by LT MarathonGirl | Jul 31, 2013 | Uncategorized
In January of 2008, when I decided out of the blue, that I wanted to run a marathon, My family didn’t know what to think. I wasn’t even a runner. I had just seen the movie The Bucket List and for some reason thought that this would be cool to add to my list.
I decided that I should run a half marathon first and then go full out. I looked for a schedule online and found this great website marathon guide. Naive to the terminology I thought that a trail run just
meant that you were not running on the road. Ha ha. The joke was on me, but I completed the 13.1 miles of hills and rocks and tree stumps. I only fell twice. My friends and family at the finish line had weird looks on their face. I’m still not sure if it was because they didn’t think that I would finish or because they didn’t expect me to come out all banged up and a little bloody.
Finishing gave me the confidence I needed to go for the full 26.2 miles. I returned to the faithful web to find a training schedule and found Hal Higdon’s page. It’s awesome. My husband was a little curious and decided he would train with me “until the miles got really crazy”. They don’t call it a “runner’s high” for no reason. Not only do you feel great, you become addicted. He couldn’t stop, even when the training miles “got really crazy”. In October 2008 we both ran our first marathon. We weren’t exactly couch to marathon, but we were pretty darn close.
Here’s how it goes. You wait at the starting line feeling a little buzzed. The gun goes off and you are on your euphoric trip. Floating, not running, for miles and miles. Then the buzz wears off and you crash. Why am I doing this? Why did I do this? I am definitely never doing this again! No more runners’ high for me.
Then, in the distance, you see it. The finish line. Out of nowhere comes a burst of energy and again you are floating. Only this time you are floating really fast towards the finish line. The very second you cross it you think I can’t wait to do this again! All of the misery of the crash is somehow erased from your brain (sort of like child birth). And, that’s how you get hooked. Marathons are as addicting as any drug, but only with positive side effects.
Here’s my Month 3 Training Schedule for a fall marathon. You’ll see P90X blended in with my training this year. I may get a little crazy and even through in a little Insanity on a few days. Two more addictions.
by LT MarathonGirl | Jul 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
3 little words can be such a difference maker. . .
PREPARATION PREPARATION PREPARATION
Schedules, lists, planning, calendars; these are not about being Type A (although those who don’t do them find amusement through that accusation). They are about reducing stress and being happier. Really, schedules make you happier? Lists reduce stress? Yes, absolutely!!!
Here’s the morning self talk without planning
“Maybe I can hit snooze one more time, and maybe one more time. Now, is the right time to get up. What do I need to do today? I guess I’ll get my workout in after work since I didn’t get up this morning.”
Later that day…
“I don’t feel like cooking. Let’s go out. I guess I’ll get my workout in tomorrow.”
Tomorrow, repeat.
Weekend, “I don’t know why these jeans don’t fit.”
Hmm, sound familiar?
Here’s the story with planning
“Time to get up. There’s a 5 mile run on my schedule today. Bring it!!!!”
Later in the day self talk
“I can do anything. I started my day out with an awesome run and now I am ready. Bring it!!!!”
Tomorrow, repeat
Weekend, “Look at how good these jeans fit – sweet!”
Find a system that works for you. I love my Outlook calendar, but a notebook or sticky notes work just fine too. It doesn’t have to be formal or fancy. Put your goals in writing to help you stick to them and don’t worry about all you have to do tomorrow because you put it off today.
by LT MarathonGirl | Jun 2, 2013 | Uncategorized
This month kicks off fall marathon training. I am going full out with a month of total fitness before tapering off cardio and adding miles. I am following my own advice for achieving goals by posting my June calendar.
Step 1 to achieving your goal – put it in writing.
Step 2 to achieving your goal – share it with people who will support you
Link to calendar
Are you running a marathon or a 1/2 marathon this fall? Let me know if your interested in sharing training tips.
by LT MarathonGirl | Mar 3, 2013 | Uncategorized
This is what I hear all of the time “How do you do it? I just don’t have the time to workout like you do.” Like I do? Time? Are you kidding me?
I wish I had a magic wand that would allow me to create an extra hour or two whenever I need them. I need an extra hour to workout – wave my magic wand – ta da. I need an extra hour to read a personal development book – wave my magic wand – ta da. I need an extra hour to . . . you get it.
Unfortunately, as hard as I try, I don’t have any magical powers. I am constricted to the same 24 hours that you are. Here’s the difference, I don’t use that as an excuse.
How much time do you spend watching TV? One way to pick up a few extra hours is to Stop Watching and Start Living. It’s enjoyable, sure, but watching TV doesn’t pay the bills. It won’t get you any further along in your career. It won’t help you get into shape or stay in shape. Try replacing the time spent watching just one of your favorite sitcoms with a different activity. By different I mean reading, writing, walking, yoga. Something that will help you feel better, be healthier, learn, be more successful, or develop a skill.
What time do you get up in the morning? How about getting up 30 minutes earlier? Yeah, it’s hard at first. Actually, it never gets easy, especially in the winter when it is so dark in the morning. Here’s the thing. When you start your day doing something great for yourself your entire day is magically better. The regret you would feel by making the same old excuse “I don’t have time” is magically replaced by a sense of accomplishment and positive endorphins that carry you throughout your day.
Do you want more energy? Less stress? More success? To be in better shape? Overcome the excuse “I don’t have time” and transform your life.
by LT MarathonGirl | Feb 17, 2013 | Uncategorized
I hear a lot of crazy remarks about my lifestyle. People love to MSU – Make Stuff Up. These same people who make up stuff about how I get things done also make up stuff about why they can’t get more done. What kind of stuff am I talking about? Reading, writing, working out, volunteering, you know the kind of stuff that has the potential to make you more successful and more fulfilled.
I have been subject to lots of imaginary made up stuff about how I can possibly do everything I do in a day: work, kids, life, running… I was talking to someone this week who told me that they shared with other people (really?) that my mom lived with me and took care of the kids, errands, etc. Crazy!!! There is one very easy secret to how I get it done. Once revealed you will see how very easy it is for you to get more done. It won’t be popular with Disney, Lowe’s, Time Warner and the like. Nope, but it is effective at facilitating a more rewarding and fulfilled lifestyle.
Here’s the secret. I don’t watch TV. OK, I watch a little TV. Very little, but I don’t have a regular regimen of can’t miss TV.
Complete this chart of your favorite TV shows watched regularly. Include those you record and watch later. If there isn’t enough room on this chart for all of your favorite shows then here’s some news for you: CNNreports on TV watching.
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If you have filled in even one box on the above chart then you can say you have a habit. A habit is defined as a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. Since habits are hard to give up and even harder to start then we rather think of replacing one habit with another. If we can shift our habits from those that are less productive to those that can be more fruitful then we can find more success and fulfillment.
30 minutes watching TV = 35 calories burned
30 minutes walking briskly = 135 calories burned
30 minutes running a 10 minute mile = 300 calories burned
Calories needed to lose 1 pound about 3,500 calories burned
You can watch 3,000 minutes of TV to burn enough calories to lose 1 pound, if you can avoid the TV munchies, or you can walk briskly for 780 minutes, or run for 350 minutes. Heck, you can dance around your living room and burn 240 calories every 30 minutes.
Replace just 30 minutes of TV daily with 30 minutes of reading and you can easily put away a book or two a month. I’m not talking Harlequin or E L James. That’s replacing junk with junk. Read something inspirational, motivational, or educational. Here’s a great resource that can get you on your way to earning your PersonalMBA .
Do more with less time. I found a VolunteerGuide that has recommendations for you to make a difference in just 15 minutes.
Here’s a great Ted Talk on success.
