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!