So I have to admit, I have been going through a funky phase since I returned from Disney on the heels of accomplishing my goal to run the Disney 1/2 marathon. I did it and it was amazing and hard and fun and everything I had hoped it to be and more. I enjoyed my fabulous vacation with my family and returned home and a combination of things happened that led to a 6 week running slump.
1. After I returned, it was soooo cold and I felt like giving myself a 2 week vacation from running, after all, I had trained and worked so hard and earned it, so I felt justified in savoring my accomplishment and relaxing my muscles for a couple of week. Plus with constant snowstorms, my hate of the treadmill and sub 20 degree weather, I was ready for a break.
2. My son, whom I love so much and who has multiple disabilities suffered a downturn and went through a very tough time, forcing the necessity of several doctors appointments and additional attention and love and drain and wear and tear on me. Definitely made me very sad as we worked through helping him get back on track.
3. I then suffered from what was either a nasty three week flu or a chemical pregnancy, either way, for three weeks, I was exhausted, nauseous and overall sick.
This past week , I looked at the calendar and went UH OH! I am running the Boston Marathon in 8 weeks, 8 weeks from today in fact, I need to get on track!!!!
Now for me, running has meant so much to me this past almost full year now and has changed my life in so many ways. I am now a runner and while I know 6 weeks slumps may and will happen, the important thing is that I don't give up. I am never going back to being a sedentary depressed blob. I may still look like a blob, but I am not a sedentary, depressed blob!
I am going to do this and I want to do this, if you believe you can and you commit yourself mentally to a challenge you can and will achieve it.
Last night, I had a talk with myself. No more excuses, no more resting, it is time to take charge, work through the obstacles and get back on track.
That means not just a training change, but of course from now until the marathon, I have to completely change my mental attitude, thinking, and lifestyle.
1. I have to maintain a running schedule of a minimum of three runs a week and a maximum of four, two to three will be shorter runs of 4 to 8 miles and one longer run increasing in distance each week.
2. I have to pay attention to nutrition and that means everything I put in my body. I am training my body to be an efficient performance machine, so that means I have to make sure I am taking in enough lean proteins, fruits, vegetable, vitamins and hydration to maximise my performance. This also includes cutting down on the fun stuff, alcohol, sweets and treats.
3. Rest, I have to make sure I am getting enough rest and stretching my body while building my core strength.
4. Core strength comes from doing nightly strength training and 1 or two cross training sessions a week of spinning or swimming.
Hopefully, given all of the above I would love to be able to shed another 20 to 30 pounds in the next 8 weeks, so I have less to carry with me on that 26.6 mile run.
I also need to refocus on my fundraising goals, I need to raise a minimum of 2500 for nutrition research, a subject very close to my heart as I have battled with obesity the past 10 years and I want to support nutrition research so my children never have to fight the battles I have fought and am overcoming.
Lastly, I need support, I need encouragement, I need wisdom. Please honk if you see me running, ask me about my running, come do a class with me or run with me, help me fund raise. I need all the support I can get, this is another huge challenge for me to undertake and it starts today. You can support my fundraising by visiting this link, every donation counts, even if you sacrifice one day of a DnD run and donate $5, it all adds up!
http://www.tuftsmarathonchallenge.com/runners/AmandaMcKittrickGonzales
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Monday, February 22, 2010
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