I'll rest when I'm dead? Dead wrong!!

This week was my "rest week" for the marathon training. Of course, this doesn't mean that I didn't run at all, just much less than last week.  But my so-called "rest week" made me start thinking about the concept of resting.

"I'll rest when I'm dead."  That used to be my attitude.  This body was just a shell and I wanted to ride it hard.  As the saying goes, I wanted to skid into my coffin sideways and shout, "Wow, that was a wild ride!"  But I've learn a thing (maybe two) about rest since then.


Rest makes me stronger - I didn't truly discover this until I tried P90X for the first time.  I was getting results, so I was all geeked up and ready to lift more weight.  When the first rest week came, I was mad.  I was saying to myself, "I don't need no stinkin' rest!"  But I listened to Tony Horton and rested.  And when I came back, to my surprise, I was much stronger.


Rest makes me smarter - Sometimes when you are driven or when you love what you do, you're tempted to keep pushing past all reasonable limits.  If you are anything like me, you need to force yourself to take a step back in order to take two steps forward.  I've learned over the years that I only I get dumber is it gets later.  I can be much more effective in half the time when I'm fresh rather than tired. So often, rest is the most effective use of my time. 


The Real Decision - It comes down to this for me, one decision.  Every day we must decide between what we want right now and what we want the most.  The most successful person - the person I want to be - puts the highest priority on what they want the most.  That means looking at the big picture.  That often means getting your butt to bed rather than running the streets.  And that sometimes means checking your ego, putting the weights down and resting. 


It took me a minute (or 40 years) to learn this, but I think I grasp the concept now. :)


Training runs completed
Monday (7/16) - 4 miles
Tuesday (7/17) -  4 miles
Wednesday  (7/18) - 4 miles
Thursday (7/19) - 6 miles

Why I am Running a Marathon - Part 3

Because it’s the next step in the progression.  There was a time in my life, not that long ago actually, that I wouldn't have run across the street in the rain to avoid oncoming traffic.  And now I want to run 26.2 miles?  It blows my mind to think about it sometimes.  But it’s also the next step in the progression.  I have run three 10K races, and a half-marathon, so the marathon is simply the next logical challenge.

Every time I complete a challenge, I seek a harder one.  In the case of running, I either want to run the race faster or run a longer race.  I have also tried a couple workout programs (p90x and Insanity) were the stretch goals are embedded in the program.  They are designed for you to push yourself harder every week. 

I have truly amazed myself with how far I have come by simply trying to do just a little bit more every day.  Trying to gain an inch every day so when I look back I'll be miles ahead.

Why I'm Running a Marathon - Part 2

Because I want to be able to say “I did it.”  Most people consider running a marathon a daunting task, something beyond their capability to do.  They would say that there has to be something exceptional about you to run a marathon.  I want to be exceptional.  I want to be in the Top 1%, in the exclusive club, behind the velvet rope.  I believe I’m worthy and if I work hard enough, I can do it.  I want the satisfaction of knowing that I did something that most people consider too hard to try.

Why I am Running a Marathon - Part 1

Because I’m a little scared.   There was a time when I was afraid to speak in public.  I had had a couple “high profile failures” along the way and I was afraid of being embarrassed again.  Today, I speak in public for a living and rather enjoy it.  But I had to get over the fear.  Frankly, I still get a little nervous every time I am about to speak in front of an audience.  But I chose to address the fear because I wanted what was on the other side of that wall.  I wanted to be an excellent speaker and all that comes with it.   

The same is true about running a marathon.  I want what's on the other side of fear.  I want what’s beyond the finish line of that marathon.  I'll write about a number of those things beyond the finish line in my next few blogs. 

Going Where This Man Has Never Gone Before

It's on!  I am in full blown marathon training mode.  And I'm not saying I'm Captain Kirk going "where no man has gone before," but I am certainly going where this man has never gone before.  Yesterday, I ran 12 miles and soon I will be running 14, 16, 18...definitely longer than I have ever run before.

All sorts of emotions running through my head right now.

Fear - Can I really do this?
Ambition - I want to do this!
Pride - Look at me.  I'm doing this!
Excitement - Wow, I'm gonna to do this.
Confidence - Damn right I'm gonna to do this!

I'm big on making public proclamations when I have big goals so you and the universe can keep me accountable.  Here was the running schedule for last week.  Please keep me on track!!!

Training runs completed
Monday (7/9) - 6 miles
Tuesday (7/10) - 8 miles
Wednesday (7/11) - 6 miles
Friday (7/13) - 4 miles
Saturday (7/14) - 12 miles