22 miler and other milestones

Yesterday was the 22-miler. Though I feared really bad weather, it ended up being pretty mild but with a steady mist of sorts that left me wet but not cold. It was perfect running weather! In fact, just read that the ideal running temperature, in terms of fastest race times, is 41 degrees. I believe that.

It all went well, and I met up with another marathon-training friend who also had a 22-miler. I ran with her from miles 15-20, providing a nice break and change of pace. She is one of those who tells it like it is and we had great conversation the whole time including this one. Me: "I still can't believe I have a trainer, I never ever thought I would be one of those people." Her (and she's a trainer): "Well, it's like I tell people, you CAN color your own hair at home, or you can pay a professional." Enough said!!

This is the first time that my stomach held up well. I drank about 5 oz of the Xtend/Carb Slam mix that Jake concocted every 4 or 5 miles and that sustained me. Afterward I had a mocha and whole wheat bagel with peanut butter at the coffee shop where I parked the car and I just came down off the run before returning home. I felt pretty good the rest of the day and today I just feel normal. Better, in fact, than I think I have in a while. Maybe I'm coming down off the stress of school a bit as the end of the semester fast approaches.

Today we met for a bench workout and my expectations were pretty modest as my arms were still sore from Friday's session. Surprisingly, I managed two sets of 115lbs for three reps. For the first time I see the 135 bench as very doable in the next few months. That is something I never really mastered in my early 20s so to do it now would be a real testament to the value of smart training...and a smart trainer.

One last comment - I have NOT been recording food and have NOT been a clean eater. The stress of the past week+ did me in and I engaged in evening snacking to stay awake and finish what needed to be finished. Excuses, excuses. Back on the wagon..........

Birthday!

This was my birthday weekend and it was just great! Sunny, warm, and very spring-like. This birthday had a decidedly fitness flavor to it - starting off Saturday with a fartlek run of just over 10 miles with some faster segments built in. Sunday morning, Spencer ran his first 5k race, with me by his side. He worked hard and did a great job on the hilly cross country course, finishing in under 36 minutes. Later that day, Jake's "special birthday workout" involved a set of 42 (my new age!) sumo deadlifts at 135 lbs, which I pulled off (or should I say up) without too much difficulty.

I'm sure a lot happier with where I am this birthday than last!

Nutrition/fueling

I realize the final piece of the puzzle needed to really succeed with my running and lifting goals is nutrition. I'm part way there, but not where I want to be, and I've been stubborn about giving into it fully.

A year ago: I ate whatever and really didn't think much about it
Now: I eat much better food, especially the first half of the day, but things can fall apart in late afternoon/evening, especially if I am up late working.
Goal: Fuel up more conscientiously and consistently throughout the day so I don't get to the point of desperate hunger and eat stupid things.

Last week I ate what Jake planned out and it made a big difference keeping hunger at bay, but I need to start figuring it out for myself.

What I am pledging to do:

• Record ALL my food on SparkPeople faithfully through the end of the month for starters
  
• Add in more veggies & salad, especially at dinner
• Eat a good evening snack so I don't munch on other stuff - oatmeal, apple & PB, etc.
• NO junky food
  

I do get cravings for chocolate and carbs/sugary things (graham crackers are the biggie), more so if I let myself get hungry. And it seems the more sweet stuff I eat, the more I want, so I need to keep that in check and go with natural sugars in fruit.

The 20 miler

Yesterday was the 20 mile training run. Conditions were pretty grim - cold (low to mid 30's) with a constant rain. I woke up early, as I have been every day lately, and headed out the door into the darkness around 6 am to plant bottles of JRP's new concoction for me - water + carb slam (dextrose) + BCAAs. Then I parked the car and...ran! Somehow it still amazes me that all one has to do to run, is to well, start running. Unlike other sports, there isn't much in the way of preparation, and there are no good ways to procrastinate once you are dressed and at the starting line.

Anyway, I enjoyed the heck out of my run. I think the weather helped push me - I knew if I could do 20 in those conditions, I was in good stead. And for the first time ever, my stomach didn't completely rebel. I believe the "concoction" was helpful, that and not eating much along the way. I had a few bites of banana but that was it for food. It was nice to not be out of commission for the rest of the day and actually able to function, do work, and not nap! My body is getting stronger and tolerating these demands much, much better than before.

Whenever I finish a longer run, I always wonder how the heck I ever did it. It's a long time to just keep going (for me, 20.5 miles in 2:54).

I was soaking wet, cold, but exhilarated! I'm looking forward to 22, then 24, then finally the big 26.2 mile run!

The song that got me through the final few miles was Switchfoot's Dare You To Move. I think it's actually about about someone hitting rock bottom, but the lines about "I dare you to move, I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor" just spurs me on!! Apparently this song/video has hit the mainstream...there's quite a bit of that crossover happening for Christian groups.

We live up to our expectations, not our desires

This article caught my eye -- http://www.peertrainer.com/expectations_versus_desires.aspx -- talking about how many diets fail because we rely on our desire for weight loss to carry us through to the goal, while in fact our deep-down beliefs and expectations for success can undermine that and keep us from our goals.

Maybe that's one of the things that is so great about working with a talented trainer. They help us recalibrate our expectations. That's true for me...the things I am doing now I could never have counted among my expectations.