Numbers

I'm not talking about math, although I've always been pretty good at math. In fact, my wife's always impressed at how quickly I can do calculations in my head. Right now I'm talking about stats. Training stats. Lately, Lani's been catching me just looking at my training log. I'm liking what I see. I've never been a really intense runner, at least in the sense of putting in mega miles each week. I'm a believer in the less-is-more training approach. Quality over quantity. Looking at my numbers for March, the quantity of my quality has taken a significant jump. And that is pretty sweet.

March was the very first month in which I have run over 100 miles. I ended up with 114.9. The last time I ran over 30 miles in a single week was in October 2006, the week of my last marathon. During March, I also logged not only one, but two consecutive weeks of 30+ miles. I guess this is a milestone for me, not that these are mega miles or anything. I'm feeling pretty special. Not because I reached any magic number, but because I am feeling really good. I've had some really great runs lately. A lot of confidence boosters for Boston. Just over two weeks to go, and I'll to have some more numbers (not to mention the experience) to be proud of.

I Rock!

After I finished my run this morning, I couldn't help but quote Nancy. (Speaking of Nancy, check out her latest exploits in virtual race directing)

Two weeks ago I posted about my attempt to break the 6-minute-mile barrier in a tempo run. Well, today I had another go at it. I did my scheduled 5 mile tempo run this morning, and it felt awesome. Check out the splits:

Mile 1 - 6:38 (not bad for mile 1)
Mile 2 - 6:33 (that's more like it)
Mile 3 - 6:41 (whoa)
Mile 4 - 6:37 (it's go time)
Mile 5 - 5:41 (I Rock!)

I looked at my time for the first half of that last mile, and I was right on pace for a 6 minute mile. I just kept going, knowing it was going to be close. To my surprise, it turns out it actually wasn't that close. I destroyed that 6-minute-mile barrier. Back in September, I ran one mile all out (just to see what I could do) in 5:36. I think I've come a long way. I wonder what I could do one mile in now without 4 tempo miles before it?? Perhaps we shall see.

Just kidding

A week ago I said, "[S]trangely enough, my appetite has decreased. Whereas I used to eat for energy, now I don't have that need. I thought my appetite would increase to replace the calories I'm using as I run, but I'm strangely less hungry! I don't know if that's good or bad, but I trust that my body knows what it's doing" (Rewarded Behavior Continues).

Umm... just kidding. Or... not anymore! I think it has taken several weeks for my body to adjust to this new running lifestyle. Maybe that no-appetite strangeness was a temporary transitional period while my body was adjusting? Now I'd definitely have to say I'm experiencing the opposite.

The funny thing is... I was never a breakfast person. In fact, I've never really eaten because my stomach told me to eat. I have nearly always eaten because my body told me to eat--because I needed energy. Reid's always been a breakfast-eater. He's always saying, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!" I've never really been very hungry in the morning. At least I didn't USED to be!

Now, I wake up (usually before my alarm! which is sooo odd because I've never been a morning person) with my stomach rumbling and desperate to be filled. I have plenty of energy, but my stomach wants to eat. Then a couple of hours after breakfast, it starts rumbling again! I've always been able to delay my lunch until 2:00 if needed, but now I'm starving before it's even 11:00! Then the same thing happens for dinner... hungry by 3:30 again! Sheesh! I think we're going to have to spend twice as much on groceries at this rate!

I am so glad I took up running, but it's definitely changed a lot of things. This former sedentary, hypoglycemic, energy-and-sleep-deprived night owl has been transformed into an active, energy-filled, and perpetually hungry morning person. I used to make fun of Reid for falling asleep at the drop of a hat in the evening. In the past, I could stay awake until 3:00 a.m. without the slightest problem. Now I'm struggling to stay awake if it's past 10:00! Sooooo bizarre to me! But definitely way better for my health and emotional well being!

How about you? Did you notice yourself changing the way you ate and slept when you became a runner?

It's beginning to look a lot like Boston

As many of you know, running the Boston Marathon has always been a goal of mine. I finally get to do it this year (3 and a half weeks!) and I am getting stoked. While I was waiting for the start of my second marathon back in 2004, I ran into a guy who, by the look of his jacket, had obviously run Boston before. That jacket was super cool, and I told myself then that when I run Boston, I want to get a jacket like that. So for my birthday, I ordered a sweet-looking number from Adidas. Well, I got that jacket today, and in the words of a second-grader I came across the other day at work, it's "tight." I love it! It's basically the coolest jacket I've ever seen. Sorry to be so gushing about it, but I really like it.

As if that wasn't enough, I also got my Boston Marathon Welcome Booklet and number pick up card (#5096). I pretty much read through the entire book.

Have I mentioned that I'm a little excited for this race?

