training day number eight

i had a great run today. it was hard as i woke up hungover this morning again. i got to stop that. but the french wine is so good. yummy. :)

i will challenge myself for the month of may. i declare as i write this, i will not drink the french wine or the american beer on any night except for friday or saturday. sunday-thursday is off limits. the only exception being if out for a social dinner with friends or work and then a 2 glass max.

train baby train

i made it to the gym at work and that really does wonders for a hangover. i also had to go to the dentist and had a good visit there with a new place and new procedures. i liked them. they are very thorough with modern technology.

gym: 30 minutes cycle, abs, push-ups, stretches 400 calories

run (run/walk):

duration: 44:53
distance:  3.73 mi
pace:  12:00 min/mi
calories: 455

weight: 186 lbs

194 days to go

training day number seven

i was so busy on friday, i forgot to blog. i was also very tired from a late night thursday. it was a night of good french wine; not good for training. i must do better.

i only ran on monday and friday last week; a small set back. i missed wednesday because i went out to dinner with work colleagues for a team summit. it was a nice free dinner at firebirds so a bit worth it.

on friday, i was able to workout and run but it was harder than it needed to be since i was not well rested and hungover. this is a lesson learned and i will cut that out so i can be successful.

the stats

gym: 30 minutes cycle, pushups, abs, stretches 400 calories

run (walk/run):

duration: 47:02
distance:  3.75 mi
pace: 12:31  min/mi
calories: 387

weight: 188 lbs

194 days to go

training day number six

i had my longest run yet today. i thought things were about the same but when i see that things are improving, i get so excited. so cheers to me. :)

today's run was hard because it is colder today than any other training day so far. i could have easily said no, i'm not doing it. lucky i had a long sleeve shirt from a thrift store that worked great to keep my upper body warm and i just wore shorts. gloves would have been nice since my hands stayed cold the whole time.

so on to the stats:

gym: 30 minutes cycle, abs and stretches. i also did 15 reps on the push bars.

run (run/walk):

temp: 48 degrees

duration: 47:00
distance:  3.72 mi
pace:  12:36 min/mi
calories: 476

weight: 188 lbs

training day number five

i missed a run on wednesday this week due to volunteer training for the tar heel 10 miler run on saturday. i was going to do wednesday's run on tuesday but since i ran longer than planned on monday, i skipped it. the 10 miler will be a goal for next year. if all goes well, that should be a breeze after running a marathon. :)

i read that volunteering for races is a good thing. you get to learn a lot about running and the world of running. the expo is at the mall and i hate the mall so i missed out on that bit but i will check out things after the race and my volunteer job is done. volunteers get a discount on the entry fee next year.

i did gym training every day this week. today's workout was a bit harder for two reasons.

1. i had a heavy breakfast with my old team. they wanted to meet and vent about the crazy things going on at work. i tried to just listen but it is just crazy, i had to throw them some good vibes.

2. i stayed up late last night with a good bottle of wine; so i was hungover. :(

add to that, i did not get to workout in the morning but in the afternoon. that is not the best time if i am going for a run in the same day. but i got through it, thankfully.

gym: 30 minutes on the bike, stretches and abs. ~400 calories burned

run (run/walk): 

temp: 74 degrees

duration: 51:20
distance: 3.73 mi
pace: 13:43 min/mi
calories: 422

weight: 188 lbs

it's friday. happy weekend and two days of rest.

training day number four

i got a curve ball today. i was all set to add additional run time to my workout. but when i got to the track it was full of kids. then i remembered that kids were out of school last week. last week it was so nice to use the track all by myself. i just thought that was how it was going to be but reality set in today.

since i did not want to workout with kids, i went to plan b. i probably would have gotten kicked off the track anyway since i am not a student. plan b is a brisk walk to the duke east campus track and do the full loop; 2.1 miles. so off I went on to duke. well i started running at the track, up beautiful gloria avenue that takes you straight to duke.

the duke loop had a lot of walkers. it was nice to pass people with my run; slow as it might be for now.

oh yeah, i did a workout at work today as well. 30 minutes on the bike, abs, pushups and stretches. 400 calories burned there.

run stats:

temp: 82 degrees

duration: 51:15
distance: 3.81 mi
pace: 13:24 min/mi
calories: 390

weight: 188.5 lbs

i came home and enjoyed the garden and watered some new plantings. things look really good this year. i should sleep well tonight.

training day number three

wow. i made it through my 1st week of training. it will be mind over matter and other things. there is so much pressure in our world today but i am determined. having this outlet is a big help even though i only sit here and write about running.

any hoo, yea for me. this week, i set a goal to knock out three running days (mon, wed, and fri) and I did it.

i am posting this at 10:13 pm on friday the 13th. the time is important but not the day so much because i finished my run around 6:13 pm but i had to get back to work, until now. where many folks fear the number 13, i embrace it. i relate to it, i use it in my life.

so today's training goal is the same for the week. a brisk walk to the track, 4 laps around for a mile and a brisk walk back. so this is done.

but i also did gym work. 30 minutes cycle, chest work, abs, arms and stretches ~400 calories

temp: 71 degrees

run (walk/run):

distance: 2.95 mi
duration: 38:29
calories: 390
pace: 12:59 min/mi (run/walk)

weight: 189 lbs

training day number two

today's run got started a little late. i got hung up at work but i was determined to get it done. i stayed to my routine for the week. i started with a brisk walk to the track and then four times around for a mile run. then a brisk walk back to the house. i also worked out today with some biking, weights, abs and stretches. so it was a good day.

the run was colder today.

temp: 55F
wind: 8 mph
humidity: 30%

run stats (run & walk):

duration: 35:36
distance: 2.75 mi
pace: 13:00 min/mi
calories: 293

current weight: 188 lbs (i will write more about this later)

i'm on my way. i'm looking forward to friday. i got to make sure i rest because i do feel a slight strain in my legs.

training has begun

this blog is about me and my training to run a marathon by the end of the year. it is noteworthy as i am not a runner but i am not in terrible shape. the kicker is i turn 50 next year so it is truly now or never.

today was my first run with my new shoes for road running. i walked briskly to the high school track and jogged around 4 times for a mile jog. my research has shown that one must start slow. i have a huge challenge to get there but i also don't want to loose training time with an injury. i also worked out today at lunch so I got a double dose of exercise.

i burned about 400 calories with cardio, weights and pushups with stretches.

i found a free iphone app for logging your runs. I have good stats for my first day.

duration 38:24
distance 2.56 mi
pace: 15:04 min/mi (walking and jogging)
calories: 316

so the app is great to keep tab on my progress. wish me luck!
i had fun today, so cheers to me. :)
i also signed up for a run next weekend; the tar heel 10 miler. i will volunteer to help cheer on the runners. maybe i will pick up some tips and meet some runners to keep the excitement going.