An Update On Those Self-Improvement Programs

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A confession: I have stopped and started so many self-improvement programs in the past 6 months even I've lost track of what I'm supposed to be doing... not be doing... etc. Am I a better person than I was six months ago? Marginally. (Maybe.) But I've had some fun in my attempts to improve myself and drag others with me along the way. So here now, a quick review of what's been stopped, started, put on hold or embraced. Based on a 5-star rating scale.

The 100 Push-Up Challenge: We're all familiar with this one. About 10 of us jumped on the "You bet!" bandwagon and developed an intimate knowledge of our floors. I was gung-ho on this program, especially when I tested right into week 3 of the 6 week program. Halfway there! How hard could it be?

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Point Taken

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Last night Blair and I were sitting on the couch, thinking about getting ready to go to bed.

"I have to do an 11-mile tempo run in the morning," I said. 

"I have to go to work for 10 hours," said Blair.

He wins. 

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I have to take a moment, though, and say this morning was a REALLY good run for me - the labor-intensive training is paying off. 11 miles at just under an 8:30 pace. I need to remember to GO OUT SLOW. I ripped through the first 5 miles at about an 8:12 pace and mile 8 was hit with fatigue. Slow and steady will take me farther, faster. 

Marathon Training: A Run I Want to Remember

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Bear with me, it's yet another blog post on running. I try to keep them to somewhat of a minimum but, as my October 11th marathon draws ever closer, I find myself thinking more and more often about physical strength, mental reserves, and race day strategy.

My 20-mile long run yesterday is one I want to remember for a number of reasons.

First, it was my fastest 20-miler to date, clocking in at a breezy 2 hours and 57 minutes, which is an 8:58/mile pace, a full 7 seconds per mile faster than my scheduled pace for the day. That alone deserves a big wa-hoo. 

Second, I did the run on a day where it was already 72 degrees at 6:30 am AND the humidity level was off the charts. We were dripping before we ever took our first step. 

And third, I want to remember this run because I was pretty sure by mile 5 that I was going to have to quit

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I Thought I Was Being Smart...

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I meet with my trainer every Monday and Wednesday at 2 PM. Usually this is a good time for me. I've put in a morning's worth of work and am ready to let loose. Today, however, I was not feeling it. Nope, nope, nope. Just not the least little bit in the mood to work out. 

So I thought I was being smart when I asked Ben to spare my legs in today's workout. "I've got a hard track workout tomorrow," I said, injecting as much "woe is me" into my voice as I could. "So I need my legs fresh." 

Mentally, I was congratulating myself. No legs means no cardio = lighter workout.

"Cool. We'll stick with arms and abs," said Ben. The slow grin that spread across his face should have warned me of what was to come. 

It was an evil hour. I looked at the clock early on and moaned, "I can't believe it's only 2:20."

"You're going to hurt my feelings and make me think you don't want to be here," said Ben. "Now give me 50 dips on the bench."

This is the up side of working with a trainer. I would never in a million years have worked out today if I were left to my own free will. Nap? Yes. Ugly exercises with a dumbbell? Not so much. But I feel all the better for having worked through it. Strong arms, strong abs and... oh shoot.

No excuse tomorrow for shaky legs.

Cheers!