Over the course of this month, I have slowly been gaining clarity into my fitness goals of 2013. It's been coming to me in a revelation-esque manner, which is really what I've been waiting to happen. It started while I was on the treadmill the other day, suffering through a 4 mile run that felt way harder than it should have. I struggled to figure out just why I felt like complete doo doo -- and then it hit me.
When you take approximately 4 months off from any consistent running, the physiological advances you've made over the past few years start to reverse. Mitochondria and capillary density decrease. Oxygen carrying capacity declines. I've lost it all, and the only way to get it back is to start over, much like I did in 2008 after the Boston Marathon.
After that race, I was injured and relatively unfit. I made it my mission then and there that I would take the time to build myself back up slowly, but ultimately take my training to new levels. I started with 20 miles a week, adding 5 miles each week until I was running 60 miles a week. I started my training for Richmond 2008 at 55 miles per week and capped it at 75. I built up my aerobic fitness before adding the anaerobic/speed component. I was more fit than I'd ever been, ready to go sub 3 in Richmond.
And on race day, I tanked. Ate shit hard.
But I was still more fit than I'd ever been. That training gave me the platform to start from an even higher level of building for the next race. I averaged 65 miles a week that summer. Peaked at 85 for Richmond 2009. Physiological changes took place like never before. And on race day, I finally reached my goal.
Now I'm back at square one. The problem I've had since that race in 2009 is that after reaching that goal, I didn't have a new one. I've been training and racing aimlessly for the last 3 years -- and it sucks. But on the treadmill the other day, I realized what I want to do. I want to go through that process again. I want to start from nothing and get into to the best shape of my life over 2013. I want to PR in a fall marathon. But I also want to go about things differently.
I want to consistently lift weights and cross train each week. I want to be a stronger runner than I've been in the past, so that I am healthy and don't feel like I'm injured all of the time. I want to be balanced. I think that the need for this balance has been there for the last few years -- I've just ignored it. Maybe that's why I've been hurt for the last three years. This time, I'm not going to let that happen.
Day 19, and I'm still on track. I'm sitting here dressed in my shorts and t-shirt, about to get out for my "long run" on this crisp, clear, sunny winter day. Today's long run: 7.5 miles. And it will probably feel like 17.5. But that's part of the process, and the beauty of it. Knowing that in 3 months, I might be running 17.5, and it won't feel that bad. Mitochondria and capillary density will have increased. Stroke volume will be up. I'll be 3 months closer to reaching my peak fitness -- and that will feel good.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Week 1 - Starting Fresh
Well, week 1 is in the books -- literally. I have successfully completed the first 8 days of 365 days of fitness. On most days, I satisfied my fitness activity with a run. I am currently starting my "return" to running after being off for about 4 months, so my runs are currently only 2-4 miles. And suck. I am definitely feeling "out of shape." During the course of the first week, I also decided that I may sign up to do one (or a couple) triathlons, with the first possible being a sprint tri in April. That lead to one day being a 20 mile bike ride. It felt good to get back on the bike after being away for so long! I only had one "off day," on which I made a simple 3x20 push-ups my workout.
I continue to feel motivated. As my return to cardio exercise continues, I am feeling more and more the pull of a real return to endurance training. Loose goals include the triathlons that I mentioned, the 10k in April, a half iron-man in September, and either the half or full marathon in Richmond in November. I'm not going to peg myself into any one of those holes quite yet, but the mind set is returning. Feels good to be getting back to who I really am.
Hope everyone else's endeavors are going well!
I continue to feel motivated. As my return to cardio exercise continues, I am feeling more and more the pull of a real return to endurance training. Loose goals include the triathlons that I mentioned, the 10k in April, a half iron-man in September, and either the half or full marathon in Richmond in November. I'm not going to peg myself into any one of those holes quite yet, but the mind set is returning. Feels good to be getting back to who I really am.
Hope everyone else's endeavors are going well!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
A New Beginning, A New Challenge
Hello, and welcome. If you are reading this post, you have been invited to join me on a journey -- a quest for health and fitness.
With the turning of a new year comes an opportunity to start fresh. Today, tens of thousands of people will begin their New Year's resolution to "get in shape." Gyms get crowded. New running shoes are purchased. Diet plans are started. Visions of a lean, tan summer physiques are in the forefront of many peoples' minds.
Approximately 97% of these people will fail.
