but there's reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last." -- Counting Crows
It's been a while since I've posted - some personal / family issues required my attention, and blogging about them isn't something I want to do just yet.
But I'm VERY excited that today is the last day of 2011. It was a good year and a bad year, from a lot of different angles, actually. From a fitness perspective, I had a good year in that I set PRs in a few races, and got to run the cycle (5K/10K/Half/Full Marathon), plus two triathlons and almost 1700 miles (a good year for me). On the downside, though, I managed to gain 10 pounds; mainly in the last two months of the year. So I'm headed into 2012 with some serious goals.
As with just about EVERYONE else, I'm working to lose those 10 pounds, plus a few more, while increasing my strength and general fitness. I'm starting the year at 199 pounds; about 16 more than I was when I felt my best, so it sounds like a challenge, but when I look at what many people face with weight issues, it's not that big. I have a great support system, too, so I think this really is doable, and I'm hoping to help inspire some friends and family to do the same along the way.
Second, I plan to run three marathons this year; one winter, one spring, and one in the fall, and hopefully 2-3 triathlons. I'm not sure I can do it all, but it would be nice, and would get me to 9 marathons in total. The first marathon and triathlon are both already booked, and the second marathon is high-probability. From there, I'll have to decide whether I want to train, or have more fun doing other races in the fall.
Third, I'm promising myself to read more (more possible with my new Kindle) and getting specific this year on *what* I'm going to read, not just a general 'read more' statement. Now if only I could read while I was out running....
I have more goals, but I'll share those through the year. My first three months need to be focused on the above, because I've learned that I can't focus on too many things at once; If I do, it's not really focus, is it? While I'm at it, I will try to be more consistent in blogging, and also to vary the topics a bit more in 2012. I hope it pans out, and that you'll stay with me for the trip.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Training update December 2nd, 2011
I had a great week of training recently. Unfortunately, that was two weeks ago. A fast week on my two base and tempo runs, followed by an 18 miler that went really well, as I think I finally have my hydration / nutrition down, as well as my run / walk tempo (a minute walk about every two miles seems okay to me).
Then, Thanksgiving happened, along with a few other challenges. Two days of travel (without a good running route or treadmill available), the food fiesta that is the last Thursday of November, followed by a week of not-so-good on the dietary front (OK - that should be "really-really-bad" on the dietary front).
Add to that a bit of stress that came from some bad lab results. I had a few chest pains (which I had already determined to be muscular) but for which my doctor wanted additional tests. One of them came back with a poor reading, which tripped three other rounds of blood tests plus a treadmill stress test, . Net is that I appear to be fine, but I was more than a bit thrown when one of the blood tests indicated cardiac problems, but these were disproven by a followup.
So I'm back to running normally, albeit at a slower pace, thanks to the extra November pounds and a couple of days off. My body likes to run as often as possible, so even a few days off brings on extra aches and pains when I finally get back to the roads. By this Sunday's 20 miler, I should feel much more lubricated, and hopefully everything will work smoothly.
I'm now signed up for the 26.2 with Donna (National Marathon to end Breast Cancer) and I'm planning to register for the New Jersey Marathon. I'm also registered for the Pawling Triathlon in June, and I'll probably do the Putnam Tri again this year. I'm hoping to 1) training in the pool over the winter and 2) run an Olympic distance Tri in 2012, along with three marathons. If my heart can survive all of that, plus the usual battery of 5-milers, 5Ks, and a half or two, it should survive anything.
Then, Thanksgiving happened, along with a few other challenges. Two days of travel (without a good running route or treadmill available), the food fiesta that is the last Thursday of November, followed by a week of not-so-good on the dietary front (OK - that should be "really-really-bad" on the dietary front).
Add to that a bit of stress that came from some bad lab results. I had a few chest pains (which I had already determined to be muscular) but for which my doctor wanted additional tests. One of them came back with a poor reading, which tripped three other rounds of blood tests plus a treadmill stress test, . Net is that I appear to be fine, but I was more than a bit thrown when one of the blood tests indicated cardiac problems, but these were disproven by a followup.
So I'm back to running normally, albeit at a slower pace, thanks to the extra November pounds and a couple of days off. My body likes to run as often as possible, so even a few days off brings on extra aches and pains when I finally get back to the roads. By this Sunday's 20 miler, I should feel much more lubricated, and hopefully everything will work smoothly.
