ENABLING YOUR PASSION FOR HEALTHY LIVING

It’s Your Mind, Not Your Body

Looking for some easy breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas for your meal prepping needs? You’re in luck. I just updated my app with a brand new weekly meal plan featuring some of my favorite meals. This week features a menu that is naturally gluten and dairy free and primarily vegetarian and pescatarian. Don’t forget, each week follows a different type of diet so if you are a vegan or just like to eat clean, check out the other published meal plans. Don’t have an iPhone – alternate version coming soon.

“Your body can stand almost anything, it’s your mind you have to convince.”

On Saturday morning, the last thing I wanted to do when I saw it was 27 degrees out was run for 3 hours but ya know what? That’s exactly what I did because that is what you do when you are crazy and you sign up to run the Boston Marathon. I’m convinced that whoever decided to hold the historic race in April is a masochist.

I waited to start running until about 11:30am because I was hoping it would get a little bit warmer. Breakfast was an English muffin with peanut butter and a banana.

IMG 0182

During my Chicago training, I ran along the Charles River because the course was flat and so is that route in Boston. I stopped at water fountains along the way and would fill up my water belt. Running when it is below freezing, causes my water bottle to turn into a huge ice-cube. The fountains also are not turned on in the winter. Thankfully, so many locals run the Boston Marathon that people who live along the route and various charities, serve water, Gatorade and snacks on Saturday mornings when most people do their long runs. I brought with me Clif energy gel and Snap Infusion Supercandy which has electrolytes and energizing b vitamins without HFCS for miles 7, 11 and 15. I also snagged some jelly beans and a little of Gatorade from a table.

IMG 0147

This allows me to stay hydrated and energized without bringing a water belt. I live near the finish line so I just ran 9 miles out along the course and then came right back for a total of 18 miles.

The weather actually turned out to be pretty nice. I didn’t need my headband or gloves after about 6 miles but there were still plenty of icy patches. My phone also lasted 17 miles! It has been dying in the colder temperatures lately around mile 7 making my long runs boring as hell and the reason I don’t take blog pics mid run.

I’m lucky to be able to train on the course. My goal is to finish in under 4 hours. It is going to be hard but I’m optimistic. My pace now is around 9:40 min/mile. I am trying to get it down to around 9 for race day.

People always say, “I could never run a marathon,” when I tell them I’m training for Boston. I don’t think running a marathon is for everyone. This may be my last one. The hardest part when it comes to running a marathon is not the 26.2 miles on race day. It’s the training.

If you do not have the self-discipline or motivation to follow a training plan, then no, you cannot run a marathon. But if you have determination and are hell-bent on running a marathon, I really don’t think it matters what your body thinks it is capable of – you can do it if you follow a plan and stick to it!

Not everyone wants to spend 3 hours on a Saturday running. That’s fine. You don’t have to run a marathon, but don’t say you could never. You’re selling yourself short. Say, I don’t have any desire to train for a marathon. Roomie is not a runner because it hurts his back and he finds it boring. He’ll probably never run a marathon and could care less. I don’t blame him as it probably would be terrible on his body. I don’t deliver a great sales pitch on Saturday mornings, either.

It’s fine if you don’t want to run one. I don’t think it’s for everyone and I can’t wait until training is over. I said I wanted to run Boston once, and I’m going to do it. If you like having structured workouts, you may enjoy the training process. I have only 6 more weeks to go!

Is marathon training on your bucket list?

Share the Post:

Related Posts