But you and I, my friends, will not fail. Indeed, we will be among the 3% of people who actually embrace fitness as a lifestyle, as all of us already do. But what's the fun in just keeping with the status quo of our current fitness routine? Why not throw in a wrinkle -- a piece of flare?
The Challenege: 365 Days of Fitness.
My challenge to myself is to perform some (any!) sort of physical fitness every single day of 2013 -- and to keep a record of it in my little journal. Most of my days' entries will consist of my normal workout for that day: a run, a lift, perhaps a bike ride. The challenge becomes present on those days where we either don't have anything planned, have a scheduled rest day, or have one of those days where we just don't feel like doing a GOSH DARN thing. Can you do something on those days? Anything? It can be as simple as dropping to the ground and cranking a set of 10 push-ups or sit-ups. Or maybe working it into your daily routine: Do you work on the 11th floor of a nationally recognized hospital? Take the stairs. Do something, anything, outside of your normal routine that can be classified as a form of fitness.
The next part of the challenge is to keep an accurate record of each and every day. At the end, there will be 365 entries. That will be a very impressive collection of fitness -- a trophy of your accomplishment. You can use whatever method you choose to keep a record of your daily fitness. I will be using a spiral notebook, logging my entries by hand. If you would prefer to keep it on the computer, or a Google doc, feel free. Just get it recorded.
In a world where we are faced with a disgusting obesity epidemic, and an every growing trend towards a sedentary lifestyle, it is important to maintain an active lifestyle. Will a day of doing nothing but 10 push-ups do anything for your overall health and fitness? Not really. But it's the principle of it. Those 10 push-ups are 10 more of anything than Joe Schmoe who weighs 305 and is on a one way train to having diabetes and a heart attack at the age of 47. We must be better than that, and lead by example.
So my friends, I invite you to join me on this quest. Most of you, too, will quit, because you are all weak, feeble minded people. But to those of you who can defeat this challenge, I will stand with you at the end, hand in hand, as your brother in arms.
I plan to write on this blog weekly, to keep everyone updated on my progress. Check back if you feel so inclined.
Good luck.
With the turning of a new year comes an opportunity to start fresh. Today, tens of thousands of people will begin their New Year's resolution to "get in shape." Gyms get crowded. New running shoes are purchased. Diet plans are started. Visions of a lean, tan summer physiques are in the forefront of many peoples' minds.
Approximately 97% of these people will fail.
But you and I, my friends, will not fail. Indeed, we will be among the 3% of people who actually embrace fitness as a lifestyle, as all of us already do. But what's the fun in just keeping with the status quo of our current fitness routine? Why not throw in a wrinkle -- a piece of flare?
The Challenege: 365 Days of Fitness.
My challenge to myself is to perform some (any!) sort of physical fitness every single day of 2013 -- and to keep a record of it in my little journal. Most of my days' entries will consist of my normal workout for that day: a run, a lift, perhaps a bike ride. The challenge becomes present on those days where we either don't have anything planned, have a scheduled rest day, or have one of those days where we just don't feel like doing a GOSH DARN thing. Can you do something on those days? Anything? It can be as simple as dropping to the ground and cranking a set of 10 push-ups or sit-ups. Or maybe working it into your daily routine: Do you work on the 11th floor of a nationally recognized hospital? Take the stairs. Do something, anything, outside of your normal routine that can be classified as a form of fitness.
The next part of the challenge is to keep an accurate record of each and every day. At the end, there will be 365 entries. That will be a very impressive collection of fitness -- a trophy of your accomplishment. You can use whatever method you choose to keep a record of your daily fitness. I will be using a spiral notebook, logging my entries by hand. If you would prefer to keep it on the computer, or a Google doc, feel free. Just get it recorded.
In a world where we are faced with a disgusting obesity epidemic, and an every growing trend towards a sedentary lifestyle, it is important to maintain an active lifestyle. Will a day of doing nothing but 10 push-ups do anything for your overall health and fitness? Not really. But it's the principle of it. Those 10 push-ups are 10 more of anything than Joe Schmoe who weighs 305 and is on a one way train to having diabetes and a heart attack at the age of 47. We must be better than that, and lead by example.
So my friends, I invite you to join me on this quest. Most of you, too, will quit, because you are all weak, feeble minded people. But to those of you who can defeat this challenge, I will stand with you at the end, hand in hand, as your brother in arms.
I plan to write on this blog weekly, to keep everyone updated on my progress. Check back if you feel so inclined.
Good luck.
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