Reasons for Racing - The Numbers Game

I've talked about reasons for running and how racing relates to that. It helps me feel like a true athlete preparing for competition and gives me something toward which to set goals.

2012's races are shaping up to be a whole lot more. Call me a sentimental sap, but I have always valued the practice of placing meaning on our pursuits. I could simply run a marathon for the sake of running a marathon, check it off my 'bucket list', and be done.  But I'm someone who likes to do things for more reasons than just being able to say I did it. I want to do things for myself and for others - to prove to myself that I've still got no clue how strong I really am capable of being and to inspire others to do the same for themselves.

My racing calendar for 2012 will be my most eventful racing calendar of my life to date. The most races I've done in a year before now was 2. I did 2 races last year, and when I was my younger running self and running my first half marathons. This year I have plans for at least 4 races. It will likely be 6 or 7 by the time the year is out, as I plan to do a 10km or two, maybe a 5km too. But in my mind I've committed to 4 longer distance races. 

Product Review: SPI Belt

I got my SPI Belt for Christmas from my Secret Santa (thanks Tas!) this past December, and I love it. I read about it online from others who were looking for a solution to carry personal items on a run without it compromising comfort. I thought putting it on my 'wishlist' was wise so I could test it out myself.

Training Continues and I'm Loving It!

So my 3rd week of marathon training is coming to a close soon. It's been a really good ride so far, like I've mentioned before. Of course, I've not yet encountered the really long runs, but every week, I feel confident that it'll be fine when I get there. I've upped my weekly mileage considerably, workout 6 times a week, and it's been amazing. Weight is starting to melt off again (not that I think need to lose any more weight, but a few pounds more wouldn't hurt and would only make me faster). And the weight loss part is funny considering how my voracious appetite has returned. But I have also learned to trust my instincts on self-regulating my weight - be conscious of input and output, eat healthy choices, eat when I'm hungry, don't feel guilt for snacking because of a realistic understanding of how many calories I burn weekly, etc. I've already lost another 3 lbs since the start of my training and never feel short on energy, so something's working.

Week 2 of 18 begins

Marathon training is now well under way. I've officially started week 2 of my 18-week plan as of this past Sunday. So far so good. I've no doubt that I'll be able to train myself to run the big distance. In fact, on every long run I do, it gets easier and easier to do and easier and easier to imagine going the extra distance. And every time, it gives me the gentle reminder of how far I've come. Every day I get a glimpse of what my potential is. Every step of my training, I get to test my potential and push myself to do something greater. I love it! It makes me feel strong and capable of anything.

Being On the "Other Side"

So this isn't so much about running specifically, but certainly related to the topic of health and wellness. Having achieved a healthy, "normal" weight through my recent journey, and now being at a place of maintaining this healthy weight, I'm more conscious of a perspective that I never really was before. I've always been aware of the divide between the healthy and the unhealthy; for most of my life, I've fallen in that latter category and it's only until recently that I've crossed that line to the "other side". The sad part is that this line is not simply a line to mark achievement - a metaphor for running a race, for example. I've crossed the line and I can hang my medal up on display to show I completed the distance from this epic journey. But this line that divides the "sides" is also, unfortunately, a line of judgment, misundertanding, and stigma. It's a line whose existence I hate, one that caused me so much grief through my life, and one I'd love to see disappear. I know that's highly unlikely, but perhaps I can help make a small amount of change by speaking my mind, and sharing often the story of my journey that I've owned. So please read this and let me know what you think.

New Adventures in 2012

Going to keep this one quick, but I'm already so excited about 2012's running adventures, when it's only January 2nd. Yesterday was day 1 of my 18-week marathon training program and I loved being out on the roads with a bigger picture goal in mind again, no matter how far away it is for now. I ran a solid 10km run at a gentle pace, and followed that up with another 9km of walking with friends. Man that felt good! The more I think of it, the less daunting the 42.2km sounds and the more excited I feel. I've no illusions about it being easy, but I'm super confident in my plan and in my abilities. It's really going to happen *gasp*