August 10, 2004

not much to say today

In-laws are here and we're having a good time. We finally finished staining the deck today by doing the railing which is always the hardest to do, and it looks really nice. We had a lot of stain left so we went ahead and stained the split-rail fence we have running down one side of our property. It looks REALLY fabulous now, and I'm happy to think that it won't be fading to grey like normally happens with cedar split rail fences (no one stains them around here).

No formal exercise... still purging... but things have solidified a bit with the next plan.

The next plan is predicated on a goal that is outside of me. I always seem to do better when I have an outside goal to shoot for. When it was running my first 5k, 10k, triathlon, etc... I was able to focus on THAT rather than on my ever present body fat, or weight or whatever... so my next goal (which is really the next logical endurance step for me) is this:

On October 31, 2004 I will be running my very first half-marathon. I will register tomorrow for the Terapin - RUN LIKE HELL half marathon.

I will be meeting with Alissa on monday to work out a training schedule and the milages I'll need to run to get to where I need to be by the end of October. I am excited to have another outside of myself goal (eat that jim... lets see ya catch me now) to work toward and the great thing is that I KNOW that training for this event will ALSO help me lean out (hooray!). I believe I'll be running 3-4 days a week and I want to get in 2 days of high-rep, low weight, full-body strength training as well to hold onto that muscle I've gained over the first half of the year. I won't be weighing until AFTER the marathon. that's right... no scale for 11.5 weeks. I'll go back to logging my food in fitday (I'll be aiming for 1800-2000 HONEST calories per day, and focusing in FUELING my body for endurance... which I'm sorry to say I have VERY little knowledge or experience with so I'm going to need to do a LOT of research on that) on Monday and hopefully start my training that day as well... lots of things happening on Monday, eh?

So there you have it... maybe I'm insane... and I do distinctly remember saying a long time ago that I would NEVER want to run a half or full marathon...

that's what I get for limiting myself.

heh.

Posted by Lexy at August 10, 2004 09:09 PM


Comments

The "outside" goal thing sounds like a good idea. I need something like that....

As for eating for endurance, Lance Armstrong's coach, Chris Carmichael, has a new book called Foot for Fitness -- it's not just about cycling, I don't think... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/039915194X/qid=1092228868/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/103-3653208-0603857

I have some info from a trainer that does ultra-endurance events too, let me know and I could email it to you...

Good luck!

Posted by: Laura on 08/11/04 @ 06:06 AM


Yay for you and your new goal! I'm totally motivated that way too, and am currently in need of figuring out my next one.

I decided to try my hand at racing last year at 29, and started with a couple 10Ks and worked my way up to half marathons. I have to say, the half marathon is a really fun length! I'm not a traditional "runner" body type, but I still did well and really had fun at that distance. I read several books on half marathon training schedules, and found Hal Higden's to be the best. He's well respected in the running world, and has plans for different levels. Check out his site (www.halhigdon.com) or go directly to the half marathon training at http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/index.htm

Good luck! Don't be surprised if you lose some of your muscle though - all that running will do it to you no matter what, and if you don't do enough running in prep then you're likely to hurt yourself so that you won't want to do another. But you WILL lean out if you continue to eat well.

best,
Michelle

Posted by: Michelle on 08/11/04 @ 12:03 PM


"not much to say" and "I will be running my very first half-marathon"

Ummm....these don't appear to work well together...

Great...now I have to come up with another good multiple for a lift...can do 100% bw for shoulder press, 150% for bench, 200% for dead, not supposed to squat...hrm....

I will make you jealous again...I just don't know how, yet.

Posted by: Jim (a.k.a. the Mighty Slug of Thunder) on 08/11/04 @ 01:35 PM