Thinking your pain away

Injuries suck! I hate being injured. It's so frustrating when I can't run. I feel jealous when I see my friends out running, or anyone else for that matter. It's depressing. I get moody. Life just isn't as fun.

These don't necessarily represent my own thoughts during an injury, but let's face it, it's just not fun being injured, and I'm sure most of us have had similar thoughts. It's easy to fall into that downward spiral of negativity. And that negativity can often have a negative impact on our recovery. So what can we do? Think positive!

Now, I'm not saying to just have a "good attitude" about your injury (although that will probably help). What I'm saying is don't dwell on your injury. Don't let it occupy all your thoughts. Don't let it bring you down. I'm a firm believer that your thoughts are powerful agents in determining your experiences. If you are constantly thinking about negative things, negative things are likely to happen. If you are constantly thinking positive thoughts, positive things are more likely to happen. This is often referred to as the law of attraction. Fascinating stuff. We need to make our desires to overcome injuries clear through our thoughts. Of course, when we're injured, we really want to get better-the desire is already there. However, these thoughts must not be convoluted with the negative thoughts we may be having. So the key is to not think about how awful it is to be injured or wishing you weren't injured, but to be passionate and enthusiastic about being healthy.

The next step is to believe you can overcome this injury. Take that passion and enthusiasm and apply it to your belief system. Think of yourself as already healed. Be grateful in advance for your healing and wholeness. Expect it to come, and take the steps to make it happen.

Last September I had an embarrassing accident during a cross-country practice. I was very sore for a while, and the soreness didn't ever seem to leave causing my hamstrings to feel really tight. It didn't keep me from running (in fact my training was going really well), but it was always there. I started down that spiral of negativity wondering if it would ever get better. I ended up taking most of January off because of it. Somewhere along the line my wife picked up the book Remembering Wholeness by Carol Tuttle, basically saying what I've written above, and I got to thinking (actually, she convinced me) that I can take charge of my healing rather than just waiting for it to happen. I had to catch myself every time I started thinking about my injury and change those thoughts to gratitude for my healing and wholeness. Instead of praying that I would get better, I started thanking God for my healing and wholeness. The result, the discomfort has all but disappeared. It doesn't even slow me down anymore. I am able to gain my confidence back, and the last few weeks I have been able to make some tremendous progress.

This didn't happen overnight, but I feel it happened a heck of a lot faster than if I had continued with my negative thoughts. If your injured, give this a try. You've got nothing to loose but negativity!

Introducing...

The day has finally come! Last night, we received our new little puppy! He's a 4-month-old Shih Tzu appropriately named Boston.

Rewarded Behavior Continues (a Lani post)

All my life, my neuropsychologist stepmother always taught me: "Rewarded behavior continues." It's a phrase that comes to my mind often. And it came out of my mouth this morning as I babbled to Reid about all the benefits I'd already seen as a result of my new running habit. I feel totally driven and eager to continue running, and to push myself even harder, because I have been amply rewarded. Here are some of the things I've noticed...

1) More stable blood sugar levels. For most of my life I've had to be sure to eat plenty of protein with my meals to prevent a blood sugar spike and crash. Something about getting exercise has shifted my metabolism so that I'm less susceptible to those low blood sugar crashes. It's definitely a good thing! 'Cause I'm not so fun to be around when my blood sugar is low.

2) More energy. This is related to number one, I think. I definitely feel like I have more energy these days. So, strangely enough, my appetite has decreased. Whereas I used to eat for energy, now I don't have that need. I thought my appetite would increase to replace the calories I'm using as I run, but I'm strangely less hungry! I don't know if that's good or bad, but I trust that my body knows what it's doing.

3) A butt lift. Maybe this is more than you wanted to know, but it's definitely something I've noticed. I'm not nearly as tight and trim as Reid (hey, I've gone through two pregnancies!), but I'm definitely noticing a difference!

4) More happiness and patience. Maybe this is a coincidence, but I'd wager it's related. I really have been feeling much more emotionally even and stable over the last week or two. This benefit alone has been the most needed and appreciated!

5) Less torture. I know it's sort of a given, but I no longer hate running. It used to require enormous will power and effort to keep running for a full three miles. It was torture. Now it's a breeze. That's something new to me. I've never ever considered running a "breeze." It makes me want to push myself even harder and higher. This is cool!

All of these rewards, in addition to others, have made me feel more and more clear that THIS is the way our bodies are supposed to feel. I really think exercise was intended to be a part of human existence. When we are "in shape" is when we are complete and whole. I feel so much better overall than I did a month ago. This is the way my body is supposed to feel. This is who I really am. I want to keep feeling this good forever! And I've only been going for a few weeks. I can't imagine how great I'll feel after several months and several years!

Doug, you were right. I'm hooked.