We are supposed to get hit with another storm... they seem to be never-ending!  So if it holds off till later tonight, I plan on going to a 14/15 mile bike ride, otherwise I will head over to the local indoor pool and swim laps! I'll let you know tomorrow!

Rocking out to: Here We Go by N'Sync (it's one of my Power Songs!)

My training Schedule

   Technically, I'm already starting my training behind schedule.  Somehow time is just flying by and I've not paid close enough attention to the fact that I was supposed to start training 2 weeks ago!  OOPS!  Unlike my first two marathons, I'm not so hung up on the concept of following a rigid training schedule.  Since I have started getting into Triathlons, I've been having the hardest time figuring out the best way to train for my marathon as well as my triathlons.  So for me, training will officially start on monday! WOOHOO!  I've made my own training schedule, so hopefully it works! Fingers crossed!  This time, I am not just going to run the miles.  I will be running less (I know, that seems a little odd) but working out more.  My training is going to cover six different work out facets.  Swimming, Biking, Running, Core strengthening, Speed Workouts and Strength training!  All of these things will combine together to give me great Cardio workouts and overall strength rather than just focusing on my legs.  The goal here is to be really strong all over rather than just my legs, overall strength will keep me healthy and ideally injury free!  Each week, I will switch it up and do the activities on different days or pair them together so that my body goes through muscle confusion and doesn't get used to a routine.  I will also try working out at different times of the day.
   The weekends, since I hav more time will be for the long runs and brick workouts with my Triathlon team.  One day will definitely be set aside for rest, probably friday, but will fluctuate each week depending on my schedule.  Take the training journey with me, and let's see where it takes us! Starts monday morning, each day I will post what I will be doing on that day and then later in the day after the workout, I will post how it went! Feel free to do it with me!

Lesson: The best training schedule is the one that works best for you and your lifestyle!

Rocking out to: Adler Girl Pt. II by Super Mash Bros.

Day to Day Struggles

   Ever have one of those weeks at work where you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off and the next day there is almost nothing for you to do?  Yeah that's been my week so far! Monday and Tuesday I only put in 1hr of overtime and during the day I had almost nothing to do!  Then Wednesday comes along, and naturally I had plans after work, only to find out that the day wasn't going to go even remotely how I had it planned!  I was constantly on the go, with a hard deadline for 8am this morning, there was no way I could leave work. So after starting work at 6:30am, I was finally able to leave at 7:15pm! That's a long day for anyone, let alone being a contractor!  So naturally, I didn't get my work out in.  By the time I got home at 8pm, I was so mentally exhausted that the physical exhaustion was just as intense. 
    I was really frustrated that I wasn't able to get a training run in or a work out of some sort.  But it served as a good lesson.
    1. It is OK to miss a training run - When I trained for my first marathon, I thought I'd never see the finish line if I didn't do EVERY SINGLE mile in the training program.  To the point that I ran in the rain one day and slipped in the mud and was in pain for a few days and had no choice but to skip the run the next day.  Another time, it was pouring rain and I had to get a long 14 mile run in... so I went to the campus gym and did 14 miles on the treadmill!!! Have you ever done that?  It's brutal!
   2. Things NEVER go as planned - I'm a planner, I like to know exactly when I'm going to workout, what is going on in the day, so that I can plan out everything.  Sure every now and then I fly by the seat of my pants, but mostly I like knowing.  With working overtime as much as I am, planning has sort of gone out the window.  I no longer know when I'll get home, when I'll eat dinner or if I'll even work OT.  So I've started leaving a gym bag in my car, so that I can change and go workout right after work, whatever time that seems to be.  But don't get frustrated if it doesn't work out like you thought.  Sometimes thats what makes a workout interesting!

   Lesson:  Training and working out is a day to day struggle, just because one day doesn't go as planned, doesn't mean every day will be like that! DON'T GIVE UP! The ups and downs of training is what separates the really runners from the supposed runners!

Rocking out to: Absolute by The Fray