You are unique

I went to a wedding yesterday. The bride and groom really made it their own. The setting, the vows, the officiant, the music, the table names all gave you a sense of who they are as individuals and together. It got me thinking about how unique everyone is while we live in a world that is full of trends and many of us flocking to the same things: Starbucks, the Apple store, Whole Foods. Did you ever stand in line at Starbucks, knowing you'd be late for work but you stay anyway? Maybe it's just me, but from the looks of the lines I've been in, I think not.

So what does this have to do with marathon training? As I completed my last long run today (18 miles) I realized that ultimately, I have to make this race my own. Despite the hundreds of other runners I'll be with on October 19, I have to wear what I want, eat what I want, use my i pod if I want and most of all, run my own race.

I am in the last two weeks of training. This week, along with running, I'll make a playlist for the i pod, confirm the clothes I'll wear, eat well and try to get more rest than is usual.

Sleep well!

Heading for the finish

I went for a run this morning at my old familiar morning running time. I felt like crap. Matter of fact, the past three runs have not felt so hot. Food choices the night before haven't been so good, aches and pains have sprung up in new places and now, guess what??? It's freaking cold in the morning and dark. And at night after work, it's the same way. I honestly think it's just a combination of the change in climate, combined with what has been really rainy weather here in Boston and just the fact that I'm tired from training. I've read a few articles about what happens to runners when they are in the last few weeks of marathon training and what I'm experiencing is not new. So, that's something.

I have my last long run tomorrow. Then, the rest of the schedule is quite moderate.

By the way, if I can run the time above in the picture, I will be thrilled!

Namaste.

Stick to the plan

I ran last night on a full stomach. Did I ever tell you that it's a bad idea? Remember when your mom would tell you not to go swimming until you'd waited one half hour after eating? Well, if you ate a big sandwich and french fries, add about three hours to that. But I had to stick to my plan. I'm in the last three weeks of training and when I made up my running plan on Sunday night (it's a ritual) by consulting my book and coach, I knew I had to run one half hour last night. After spending all afternoon on the golf course ( it was part of my birthday celebration!) I couldn't fit the run into the day's schedule until the evening. But I did it. It wasn't pretty but I was glad I did.

Sometimes sticking to the schedule for whatever you're training for feels like you're just going through the motions. But really you're training yourself to push through resistance and persist, despite challenges along the way. This is great training for the mind as well as the body.

Be well, eat light and have a great day.

Change your running frequency for better performance

I used to think that running every day was the only way to go. I'd be proud that I was running daily, especially in those warm summer months. My yoga practice used to also be an every day thing as well, especially when I was a newer student and was so excited to have found such an amazing practice.

As I got older, I got wiser. I realized that running every day ( or any athletic endeavor) can actually be damaging to your body. Certainly something that's as high impact as running can, over time, lead to joint and muscular issues. Now, I know there are those out there reading this who run every day. And I know there are yoga teachers that practice and preach to students to practice every day. I'm just saying I have found this does not work for me. Mentally or physically. I'd much rather have a more moderate schedule and really give it my all when I practice or run.

I'm more focused on running now than my yoga practice so we'll focus on that. My "every other day" running has even occasionally dropped to every two days during some weeks ( rest Sunday, Monday then run on Tuesday). I have found this to be particularly effective as I've increased my distances and have needed to give my body a rest in between long workouts.

This schedule is supported by one of my marathon resources, the book, "Four Months to a Four hour marathon." I've been following the training plan in this book for the past several months and like that it gives me license to take two days off. I've found this to be a great way to rest, fit in some cross training on my "no running" days and give my mind a mental break too.

Yesterday I ran 16 miles in about 2 1/2 hours. A little over nine minute miles. Ok, so I'm not going to make the Olympic team but I could hit my four hour mark if I can hold a nine minute per mile pace.

Be well.

Be comfortable with change

When I was growing up , I loved changing my room around. I'd spend hours organizing, rearranging furniture and then relished sitting in my new room, with a fresh perspective on how the same furniture looked and how organized everything was.

I recently did the same thing in my current living space, after having not made any changes for the six years that I've lived there. There was the fresh perspective provided by someone near and dear to my heart and while my first instinct was to try to hold on to the way I had things arranged, once I opened my mind to new possibilities, I ended up loving the way the new arrangement looks.

I now feel like I have a new living room. I love sitting in it, love watching TV and relaxing in my new space. I thought of this last night as I was on a quick 5 mile tempo run. Being open to new possibilities and ways of thinking is the only way. Life is constantly changing and when we can't learn to be comfortable with change, we only pigeon-hole ourselves into our way and cut ourselves off from other ideas.

Training can be like that as well. We all have our training routines, be it a yoga practice or a favorite run we do...a favorite sneaker we wear or even placing our yoga mat in the same spot every time we go to class. I am one of those students; I like the regularity of being in the same spot in the studio. But I really try when I go to class to move to another place. If for no other reason than to remind myself that things are not stable, that being comfortable with change is so important to living a healthy, happy life.

The next time you're in your own living space, take a look and see if there's a new way you can shift some of the furniture. You'd be surprised at the impact it has.

Peace.

Boom! 20 miles

Gettin' it done. 20 miles today. I'm sore and tired but overall, not too bad. Did it in 3.5 hours. I'm on track for a four hour marathon. Very good.

That's all for now.

Be well.

The elasticity of growth

Have you ever stretched a rubber band a few times and noticed that when it returned to it's resting position, it was more stretched than when you started? Anyone that has a regular yoga practice knows that over time, your body finds a new threshold, a new starting point from which you approach every pose. In the first few months, you find that postures are tough but over time, just like that rubber band, you set a new baseline for your body.

I ran 8 1/2 miles tonight. It was on a familiar path but one I had not run in a few weeks. I distinctly remember the last time I ran it and it was not all that pleasant. But tonight, I was flying. Why? I am convinced it's because I have added longer distances to my weekly schedule. My 12 and 16 mile runs over the past month have helped me set a new baseline. Because I have pushed myself to run farther than I previously thought possible ( an experience that was not all too pleasant the first time) I found that when I returned to a distance that was previously challenging, it was not so challenging anymore.

Putting ourselves in position of challenge and risk takes nothing short of courage, commitment and a lot of true grit. It doesn't mean we'll win the race every time but I'm convinced it means we set a new threshold for ourselves and what we believe we're able to do. If we never push ourselves outside our comfort zone, we'll never know what we're truly capable of.

There are three more long runs left for me over the next four weeks. Who knows the outcome of the actual race on marathon Sunday? Not me. But honestly, I don't care what the clock says. I know that if I keep the faith and the commitment, that I will be more elastic at the finish than I was when I started. And that's why I'm running this race.

Peace.