Monday 5 March 2012

Training for a Marathon and Trying Not to Look Back

I am more than two weeks into my “training” phase for the Louisville Derby Marathon and things seem to be progressing right along.  I am consistently running 35-45 miles a week and making sure that I incorporate one-two rest days from running each week.  I really like the thought of being able to delete “Run a Marathon” form my Bucket List.  The hardest thing about this training is keeping my priorities focused on training for the marathon.  I have my first sprint triathlon the week before the marathon and sometimes, I look at the triathlon part of things and get caught up in the whole swim, bike, and run aspect of triathlons.  I have really grown accustomed to practicing and training for all three sports, and most of the people that I train with or attend classes are triathletes.  Therefore, it remains hard to consistently focus on preparing for a marathon alone. 
By now, I was also hoping to have put in a distance of at least 20+ miles by this point in my training, but according to my plan, that will happen this weekend, so I am definitely nervous about the experience of putting in 20+ miles at one time.  However, I can remember when running 2 miles at one time seemed like a daunting challenge. But 20+ miles, that is a long, long way, and I get very nervous when I have long (17+miles) runs to do.  I get nervous for a number of reasons.  Since I train and run mostly by myself, there is a little more preparation that is involved when doing it alone.  First of all, there are the notifications to family members to let them know what routes you are taking (just in case you don’t make it home.)  Then you have to make sure you have proper hydration, nutrition, etc. before, during, and after the run.   Also, making sure your route will be safe (traffic, night-time areas, etc.) during the times you will be running through those areas.  And lastly, you need to consider yourself, what happens when and if you hit the “wall?” Can you tell the difference between pain and an injury if it happens? Will you allow yourself to walk or ask for help if needed?  Although these things may seem trivial and unnecessary, but in some way, shape, or form, most of these things, at some point, have been on the minds of every runner that runs longer distances. The main thing that differs from me and others that run long distances is that I am slower than most, and I don’t have the experience. 
Since I don’t have the experience of long distance running, I feel I have to be prepared for everything.  Therefore, there lies the question, “Am I over thinking this running and training thing?”  Chances are “yes,” but until I get more experience, I will continue to over prepare and over analyze things. For example, there is a guy at work who can just take off during lunch and run 16-17 miles, with no socks, and/or probably barefoot, and he will be back to work just as though he went for a 2 mile run through the park. Well, again, he runs much faster and has been running for years, so he has the experience and knowledge of what happens during those long runs.
Something new happened in my training this weekend. I have never really run any significant distance with anyone, but this weekend I did.  Again, please realize that I am very new to running and training, so each new experience opens my eyes even more than before. Well, this person is a lot faster than me, but they are coming back from an injury so I kind of kept up because of that. At least I hoped that I didn’t slow them down too much. I know will be left in the dust when they regain all their strength.  It was definitely a new and unique challenge to try to keep a good pace while trying to talk at the same time.  You have heard that term “conversational pace?” Well, I had to find mine really quick, but I really enjoyed it and hopefully I can try to turn this into a regular thing in addition to my solo runs.
Well, tomorrow is another swim lesson.  By now, everyone already knows how I feel about swimming, so I will just leave it at that.  My weight is starting to go down even more since I am starting to up my training.  I have been at a plateau for a little while, but this weekend, I started to see a little bit of a decline in the scales.  At this point, I really don’t have a weight loss goal anymore.  I just want to maintain my health and be fit enough to race in all the events that register.  So now, I have officially lost a total of 161 lbs. and if I lose more, then I will not be the slightest bit upset.  I still don’t believe I have lost that much weight, but I do realize I have to get past that now and realize that there is an “old” me and a “new” me and I need to choose the one that fits who I want to be for the remainder of my life and try my best to live that way.
That’s what it really comes down to is choice.  We may not be able to change others points of views or lifestyle paths, but we can always change our own path, point of views, and our own life.  Knowing now that I can really change “me’ to fit whatever I choose, makes life even more interesting. 
I always thought that I would be a morbidly obese man for the rest of my life, but something told me that I could make a change.  I don’t know what it was or even when it really started, but there was a moment that I knew I could change, and I took that challenge and have tried to make the most of that chance. Either way, this last year has been one of the best rides of my life and everyone in my life has helped contribute in some way. So, thanks everyone!!
Opening my eyes to new things, hoping I make the right life choices, but most of all, having the time of my life.
Oh…and still running