Race week - 5 days and counting

In only 5 short days I will toe the line for my 8th full marathon.  Lately, I've been a bit worried about this one because I was sick during my peak training week and missed my 20 mile run.  On top of that, my legs and body have not felt 100% like they should.  It's times like these that I have to draw inspiration from the past.

This was me - less than 3 years ago when I took my dad on a trip to see our favorite team play a home game.  325 pounds and willfully ignorant of the fate that would become of me should I not get a hold of my life.



This IS me - last November coming up to the finish of my 7th marathon in San Antonio.  That race was 45 minutes slower than I should have been and not my best race, but looking at these two pictures side by side reminds me of why I do this.  I could post a personal record this Sunday, or I could post a personal worst, or perhaps something in between.  No matter what, I am better off for it.

Finally I am reminded of a moment from the past.  It's funny how little things can seem to make the biggest difference and have the biggest impact in our lives and this moment definitely qualifies.  In February of 2011, I took my first plane flight since loosing weight.  For the first time that I can remember, when I put the tray table down it came all the way down and didn't rest on my legs like it had when I was heavier.  Anyone who has ever been heavy knows what I am talking about here.  That is a simple thing, but it is something I will always remember. 

Wish me luck on Sunday!

10 Days until the Napa Valley Marathon

One of the certain things in life is that obstacles will come in between you and achieving any endeavor.  This happened to me in my training.  I came up sick with a bad illness that put me out of commission for several days and forced me to miss my 20 mile training run.  Today, I'm getting the legs back together but it is slow going.  Now with the marathon only 10 days away, I am worried.

But, the worry is what makes life interesting.  Part of the allure of attempting a marathon or Ironman is that there will always be a piece of you thinking you can't do it.  To conquer that thought and actually cross the finish line of whatever endeavor you are attempting is a joy like no other.

I'll see you in 10 days - as I cross the finish line in Napa.

Getting back on my feet

Have you ever said something that you wish you hadn't?

I'm not that vested in superstitious beliefs, but when I finished my last 19 mile run and said "this training is going great" I intrinsically knew that I had just cursed myself.  This last Saturday was supposed to be the longest training run of my entire marathon training plan - a 20 miler.  But, thanks to the food poisoning that hit me on Wednesday, I have been effectively knocked off my running feet for a while and had to miss the run.

Today, I went back out on the road for a trial run after 4 days off - in the rain.  I only put in a 5 K and could tell that, while my running mechanics and conditioning was still in good shape, my fuel cells were not.  The 10 pound in 36 hour weight loss associated with the illness took its toll and my body was seriously lacking nutrients.

But, one think I've learned over the past couple of years is that you can never give up.  So, I'm forcing myself to eat a big runner's carb-loaded lunch and getting ready to resume the remainder of the training schedule tomorrow.  With only 20 days until the marathon, there is unfortunately no time to make up the 20 miler.

First fast food cheeseburger since I don't know when

There was a time in my life when I knew every fast food restaurant within an hours drive by heart.  I knew their menus, prices, and where I had to go to get what I wanted.  The clerks at the local Burger King knew me by name as I was a regular every morning for breakfast.  Now, although I have occasionally stopped for a quick bite, I am blissfully unfamiliar with the fast food trade.

Today, I had my first fast food cheeseburger since I don't remember when.  It was an odd experience - going into a Jack in the Box.  It was oddly familiar but at the same time a foreign experience.  Truth be told, I'm glad that I have separated myself from the fast food trade.  But, some days you just need a cheeseburger.  Today was one of those days.

I've been very sick the last couple of days.  I'm not sure what it was, but it hit me like a freight train, causing me severe problems and bringing about a shocking 10 pound weight loss in only 36 hours.  Not good.  I'm not 100%, but I'm finally in the stage of recovery where I can eat solid foods again.  My diet normally is rather low in fat and high in protein and carbs - a typical runner and triathlete diet for the most part.  So, when I have to go basically without food for a day and a half, my body seemed to crave what it gets the least of - fat.

So, I bought a cheeseburger - and it was good.

Now, there was a day when I would consider this meal a failure.  There was a day when I would berate myself and let this "failure" dig into my conscience, but not anymore.  Life has ups and downs and a big trick to succeeding is to roll with the punches.  Nothing will be perfect and the last few days for me have epitomized that fact, but in a few days I should be back to normal, not cheeseburgers in sight.

One month into Ironman training

January sure seemed to fly by quickly!  It seems like just yesterday I was looking at the training schedule and wondering why a simple few mile run seemed so tough.  Now, the conditioning is coming back and it feels great.  I dropped 8 pounds in the month and am back to running past 10 miles without worry.  It looks like things are back on track and once again life is good!