Perseverance

You might say I'm on a bit of a high. Today I completed week 5 of my training plan. I did a 4-mile run in the Berkeley hills with two guys from my running group. I finished strong and with zero pain.

 

My progress has been unbelievably encouraging. A few weeks ago, I was considering giving up on ever running a marathon. I thought it might be time to accept that my body is just not built for that kind of distance.

 

Luckily, I came to my senses a few days ago and resolved to take whatever steps necessary to fulfill my dream of running a marathon. Sure, after 5 weeks I've only built up to a 4-mile run. This gradual increase in mileage does not deter me, however. I'm ready to do whatever it takes, however long it takes, at this point.

 

With that mindset, I've planned out 10 additional weeks of training after I finish the first 10 weeks. In those 10 weeks, I'll build from a 6-mile long run to a 10-mile long run. I'll also transition from running three days per week to running four days per week.Finally, I plan to participate in some races along the way.

 

For now, there are 4 things I'd like to commit to that I believe will improve my training:

1. Attend one yoga class per week for strengthening and flexibility.
2. Complete physical therapy exercises three times per day, five days per week.
3. Take two calcium supplements everyday.
4. Drink one glass of water at each meal (yes, I have problems with hydration).

 So, there it is. There's no doubt about it, I love to run!

 

 

A Lesser-Known Means of Injury Prevention

I'm happy to report that I completed the first run of week 5 of my training program today. I ran a pain-free 3-miler in the beautiful Berkeley hills in perfect weather. I feel energized and excited to continue progressing through my training program.

In an effort to stop my hip injury from returning, I've been doing physical therapy exercises everyday. I think these exercises have been effective in strengthening my hips and core, and the result is that my injury hasn't been reactivated. However, after reading this article at Competitor.com, I learned that there is even more I can be doing for injury prevention. Surprisingly, it has to do with what and when I'm eating.

Getting Back in Shape After a Long Break

Happy 2011! After a long break from running and fitness in general, I’m ready to get back on track. Last week, I went in search of a running plan that would get me back in shape. Since my level of fitness is so poor right now, I steered myself toward novice plans to ensure that I didn’t take on too much too quickly.

Here’s what I found.