Back in the Saddle Again

I kicked off my marathon and sprint triathlon training this week. I am fortunate enough to get a great rate at Asbury College's workout facilities, aka "The Luce Center," since I work for Asbury Seminary. My workouts last week were great, and I am really looking forward to my second week of training.

Training summary for the week:
Mon: Rest day
Tues: 2.5 mile run in 24:04 minutes, arms & core weight workout
Wed: 3.5 mile run in 35:15, legs & core weight workout
Thurs: 15 minutes on stationary bike, 15 minute run, arms & core weight workout
Fri: Rest
Sat: 3.1 mile "long" run (should have been 6...see below)
Sun: Rest

I really would have liked to have gotten a 2 mile run in on Monday, but it was my first day back to work after two weeks off and I wanted to be at my desk bright and early. So I used Monday as a rest day and began training on Tuesday.

My training plan called for a 6 mile long run yesterday, but I was only able to get in 3.1. I met up with some friends in Wilmore for the run at 8:00am and we hit the road at 8:10am. At about 8:20am, a torrential down pour began. We were running a 5k loop, and my plan was to run it twice. I figured that I was soaking wet anyway, so another 30 minutes out in the rain couldn't be too bad. But it got a little colder and the rain came a little harder as I approached the 3.1 mile mark and I decided to throw in the towel. Not literally, because I would have really liked to have a towel at that point. If I would have had a change of clothes I would have gone to the gym and finished the run on a treadmill, but I was soaked to the bone with no clothes to change into. My shoes and socks were totally soaked as I ran the last half mile and I really began to worry about being sucked into a storm drain, getting "trench foot" and/or my most likely fate, getting bad blisters. Luckily none of the above occurred.

We called it quits at 3.1 miles and each headed home for warm showers. I had a 10 minute drive to get back to Nicholasville and I was absolutely freezing when I pulled into our driveway. But a hot shower and coffee with friends soon after helped to warm me back up. I know the weather in Kentucky in the winter can be very fickle, so I hope to not have to cut any more long runs short during my training due to weather. From now on I think I will come prepared to finish my run on a treadmill if necessary.

Overall, I am feeling pretty good. Chad and I both are trying to eat better and cut back on processed foods. I am really trying to curb my eating and eat only when I am truly hungry - not just because I am bored, tired, emotional, etc. I think that food holds a much greater place in society and culture to be simply viewed as "fuel" - but I find myself repeating the "food is fuel" mantra when staring down a plate of brownies, cookies, chips, you name it. It has really helped me this past week.

I weighed myself on Tuesday morning and would like to drop 10 pounds between now and marathon morning. I think this goal is definitely attainable, and I look forward to dropping some pounds, increasing my fitness and endurance levels, and transforming my body over the next 3.5 months.