Comfortable Home Life | Marathon Madness

I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say I’ve developed marathon mania.

After we made the decision to run the 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon, I completely immersed myself. Watching videos, researching training plans, looking up hotels, flights, etc. My BFF and I are going to be fundraising for an amazing cause too. More details to come.

I recently watched Spirit of the Marathon, which is super inspirational. The movie chronicles five runners training to run the Chicago Marathon: two elites and three regular ol’ Joes. One is an old man who was so adorable! He gives me hope that I’ll at least be able to finish the marathon alive.

Obviously a new goal calls for a new training plan. I’ve basically ditched my old running plan and am now using Hal Higdon’s marathon 3 training plan as a guide. With just about 23 weeks until I run 26.2, I’m doing a plan that will (hopefully) kick my butt into gear. And yes, I’m still strength training. I think it’s important that my life not become solely running. I’ve read a lot of articles that state cross-training is imperative to successful training, so I will still be strength training, with biking and swimming thrown in there too.

	Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun
7/25-7/31	1	Rest	3 m run	Bike: 30 min	3 m pace	Rest	6 m run	Cross 60 min
8/1-8/7	2	Rest	4 m run	Bike: 30 min	3 m tempo	Rest	*10-K Race*	Cross 60 min
8/8-8/14	3	Rest	3 m run	Bike: 30 min	3 m run	Rest	5 m run	Cross 60 min
8/15-8/21	4	Rest	5 m run	Bike: 35 min	3 m pace	Rest	9 m run	Cross 65 min
8/22-8/28	5	Rest	5 m run	Bike: 35 min	3 m tempo	Rest	10 m run	Cross 65 min
8/29-9/4	6	Rest	4 m run	Bike: 35 min	4 m run	Rest	8 m run	Cross 65 min
9/5-9/11	7	Rest	6 m run	Bike: 40 min	4 m pace	Rest	12 m run	Cross 70 min
9/12-9/18	8	Rest	7 m run	Bike: 40 min	4 m tempo	Rest	13 m run	Cross 70 min
9/19-9/25	9	Rest	5 m run	Bike: 40 min	5 m run	Rest	*5-K Race*	Rest
9/26-10/2	10	Rest	7 m run	Bike: 45 min	4 m pace	Rest	15 m run	Cross 75 min
10/3-10/9	11	Rest	8 m run	Bike: 45 min	4 m tempo	Rest	16 m run	Cross 75 min
10/10-10/16	12	Rest	6 m run	Bike: 45 min	6 m run	Rest	*10-K Race*	Rest
10/17-10/23	13	Rest	8 m run	Bike: 50 min	5 m pace	Rest	17 m run	Cross 80 min
10/24-10/30	16	Rest	9 m run	Bike: 55 min	6 m pace	Rest	*Half Marathon*	Rest
10/31 – 11/6	15	Rest	6 m run	Bike: 50 min	6 m run	Rest	13 m run	Cross 80 min
11/7-11/13	14	Rest	9 m run	Bike: 50 min	5 m tempo	Rest	18 m run	Cross 80 min
11/14-11/20	17	Rest	10 m run	Bike: 55 min	6 m tempo	Rest	20 m run	Cross 85 min
11/21-11/27	18	Rest	7 m run	Bike: 55 min	7 m run	Rest	14 m run	Cross 85 min
11/28-12/4	19	Rest	10 m run	Bike: 60 min	7 m pace	Rest	20 m run	Cross 85 min
12/5-12/11	20	Rest	8 m run	Bike: 60 min	8 m run	Rest	*10-K Race*	Rest
12/12-12/18	21	Rest	10 m run	Bike: 60 min	7 m tempo	Rest	20 m run	Cross 90 min
12/19-12/25	22	Rest	6 m run	Bike: 50 min	6 m run	Rest	12 m run	Cross 75 min
12/26-1/1	23	Rest	4 m run	Bike: 40 min	4 m run	Rest	8 m run	Cross 60 min
1/2-1/8	24	Rest	2 m run	Bike: 30 min	Rest	Rest	1- 2 m run	*Marathon*

I also decided today that I’m going to follow along with Jenna’s 21 days of yoga. I mean, why not? If anything, I’ll sneak in 5 minutes of yoga a day, which was still more than I was doing previously. I had a serious craving for hot yoga today. My calves are a bit tight, and I wanted to be in downward dog in a 105 degree room. Instead of paying $15 dollars to do so, I just went outside and did yoga on my baloncy. Problem solved.

I want to incorporate fitness into my life. I want it to become a part of who I am, not just something I have to do because I signed up for a race and my training plan dictates I must.

I want to be fluent in yoga, swimming, biking, running, weight lifting. Does this mean I have to be the best at each? Of course not. It just means I need to work on each with dedication and patience.

And you know what? I’m never going to improve if I stay in my comfort zone. It’s pretty safe to say that agreeing to run 26.2 miles is very much outside my comfort zone.

My only hope is that we don’t end up at the finish line like these two ladies:

Casey @ Pocket Full of Sunshine (660 days)

Your “about me” section is so cute–”I sort of like running and I really like food.” I feel the same way most of the time. Love it!

Reply ↓

Emily (660 days)

Food > Running. Hands down!

purabi naha (660 days)

I have been visiting your blog sometime now. Fitness is a must for everyone.

You deserve some awards! You are invited to my latest post on “Murgh Kasuri Methi”, where you have been mentioned! Please collect your awards from there!