I'm now signed up for the 26.2 with Donna (National Marathon to end Breast Cancer) and I'm planning to register for the New Jersey Marathon. I'm also registered for the Pawling Triathlon in June, and I'll probably do the Putnam Tri again this year. I'm hoping to 1) training in the pool over the winter and 2) run an Olympic distance Tri in 2012, along with three marathons. If my heart can survive all of that, plus the usual battery of 5-milers, 5Ks, and a half or two, it should survive anything.
The Power of Yet
It's amazing how small words can have big impacts. "Yet" is one of my favorite examples - it's a word that can indicate potential, possibilities, and desire. It's a word that says "I'm not now, but I can become". It's almost an optimistic word by definition, and therein lies its power.
The first time I realized how good a word it was happened after my first half-marathon. It was a grueling effort, far longer than I had ever run before, and I had made lots of rookie mistakes (overdressed, went out too fast, bypassed one water station too many, etc.). By the time I hit 10 miles, I was wiped out. I was done with running, cursed my coach - it was a bad scene. After I finished the run, my coach Dan told me that if I could run a half the way I did, I could run a full marathon. My response was typical: "There's no way I can run a marathon". He looked at me with a glint in his steely eyes and said simply, "yet".
I didn't get it right away, but he was right - There was no way I could run a marathon yet, but I *could* run one. I hadn't thought it possible to run a half marathon, but I had just done it. It wasn't pretty, but it was my first attempt at anything over 10 miles, and I had made it work. That idea of "yet" stuck with me, and before long, I was training, and then running, the New York City marathon, and then 5 more since then.
"Yet" applies in so many ways, though. I can't do 100 pushups straight....yet. I can't do more than 10 pullups .... yet. I don't know how to cook a gourmet meal...yet. I can't write a good blog (maybe that one stays that way for me). Those three letters change a sentence from a limitation to an aspiration. A 'never' to a 'someday'. The impossible to possible.
I find myself looking for it now whenever people say they can't do something. I ran a race with my sister recently, and when another, longer race came up, she said that there was no way she could run that distance. I hesitated, waiting for that magic word, but it didn't come. So I said it. This time, she hesitated, and I was taken back to that half-marathon again, with the tables turned. Only this time, she was quicker than I had been . She understood what I was saying, and she responded, "yet". She knows what is possible if she has the will.
Next time you find yourself using the C word (can't), choose to add "yet" to the end of your sentence. You may find new doors opening in your mind. The biggest thing standing between us and excellence, the realization of our full potential, is our ability to imagine that we can succeed.
And I'll keep writing.....even though I'm not really good at it (yet).
The first time I realized how good a word it was happened after my first half-marathon. It was a grueling effort, far longer than I had ever run before, and I had made lots of rookie mistakes (overdressed, went out too fast, bypassed one water station too many, etc.). By the time I hit 10 miles, I was wiped out. I was done with running, cursed my coach - it was a bad scene. After I finished the run, my coach Dan told me that if I could run a half the way I did, I could run a full marathon. My response was typical: "There's no way I can run a marathon". He looked at me with a glint in his steely eyes and said simply, "yet".
I didn't get it right away, but he was right - There was no way I could run a marathon yet, but I *could* run one. I hadn't thought it possible to run a half marathon, but I had just done it. It wasn't pretty, but it was my first attempt at anything over 10 miles, and I had made it work. That idea of "yet" stuck with me, and before long, I was training, and then running, the New York City marathon, and then 5 more since then.
"Yet" applies in so many ways, though. I can't do 100 pushups straight....yet. I can't do more than 10 pullups .... yet. I don't know how to cook a gourmet meal...yet. I can't write a good blog (maybe that one stays that way for me). Those three letters change a sentence from a limitation to an aspiration. A 'never' to a 'someday'. The impossible to possible.
I find myself looking for it now whenever people say they can't do something. I ran a race with my sister recently, and when another, longer race came up, she said that there was no way she could run that distance. I hesitated, waiting for that magic word, but it didn't come. So I said it. This time, she hesitated, and I was taken back to that half-marathon again, with the tables turned. Only this time, she was quicker than I had been . She understood what I was saying, and she responded, "yet". She knows what is possible if she has the will.
Next time you find yourself using the C word (can't), choose to add "yet" to the end of your sentence. You may find new doors opening in your mind. The biggest thing standing between us and excellence, the realization of our full potential, is our ability to imagine that we can succeed.
And I'll keep writing.....even though I'm not really good at it (yet).
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