Week One Training: "To Run Is To Be Born Again"

Monday, July 4th: 
I have been preparing for the marathon since I was even thinking about the marathon, so training started the day I registered, but this was the first official journaling day of my training.  I'm calling this officially Week One.  The Fourth of July is probably my favorite holiday of the year (sorry, Jesus).  It feels great to have Independence and celebrate our liberties and freedom with family and friends.  I wanted to run during the fireworks display in town, but I was having such a good time with friends that I decided my fellowship w/ them was more important than getting a run in for the day.  While making this decision, I decided that if I wasn't going to run then I would pass on our friends' famous bread pudding (maybe next year, Uncle Mike :)

Tuesday, July 5th:  Long Spin. 
I love to make it pour sweat in the gym.  I love being hot and sweaty.  I raise my water bottle and say cheers to a functioning body that can exhaust the heat that I make in the gym.

Wednesday, July 6th:  3 Mile Run w/ the Obamas. 
There was a pretty black couple in the gym so I pretend play in the gym and ran my heart out as if I was running for the Obamas.  It made my run fun, and I felt great after I was finished running.  All my endorphins were pumping, and I love the feeling of the Runner's High.

Thursday, July 7th:  20 Min. On Road Bike and 45 min. Spin Class. 
I had sweat dripping from my head to my toes, and it was awesome.

Friday, July 8th:  30 Min. Recline Bike. 
I woke up sore this morning from sleeping too much on my left side. This placed undue stress and pressure on my left knee, and it was very swollen and sore this day.  I feel the best thing for me to do is to listen to my body.  My heart wants to begin training w/ full force, but I am learning to pace myself.  I have to remind myself of my limits and boundaries...  Something I didn't do in my twenties.  If I had pain during a run when I was in my twenties, I would run through my pain.  As I have approached my thirties, I have learned to be more cautious and careful w/ my runs.  I wish I wasn't in pain, but I am thankful that I am listening to my knee and ankle. 

Saturday, July 9th:  Rest Day.

Sunday, July 10th:  20 Min. on Eliptical and Weight Training. 
I watched the US Women's World Cup and this day has become a point of motivation.  I enjoy watching athletes train and then perform under pressure.  And, then there is the sweet taste of victory.  I have felt the taste of victory before and it tastes sweeter than good cake.  Abby Wambach made that header as if she wasn't leaving anything behind her.  She lunged straight foward, was headed for goal, and she got it.  ESPN also played the 1999 Womens World Cup in California where Brandi made her historic goal in penalty kicks.  The US Womens Soccer Team has now become a picture of motivation for me.  If they can do it, I can do it.  WIN!!!

Savannah Marathon Training

I am going to journal my work outs in preparation for the Savannah Marathon on November 5, 2011.  I was born to run, and running is one of  my favorite things to do.  I ran cross-country and track at Choctawhatchee High School.  My speacialty was the 330 hurdles.  I am 5'9 and my long legs were always willing to hurdle any obstacle in front of me.  I guess that kinda explains my attitude in life.  I enjoy hurdling obstacles and overcoming challenges.  One of my favorite poets is Robert Frost and in his famous poem, he talks about the "Road Less Traveled."  I think I typically take the road less traveled.  I usally go against the flow; I go against the the norm in life.  I always was the one that didn't buy the latest fad until I calculated my decision where the fad became a need.  I guess you can say that I enjoy not being normal.  I love to read and write, but my free outgoing spirit would convince you otherwise.  Someone once called me a sexy closet nerd.

I am also an athlete.  I was a ballerina at a very young age and would spend hours in the studio.  I also was a tennis player at Meigs Middle School, played volleyball at CHS, and was the Captain of my soccer team my senior year of high school.  I attended Kanakuk Kamps for four years as a teenager, and my specialtiy was tri-athlete.  I would spend hours each day for a month training and running triathalons.

Like I said...  "I WAS BORN TO RUN."

I've completed the Chicago Marathon my sophomore year of college, ran the Seaside Half twice, and the Music City Half Marathon in Nashville.

I enjoy challenges and I want the training for the Savannah Marathon to be Me vs. Me.  I want to see how well I can out perform myself.  

My natural tendency is to go full throttle, but I know that I have to take baby steps if I'm going to accomplish this task of running the Savannah Marathon.  Also, what I have learned after running the Chicago Marathon is...  the hardest part of running a marathon is the training. 

So, I am gearing up, my shoe laces are tied, and I psyching myself into this challenge.  I hope to blog each day about my training, and I hope my followers enjoy my blog. 

Jeremiah 29: 11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.  Plans for good and not for evil.  To give you a hope and a future."  My hope is in the Lord, because I won't be able to accomplish this daunting task without Jesus Christ, my Lord.