What I'm Reading

The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer is the book to read if you are inexperienced and wanting to go the distance. The book is based on a class that the author's have taught at a university for years. It comes complete with a training schedule as well as health and mental tips to get you through the training and the actual race. Each chapter is meant to be read leading up to its coordinating week of training runs.

So far I think it's awesome and has been very inspirational. The training schedule which the authors suggest requires you to run four days a week. One of those days is an increasingly long day while the other days are relatively short. If you follow the program it will take you four full months to complete unless you currently cannot continuously jog for 30 minutes. If this is the case, the authors have included an additional 3 months of training to get you to this point which starts off by only requiring the ability to walk for 30 minutes at a moderate pace.

The book also includes a compilation of excerpts from the students who have been enrolled in the marathon class who range in age and athletic ability. One woman had back problems and on her first day of training could barely walk five minutes at a time. Every single student completed a marathon at the end of each of the semesters except one person who had medical problems during his race. It is so inspiring to hear from the students themselves what all this means to them and how much they were able to accomplish in a short time following this exact method. I especially love the stories of the extremely inexperienced students because that is the boat I am in and sometimes this task seems a bit daunting.

Marathon Training

Well it has been a month of running and honestly I have already felt like quitting. I am trying something new though and it seems to be helping squash the excuses that keep coming up. My local gym is having a deal where it is only $10 a month to be a member. Now I can run early in the morning or late at night where otherwise my excuse would be safety running alone in the dark. Also, when it is sleeting, like the day I joined, I can run without getting deathly ill or slipping on the icy sidewalks. In other news, I got some brand new running shoes. They are Brooks and I love them. It's official, I must complete my training now because these cute shoes are too expensive to go to waste :)

Let me tell you a couple of things that have helped me keep up with the program on the days that I just don't want to. Number one: I tell myself I just have to get out there no matter what. Just show up. I also tell myself it is okay if I just walk the mileage. The important thing is to just get out the door. I have yet to "just walk the mileage", but it is comforting to know I am okay with that as long as I am not skipping out all together. Number two: I talk to myself while I am running and I feel like walking. It is kind of awkward, but really helps. Tell yourself things like, "I am a runner", "I am so proud of myself", "I will run a marathon", "I am amazing." Number three: I have had so much fun telling people I am training for a marathon and why I am doing it. It constantly gives me a little boost to reaffirm that what I am doing is going to be an amazing life event and is worth the effort that it takes every single day.

Someday I will be this intense. Someday. Not today. But someday.

Marathon Training

I have never been "a runner" and in 2009 when my sister asked me to train for a marathon with her I said, "yeah right". That September I watched her complete her first marathon along with my brother and his wife. It was awesome. I was so proud of them and I thought to myself that one day I would have to do one as well.

(sister-in-law, brother, sister)

That very same day in September, waiting for my siblings to cross the finish line, I talked with my oldest brother and his wife about how cool it was to accomplish running a marathon. My sister-in-law didn't think there would be much to it and was sure she could do one herself. My brother laughed at her and challenged her to complete one within the next year. Without ever having run before in her life, my sister-in-law began training and completed that very same race in September 2010 along with her husband who has always been an avid runner. I have two siblings who have not yet gone the 26.2 miles and one of them is in training to complete a marathon in May. So it is about time I jump on board. Hopefully the ability runs in my genes.

(source:: Kristi Mcmurry)

I started training December 28 after my sister-in-law concluded that it was high time I ran a marathon and drafted me up a running schedule. I hope to complete my training in time to run the May race with my brother. We will see. I am nervous already just thinking about the race. I will keep you up-to-date on how training is going and any tidbits I pick up along the way. Happy running!