Slow Progress

I missed a couple workouts because of my Seattle trip. But, I finally made it back to the gym Wednesday. I tried the run-walk method discussed in the running book. 8 min walk followed by (4) - 1 min run and 2 min walk then 10 min walk. The results after 30 minutes: 2.01 miles and a sore chest. I needed a sports bra that was a little more supportive. 

A trip to REI solved my support problem, but left a small dent in my wallet. Of course, the most comfortable, non rubbing, supportive sports bra was also the most expensive. I ended up with the Under Armour bra. 

Friday I slept in and didn't get up in time to eat a good breakfast before heading to the gym. I'm learning how important it is to eat right. The chocolate soy milk chug wasn't a substitute for food. I made it through my weight lifting and crunches, but after 5 min on the treadmill, I literally bonked! I figure we all deserve a day off. 

So, today I ate right, rested, put on the new sports bra and made it to the gym with plenty of energy. This time I left out the 8 minute warm-up walk and just started with a 3:1 walk-run ratio. However, 3 minutes was a little too long of a recovery period between the 1 minute runs. I switched it up a couple times between 3 min and 2 min walks. The results after 30 minutes: 2.10 miles. It's a little more than last time, but not much. 

My legs are sore and stiff, and I'm left wondering how in the heck I'm gonna be able to do this for 26.2 miles. I hope I didn't bite off more than I can chew. 

Sponsor Me!

It appears that the sponsorship website is up and running now. If you'd like to sponsor me, the Sponsor Me! link to the right will take you to my page on the AIDS Foundation fundraising website. 

My fundraising goal is $3500. It seems like a huge amount right now, but I'm sure with everyone's help, I can get there. The proceeds go directly to help people with HIV/AIDS. Many employers will match your donation, so please check.

Thanks in advance for everyone's support!

Seattle Sidebar

I'm in Seattle for a few days so I haven't really been training, just walking in the rain. I've also been re-reading the Runners World Complete Book of Women's Running. I first read this book a few years ago when I was searching for a way to enjoy running. I thought it would help me overcome the mental challenge of running. It worked. I actually remember smiling during a run. Odd, I know. With that in mind, I thought it might help me prepare for the many miles of running ahead. It's definitely a book I'd recommend. 

Another book that was recommended to me by a friend here in Seattle is The Other Shulman. It's a novel about a man running the New York City Marathon. I plan on reading it soon. 

I'm also really interested in seeing the movie Spirit of the Marathon. I stumbled across it on the internet the other day. It's a documentary about 5 people running the Chicago Marathon. I'm going to hold out a couple weeks before ordering this. I don't want to get motivational overload. I'm trying to pace myself here. 

You can find out more about these by clicking the links to the right, under Motivational Material. 

One last note before I sign off. I'm still trying to get the online donation set-up. Right now if you click on the Donate Here link, it just takes you to the AIDS Marathon site. I am supposed to get my own page so you all can donate directly to me. I'll let you know when it's ready to go.

Hopefully the weather in Chicago will be warmer so I can start running outside soon.

First Steps

I've officially registered to train for and run the Maui Marathon this September. 

Let me give you an idea of the insanity in that statement. 

I've never, ever had the desire to run a marathon. In fact, running is one of my least favorite activities. To top it off, I haven't worked out on a regular basis since I stopped playing rugby 5 years ago.... that is, until I got laid off a couple months ago. Since then, I've had a lot more time for myself and so I've re-established a regular workout schedule. But, I really haven't worked cardio into my schedule, unless you count the 10 minute walk to and from the gym... and that should definitely count for something, right? 

Now, I'm not always self-motivated, but I do enjoy motivating others. And, that's how I got myself into this. A friend mentioned that she was considering running the AIDS Marathon in Maui, and I eagerly volunteered to cheer for her at the finish line. Over the next couple days, I began researching the feasibility of training for a marathon in 6 months. I discovered that there are a lot of people who begin only being able to walk 20 minutes and 6 months later they cross the finish line in their first marathon. The more I read, the more I caught myself thinking, "This is something I could do."

So, why am I planning to run a marathon? 

Fitness is one reason, a trip to Hawaii is another, but I'm really running to raise money and awareness for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (donation details coming soon!)

Now, I don't have all of the details of the training program yet. But, this is what I know so far. Once training begins on April 25th, I'll need to run twice a week for 30-45 minutes on my own and then every Saturday I'll train with the team for longer runs. The first training run is a timed 3 mile run to determine my pace group. My goal is to be able to run the entire 3 miles. A couple days ago, I did a 30 min walk/run and only covered 1.87 miles... I have a long way to go! 

Learn more about the National AIDS Marathon Training Program.