Day 1

Monday, July 19, 2010

Day 1 started off like any other first day of training would, I started reading my training book :) I'm reading Marathoning For Mortals, the Regular Person's Guide to the Joy of Running or Walking a Half-Marathon or Marathon. I've had this book in my possession for close to a month now, and I've looked at the cover for about just as long, but never opened it. I didn't think it would be any good, and I really didn't think it would do anything for me (I've also had my Nike+ for this long and have yet to use that too, but that's another story). So, I opened the book and started reading and by the time I was done reading for the day I was hooked, and already into chapter 5. I'm so glad that a friend of mine let me borrow this book and I'm so glad I decided to start reading it before I jumped on the treadmill and tried to run a mile at 6.5 speed and kill myself on day 1.

In the first 5 chapters that I read, I learned quite a bit. I learned that I definitely am going to be able to do this, but I'm going to have to be patient with myself and I'm going to have to ease myself into this process. I think this process is going to teach me things as well, I think I might just learn a few things about patience as well as about myself which kind of excites me. This book has told me that there is no 'cookie cutter model' for what a long distance runner should be, that anyone can be a long distance runner, no matter how many knee surgeries you've had, or how long your inner athlete has been on vacation, so I have no excuses.

I cheated and peeked in the back at the training plans, they provide 8 different ones ranging from 14 week walking plans to 14 week running plans all with the same goal, to get someone ready for either a half or full marathon. I did the math, starting today, I have enough time to complete 2 full 14 week plans with a couple of weeks thrown in for vacation, down times, and those days when I just don't want to do anything which I'm hoping don't happen to often once I get myself into a good routine.

I've decided to start with the 14 week half marathon walking plan. It's simple, it includes 4 days a week of walking starting out at 30 min, gradually increasing to 40/50/60 min farther into the plan, and on the weekends 1 long walk of 2/3/4 miles etc, building up the mileage each week. I'm thinking this is a good way to get started. I know it sounds slow building, there's no running involved, but let's not forget, 2 knee surgeries on the same knee, was NEVER a runner in my past and little to no physical activity for the last 5 years - PATIENCE! Trust me, I want to get out there and run, but I have to keep telling myself that I need to start out slow and build my way up, the last thing that I want to do is push it hard and hurt something because then I'll get discouraged and give up, I know myself, that is what will happen. After the first 14 week walking plan, I'm going to do another 14 week training plan, but one that includes walking and running to get my stamina up and cut the time off of my miles so that I can make sure I can finish the 13.1 miles in the 3:30 hrs alloted for the race. I'm hopeful that after these 28 weeks of training I will be good to go.

I started at the gym on Monday with the first of my walking workouts. I plugged in my iPod and hopped on the treadmill at a nice quick walking pace, and after 30 min I had gone a little over 1.5 miles. My hips were sore, I was tired and I knew that the walking plan was the right one to start with.

We'll see how day 2 goes tomorrow!