Possible Reasons I Didn't Run the Full Last Year :-(

So I'm in the middle of the sixth week of training (WOO). I'm a little anxious about the next three weeks, because last year I gave up my marathon training at week nine! I ran 15 miles the week before and the day I was supposed to run 16, I just couldn't do it anymore. So, I called the Cleveland Marathon and told them I'd be downgrading to the half... Whomp whomp whomp......... That WILL NOT happen this year! Here are the factors that I believe played into me not completing my full marathon training...

1. I started training in the winter months and was in Bowling Green... Let's just say BG isn't the funnest place to run over 10 miles in.

2. I didn't have much motivation/support. Blake wasn't planning on running the full marathon in Cleveland and wasn't too thrilled about running that much. It really helps to have someone training with you. Now, Blake IS training for the marathon with me, plus I'll be joining the Grunt Girls, so I'll have TONS of support. Not to mention this blog. This is the main reason I started this blog - to vent about my training, get support and track my feelings and thoughts during the 18-month long process.

3. My body was just too exhausted. Maybe it was stress from school, poor nutrition or training, but I was so tired and sore ALL THE TIME. Hopefully more regular yoga and my early strength training will help my muscles from all the strain of road running. Plus, even though I already eat healthy, I'm trying to eat more carbohydrates and protein so my body can recover from those long runs.

Deena Kastor

4. TOO MUCH REPETITIVENESS! I only ran on roads and sidewalks, occasionally a treadmill. But, this time around I've been doing some trail running and plan to do more with the Grunt Girls. Trail running emphasizes different running skills, muscles and joints from your shoulders down. The ankles and knees really gain strength, but it also provides comfort from the hard pounding on the pavement, which can cause shin splints. Also, because of the unpredictability of the route, trail running improves your proprioception (the sense of balance and where the body is in space). According to Life Time Fitness, that's how American runner Deena Kastor won the bronze medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics Marathon. Therefore, MORE TRAIL RUNS!

This week's schedule looks like this: Monday I did upper body to give my legs a rest from the weekend's cardio workouts which included a 12-mile run on Saturday and a 10-mile bike on Sunday (my legs were KILLING me!). Tuesday was an easy three miles with some core work. Today was also an easy three miles, but Blake ran with me this morning. :) Tomorrow is going to be a six-mile pace workout. It's supposed to be 97 degrees tomorrow! YIKES! I'll have to get my run in early in the morning to beat the heat. Then I'll take a rest day Friday, Saturday hopefully a nice bike ride and then nine miles in the Peninsula with the Grunt Girls. :)

The X in P90X and a Message to Drivers

Ahh yes, just got done doing P90X Plyometrics. LOVE plyos! Tony Horton begins by telling you to "Get ready to get airborne" as well as to grab a bucket to prepare for all the sweating you'll do. And he's right! There are 30 explosive jumping moves in a highly intense 50-minute cardio workout. Tony claims it will dramatically improve one's athletic performance, no matter what sport. This isn't a testimonial or anything for his workout, just another blog post. :) Seriously though, if you want to sweat and loosen up your tight muscles, P90X plyometrics is the workout for you! Plyos were always my favorite back when I did sports in school, from soccer to track, I always looked forward to the plyos. Except 
this workout is a lot more intense than high school and is about 50 minutes long.

I think I made a boo boo yesterday... Somehow, I don't know whether it was during my seven-mile run or if I bent wrong, but I did something to my lower left-hand side of my back. This has happened quite a few times before. It's due to my scoliosis... my spine curves about 40 degrees to the right so it can sometimes affect my running... So, I've been going to Lewis Family Chiropractic in Streetsboro. Dr. Lewis has definitely helped my back A LOT. But, sometimes I turn the wrong way during a run and it freaks out on me again... I was still able to do my workout this morning, but when I went to work on my abs is when my back was like, "HEY NOW! I'm hurt, cut it out!" So I didn't get too far on that... I'm going to ice it some more and do some stretches. Tomorrow is another off-running day, so I think I'll do some of Jillian's Michael's Yoga Meltdown. :)


Can't wait for next weekend! I'm doing the Tree City 5K at KSU on Saturday night at 7 pm and then the Aurora Fourth of July Fun Run 5K on Monday morning. Two 5K's in one weekend, YES! I'm supposed to run five miles on Saturday, so I'll probably run two miles early Saturday and then the 5K that night.


