The importance of maintaining your diet...

Okay, so this past holiday weekend I attended two picnics in one day. So during the course of the day, I ate more than I normally do and foods that I do not normally eat, e.g., homemade ice cream, cake, hamburgers, various breads, etc. Overall, my diet yesterday was pretty starchy. The food was all delicious but I had attempted to go back out and run today, and boy my GI tract did NOT like me at all. I was tired from having to work during the day so I went out intending to maybe run 8-10 miles but instead barely got 5 in.

So, the lesson for the day when marathon training, maintain your regular diet! Carb loading does not mean that you need to eat lots of carbs within a 24 hour period. More realistically, it needs to be done over several days. For now, I consider myself having learned the lesson the hard way...

Almost a month into training and yet SO much many more miles to go....

So, yes, it has three weeks since I made the decision to train for NYC. So far, things have been going well. I have had one run of 15 miles. The "short" runs are up to 7 miles. I have been very fortunate that the weather has been gorgeous and not too hot. It makes running those miles a whole lot easier. What has been more difficult though is losing my core group of running friends. Martin has moved to Canada and I just can't seem to find a time that works for me and Susan. This time last year, the three of us were training for the Nike Women's Marathon together, laughing and running along the way. If there is one thing to be said about runners, we develop a comrade along the way that is indescribable. It is rather unfortunate that I was the only one of us to get into NYC. It would have been a wonderful opportunity to run this race with them.

This month are the dreaded long runs of 20 miles. Short runs will gradually move up to 8 miles. My body has held up very well to this point, although I do feel that my legs are getting tired from time to time. I'm trying to be better about cross training (something I have to be motivated to do). Lee has been helpful in encouraging me to do biceps curls and triceps extensions so I have been gradually incorporating them into my run. I'd like to think that my arms are shaping up but I guess that is to be decided.

The one thing that I have noticed is that I am getting a lot more hungry. If ever there is a reason to eat whenever and whatever I want, I think marathon training certainly qualifies as a reason! Needless to say, I have been baking more and letting myself eat the fruits of my labor.

Well, that does it for my updates for now. Stay tuned for more details!