Monday Accountability: Let the marathon training begin!!

Back from vacation and although we had a great time, it's always good to be home! Today marks DAY 1 of training for the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. on October 30th, 2011. I can't wait to run this with my man...my Marine...my love. He's in amazing shape and always motivates me to sweat more, train harder, and push myself. This race may be a test of his infinite patience I'm afraid (I've broken down in every way possible in my last two marathons), his parents will be there at the finish (hopefully I'll be done crying by then!) and I can't wait for it!!

I ran the Chicago Marathon with Team in Training in 2009 and haven't run a marathon since. As I registered for this marathon, I contacted my coaching team in Chicago to get back in touch - their motivation was so important to me before that I wanted them to know I was doing this again! Not only did they share their encouragement, they are sharing their knowledge and they passed on the training plan for this fall's team and invited me to join the workouts when I move back to the area. Wow! Once you're on the TEAM you're always on the TEAM! Love it! For more information about this AMAZING group of people fighting blood cancers, hit up http://www.teamintraining.org/.

So I need to gear up for this. It's a long path to train for a marathon (as I know some of you know first hand). I need more accountability, more dedication, more stamina, more gut...more everything than I've had for any personal physical challenge. I want to run this in 5 hours. That's over an hour off my best time BUT I know I'm in the best physical and mental state of my LIFE. I CAN DO THIS! I WILL DO THIS! And when I don't remember that...this is my motivation picture (currently posted on my cube wall under another image we'll talk about in a minute).



This image is everything. I run to purge myself of bad thoughts...and I can't wait to earn her body! I WILL look like that on race day!!

Now - to beat thy enemy, one must know thy enemy...which is why this image is right above the runner on my wall. Complete with the elevation chart, this map will remind me why I need to run those miles, eat clean and chug chug chug my water. This doesn't mean I'll stop living. Junk food will be consumed once in a while (especially my "secret weapon" treats during long runs...). I'm sure I'll have days I don't want to do anything. I'll have days I need a kick in the rear from all of you. But back to this image. This will help me feel more prepared and I'll look at it nearly every. single. day. between now and October 30.



All the miles will be over by mile 8...until the end as we run up the hill to....


...the finish line. Iwo Jima memorial. Well where else did you expect the Marine Corps Marathon to finish? I'll be honest...I don't care if the finish is uphill, downhill, flat, wind at your back, wind at your face, underwater...all you see, know, and feel is the finish..and what a spectacular finish we'll have. Nate and I will run it in after enduring (no more than!!) 5 hours of running together to be met by his family by this spectacularly incredible and moving memorial.

So how will I do it? My usual method. I have a plan (I'll post a link to it at the end of this blog), I have motivation, I've set mini-milestones, I'm telling everyone who will listen that I'm doing this and most importantly, I have an image in my mind that I want to achieve. Crossing the finish line, standing tall, clock ticking closer to 5:00:00, smiling to finish with Nate by my side, being cheered on by his parents and brother (I assume, he lives there), getting our medals. Pretty awesome huh?

Rewards (why not start with the fun stuff?)

Getting started reward (date: July 6, 2011): After sticking to my marathon training plan, I'll take advantage of a Groupon I bought a while ago for some spa time... (check out Groupon here: Join Groupon). Nothing like a little R&R to motivate a girl!

Half way there! reward (date: August 21, 2011): Not only is a cheetah fast like I want to will be but "Cheetah-face" was my roommate's loving nickname for me our Junior year as she prepared for her first marathon and inspired me!



http://www.endureshop.com/product/cheetah-ring

 Just a month to go (September 30, 2011): *changed the reward because I know I need an updated ID before I go running around alone!* New shoes! I'll need time to break them in but not break them down and this seems like a great time to get them! Oh and I'll get my race day outfit too :-)

Race Day (October 30, 2011): Really I shouldn't have to list it but the entire weekend will be a reward. Time with the love of my life and his family, our finishing medals, seeing gorgeous DC on a fall morning, achieving one of my biggest goals for the year...what more could a girl ask for?

Nutrition

I'll use my Bodybugg (camo with no bling ... a pouch instead for my phone / music / distance tracker during my runs) to track calories burned all day every day. At the end of each week I'll figure out my average calories burned / day and figure out my nutritional needs assuming a 250 calorie / day deficit and a marathon nutrition plan break down of 65% carbohydrates – 25% protein – 10% fat breakdown with focus on low GI carbs. I'll plug this into http://www.sparkpeople.com/ and track my food there including a healthy oil blend in the morning for my joints, a pre and post workout drink, my Shakeology and everything else I eat. Note: I'll start with this breakdown but we'll see how that goes and I may adjust as time goes on!


Workout routine

I'm using the plan put together by my old Team in Training team and I'm adding ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuits 3 days a week to make sure I spend some time focusing on muscle toning and hopefully prevent the injuries to which I am so prone! Along with a couple races over the next few months, I'll be putting a lot of miles on my shoes (which will mean I need new shoes along the way I'm sure) and I'll be tracking those on Endomondo so feel free to find me there and comment on my workouts along the way as my "audio coach" on my app will share your comments with me while I'm running! Watch for a tweet saying that I've started a workout and you'll know to go to the Endomondo site to cheer me on!
Here's the training calendar:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_SDKxVAXee6ZmNmZDBlMjktNTQyZi00MTZlLWI2YTQtZTlhMTllZjllNDY3&hl=en_US