Oh, and another thing.... DRIVERS: If you see a person running on the side of the road, please give them some space and try not to get too close to the runner. As I was driving to my Psychiatrist this morning (yes he is open on Sundays) I saw a fellow runner running on the side of 43. Cars were only a few inches from his body... I moved over more into the other other lane to give him more room. Now, I didn't try to cause an accident with other drivers on the other side of the road. But I went slightly over the line in the middle so I wouldn't get too close. He gave me a grateful wave and smile as I drove past him. As I politely nodded I thought, "I understand my brotha... Drivers have no respect for us runners or bikers on the roads..." . Maybe they're jealous? Or maybe they just don't give a shit... I'll probably go with the later as I saw a dead BABY dear lying in the middle of the road close to where I saw the runner... :-(
So, please drive safely out there, whether it's to save the life of a runner, biker or even a poor, little deer...


Have a great Sunday! :)

Going Gym-less this Summer!

Good Morning! So, I did it - I gave my legs a rest! :) Because even Hal Hidgons takes off days. He says in his book:

"For those who failed, often the reason was that they trained too hard and were too unwilling to take days off."

Maybe that was my problem last year when I attempted to train for the full marathon in Cleveland. I resisted rest days but not resting enough.

I plan to take off at least one day a week for my legs to recover. On my cross-training days of Monday and Friday I'll either do some strength training, with legs or just my arms and core. Then on Sunday is when I plan to ride my bike. I think another mistake I made last year was not enough strength training in the early weeks of my training. I would just run and ride my bike, no weight-training or yoga. Although I will be resting at least one day a week, I will be working on my arms and core on the days when I give my legs a rest.

I worked out my arms and core this morning actually though with the lovely Jackie Warner and her video Personal Training with Jackie Warner.

She is a BEAST! Check out those abs! Jealous... She has a 40-minute circuit-training workout that focuses on all of your muscles - it's a killer! You can pick and choose certain body parts too and that's what I did this morning. Her ab workout is pretty awesome! I actually think she's better than Jillian Michaels, and that says something!

The real meaning of this post is to say that I am going gym-less this summer. I normally go to a gym every summer like Snap Fitness, but I decided to save money and just do my workouts at home. I've got TONS of different workouts to do right in my bedroom, why waste money at a gym? My summer equipment includes two sets of weights, 5 lbs and 15 lbs (I would like to get a 10 and 20 lb weight too), resistance bands, 6 lb. Empower Ball, Swiss Ball, a treadmill in our family room, my road bike and a Yoga mat.
I also have my favorite workout DVD's. The best, of course, is Jackie Warner's as I mentioned already. I also have Jillian Michaels' Yoga Meltdown, which is about 30 minutes long. I also have the P90X workout videos on my computer. The ones that I usually do are the Yoga (an hour long) and, my favorite, Plyometrics. Plyometrics is jump training and a little less than an hour-long. If you want to sweat, this is the workout for you! I really think this workout will help me with speed.

Once school starts in August I'll definitely take advantage of Kent State's Recreation Center. It's AMAZING! So much better and bigger than BGSU's Rec Center...

So, that is it for today. I'm actually running a little late on getting ready for work. OOPS! P.S. I HATE my job... Trying to find a new one.... Ok, well I don't HATE it, it's just not me...
I need something that is actually in my field. Business and Entrepreneurship to me is BORING... The people are nice though.


Stay fit my friends!